In Praise of Conspiracy Theories
It’s easy to hate on conspiracy theories, but what are the best arguments for taking them seriously?
Here’s one: At a recent dinner, we started talking about John F. Kennedy assassination theories. One guy remarked that historical conspiracy theories are worth studying because they illuminate so much about the culture of the time.
Studying the JFK conspiracy theories is a fun way to learn about the tension between Cuba and America, America’s rivalry with the KGB, the won’t-stop-at-anything political motivations of Lyndon B. Johnson, the mafia’s influence, and the power of America’s Central Intelligence Agency. (View Highlight)
The Lesson of Robinhood
Many years ago, I attended Robinhood’s launch party in Palo Alto. They’d just raised their seed round (I think), and they hosted a party at their office to celebrate. For whatever reason, I remember being unimpressed by the spread of free food. It all felt too casual. It felt like a Bar Mitzvah, not the launch of a major company!
In retrospect, I was naive because my expectations were too high. Things rarely feel impressive in the early days.
Today, Robinhood has 3,400 employees and is worth more than $16 billion. I think about that night whenever I feel like Write of Passage isn’t grown up enough. (View Highlight)
