Napkin Math

Profit and power in technology, every Tuesday and Thursday.

May 2, 2024

The AI Hardware Dilemma

Why new devices are flopping—and how they might succeed

Jan 12, 2023

In Defense of the Unoptimized Life

Give yourself the space to be inspired

Nov 21, 2023

The Case Against Sam Altman

The board is bad at their job, but they may not be crazy

Mar 28, 2024

What Are AI Agents—And Who Profits From Them?

The newest wave of AI research is changing everything

Jun 1, 2023

The Cost of Greatness

What will be the blood sacrifice on your altar of ambition?

Oct 11, 2023

Falling Out of Love With Michael Lewis

The complicated demands of business writing

Jul 1, 2020

Why MasterClass Isn’t Really About Mastery

And other lessons from a 9-figure edtech startup

Apr 6, 2023

We Don’t Know Enough About the Pornhub Acquisition

One of the world’s most important websites was sold and nobody cares

Jun 3, 2021

Product-Led Growth’s Failure

How a Scrappy Utah Software Company Ignored Every Silicon Valley Heuristic and Won Anyway

May 20, 2021

You Probably Shouldn’t Work at a Startup

It’s overrated—both financially and emotionally

Jul 15, 2020

How Costco Convinces Brands to Cannibalize Themselves

An unlikely marriage where both sides win

Aug 3, 2023

Devote Yourself to the Cause of Your Life

Your to-do list can wait

Jun 29, 2023

What Happened to the Creator Economy?

The burden of missed expectations

Sep 26, 2020

Substack Rhymes With Medium

Substack can't decide if it's a CMS or a media brand. Neither could Medium. Their indecision will likely lead to similar outcomes.

Feb 8, 2024

The One-person Billion-dollar Company

Can AI agents make you a billionaire?

Mar 5, 2024

Claude 3 Is The Most Human AI Yet

But that doesn’t mean it's going to beat ChatGPT

Sep 21, 2023

Oh No, I Kinda Want to Work for Elon

An examination of the man-child who would be king

May 12, 2022

Crypto’s Failed Promise

The problem with crypto-as-a-nation-state

Feb 5, 2021

Revenue: It’s Simple, Until It Isn’t

Finally, a clear explanation of bookings, billings and revenue

Oct 26, 2023

Live Fuller, Not Bigger

You must escape the shallow joy of more

Feb 2, 2023

AI Looks Like a Bubble

Investors need to take a cold shower

Apr 13, 2023

Steve Jobs’ Legacy for Builders

A book that lit a fire in my soul

Nov 30, 2023

How I Use ChatGPT (As A Reasonable Person)

My AI awakening

May 26, 2022

The Addiction Economy

Addicted, Overwhelmed, Oversubscribed: How Technology Hooked the World