Two books on Silicon Valley

I have recently read two books on Silicon Valley. One is already a best-seller:

Valley of Genius: The Uncensored History of Silicon Valley

I loved the way the author used interview transcripts. He had created a linear history of Silicon Valley by juxtaposing interview fragments and he interviewed nearly all the major actors in the field! I have read many histories but I would say one should not ignore this one to have a more humane perspective on the rise of new global elites.

Well, I do not normally portray tech leaders as such but this is increasingly the case. This is even more encouraged in reading this:

Live Work Work Work Die: A Journey into the Savage Heart of Silicon Valley

This is the history of contemporary Silicon Valley and although I am not as pessimistic as the author, it is quite a bleak scene we introduced to. The author starts with the everyday life difficulties of being in the Valley, economic entrapments of start-up investments and ends with weird and increasingly dangerous ideological leanings of tech elites. The author acted like an ethnographer and you will find many details about the current Valley culture. All the naivete of early years is long gone now…