Jimmy Soni Books

A prize-winning biography of one of the foremost intellects of the twentieth century: Claude Shannon, the neglected architect of the Information Age.

Why is political rhetoric broken-and how can it be fixed? Ranging from Cicero's Rome to modern polarization, Words on Fire is a new history of eloquence from political theorist and speechwriter Rob Goodman. It offers a powerful critique of today's political language-and shows how the struggle over the meaning of eloquence has shaped our world.

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2022 BY THE NEW YORKER, this national bestseller and New York Times Editors’ Choice offers a gripping account of PayPal’s origins and the visionaries behind its rise, including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Reid Hoffman. These founders, now influential figures in the tech industry, have shaped major companies like Tesla, Facebook, and LinkedIn, driving innovation and entrepreneurship in the twenty-first century. Despite their significant impact, the story of their beginnings at PayPal remains largely untold. Before revolutionizing online payments, they faced fierce competition, internal conflicts, rampant online fraud, and the challenges of the dot-com bust. In this exploration of PayPal’s tumultuous early days, award-winning author Jimmy Soni draws on hundreds of interviews and extensive internal documents to reveal how the foundations of today’s digital economy were laid. He highlights the often-overlooked individuals who played crucial roles in PayPal's success. Described as “an intensely magnetic chronicle” by The New York Times, this narrative illustrates the collaborative spirit of these innovators and how their work has left a lasting impact on modern life. The book captures the essence of iteration and inventiveness that has transformed our world.

"A definitive look at the origin of PayPal and its founding team--including Elon Musk, Amy Rowe Klement, Peter Thiel, Julie Anderson, Max Levchin, Reid Hoffman, and many others whose stories have never been shared. They have defined the modern world. This experience defined them"--

What does it mean to live beside an eroding democracy? This powerful and timely book explores how this question will shape the future of Canadian politics. Rob Goodman, a former congressional speechwriter, witnessed the rise of authoritarianism in the United States, where voters were disenfranchised and institutions undermined. Now, as a political theorist in Canada, he warns that similar forces are at play in his adopted country. However, Canada has the potential to protect its democracy by utilizing unique political, cultural, and historical resources. Goodman identifies four key resources: the rejection of the notion of a singular “real” Canadian identity; the avoidance of political charisma and founder-worship; a robust social safety net that fosters equality among citizens; and the ongoing quest for independence from the neighboring superpower. As the United States experiences democratic decline, asserting Canadian differences is more crucial than ever. These distinctions are not merely superficial; they serve as a vital defense for democracy. By examining the historical roots of current political dynamics and advocating for proactive measures, this book provides a roadmap for safeguarding democracy in an era of unprecedented threats.

The gripping inside story of Paypal, the company that created the digital age as we know it.

Grâce aux témoignages exclusifs d'Elon Musk, Amy Rowe Klement, Peter Thiel, Julie Anderson, Max Levchin, Reid Hoffman et beaucoup d'autres, Jimmy Soni nous raconte l'histoire de ces talents réunis dans l'aventure Paypal, qui vont par la suite façonner la nouvelle économie, jusqu'au concept de cryptomonnaie. " Putain Jimmy, tu me fais fouiller dans le grenier, là. " Elon Musk Aujourd'hui, les fondateurs et les premiers employés de PayPal constituent le réseau le plus puissant de l'industrie technologique. Depuis qu'ils ont quitté Paypal, ils ont formé, financé et conseillé les principales entreprises de notre époque, notamment Tesla, Facebook, YouTube, SpaceX, Yelp, Palantir et LinkedIn. Ensemble, ils ont été le moteur de l'innovation et de l'esprit d'entreprise au XXIe siècle. Leurs noms attisent les passions ; ils sont aussi controversés qu'admirés. Pourtant, malgré toute leur influence, l'histoire de leurs débuts est restée largement inconnue. Avant de déclencher la course à l'espace commercial, racheter Twitter ou de relancer l'essor des réseaux sociaux, ils étaient les créateurs inconnus d'une start-up de paiement en ligne appelée PayPal. Leur succès était tout sauf certain et ne s'est pas fait sans accrocs.