Napkin Math

Profit and power in technology.

May 7, 2024

The Right Kind of Asshole

A founder’s personality can differentiate them—or destroy them

Dec 5, 2023

Death of a Flywheel

Amazon and Berkshire Hathaway got really big. Here’s why it might kill them.

Aug 27, 2024

Benevolent Billionaire or Despot—Or Both?

A new book on Bill Gates asks: How do you measure a billionaire’s net impact on the world?

Jun 22, 2023

AI Can Construct a Trading Strategy Now

And it means there are big changes ahead for what software can do

Apr 11, 2024

Can the Truly Moral Billionaire Please Stand Up?

My quest to find Jesus Christ with a Gulfstream

Feb 1, 2024

Crypto’s Prophet Speaks

A16z’s Chris Dixon hasn’t abandoned the faith with his new book, 'Read Write Own'

Feb 8, 2024

The One-person Billion-dollar Company

Can AI agents make you a billionaire?

Apr 4, 2024

How I Use ChatGPT (As a Reasonable Person)

My AI awakening

Dec 21, 2022

Meditations on AI Mecca

A dispatch from a hacker conference in San Francisco

Nov 9, 2023

We Should All Want to Be Mitt Romney

What is the point of F U money if you never say F U?

Aug 10, 2023

The Futility of Utility

Why do I choose to do things that aren't in my best interest?

May 23, 2024

Microsoft’s Boring but Profitable Future

The PC giant is making Windows exciting again

Jun 4, 2024

AI Is Transforming the Nature of the Firm

By reducing transaction costs, AI will reshape how companies operate and interact

Nov 2, 2023

How to Win Arguments and Manipulate Managers

Make your spreadsheets shape strategy

Sep 9, 2021

Tech stocks’ favorite lie to investors

How the LTV/CAC ratio is manipulated to take advantage of retail investors

Dec 21, 2023

Should You Fire This Newsletter? 2023 Edition

2024 is the year I go big

Feb 9, 2023

The Meditations of Vinyl Jesus

Music producer Rick Rubin explores the creative process

Jul 27, 2023

Snap’s Probably Screwed (Again)

Maybe Elon should buy it

Nov 30, 2023

How I Use ChatGPT (As A Reasonable Person)

My AI awakening

Jul 2, 2021

In Practice: My Newest Beta Product

Come take an early peak at the future

Dec 8, 2022

The Primary Trends I’m Investing In Next Year

China, boring AI, vertical SaaS, and Apple's power

Mar 30, 2022

Twitter’s Probably Screwed

The Rugged Landscape of Digital Advertising

Nov 3, 2022

How Elon Wins

Twitter needs to pursue the algorithmic feed

Oct 5, 2023

Automate the Simple Stuff With Stupid Tools

This is the dumbest AI will ever be—and it’s still magic