this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2025
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PayPal and Palantir cofounder Peter Thiel is embarking on an unusual intellectual journey this fall—delivering a sold-out four-part lecture series on the biblical figure of the Antichrist. The private lectures, which will be held at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, represent the latest evolution in Thiel’s increasingly public theological interests that intertwine his Christian faith with his concerns about technology’s potential to enable authoritarian control.

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[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 17 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Any mention of Thiel should ALWAYS be accompanied by a mention of the book he and so many other weirdoes seem to take as their inspiration, and that book is The Sovereign Individual.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sovereign_Individual

The guy even wrote a preface for a reprint of the book!

In 2020, the book was reprinted with a preface written by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.[1]

[–] reptar@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I know this is awfully lazy of me, but tell me more about this book please

[–] jukmehrk@lemmy.org 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Some bullshit dystopian predictions about the future that I guess held some weight(?) and how to come out on top yourself, as a "sovereign individual". It's apparently extremely influential among tech bros and co. Adam Curtis also mentioned/explained it and the role it played in shit like brexit (I think), in his last documentary "Shifty".

[–] reptar@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Repeating myself, but as I said to u/CharlesDarwin,

Thank you! I always appreciate responses when I ask for more info about something I could obviously just search for myself.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] reptar@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Thank you! I always appreciate responses when I ask for more info about something I could obviously just search for myself.

[–] moakley@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I read the description, and it doesn't seem that bad. It denounces nationalism and prejudice. Doesn't seem to align with Thiel's current philosophy.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Thiel says it is the most influential book he's ever read.

There is a summary here. Predicting that democracy will die off and the wealthy will "escape" democracy seems not that great to me.

https://www.thenerdreich.com/the-sovereign-individual-radical-bible-of-techs-cognitive-elite/

[–] moakley@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Now that's a lot more ominous and wasn't mentioned in the Wikipedia article.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

I suggest getting the audiobook and start listening. I'm only a bit in and I get why it might appeal to aspiring or current billionaires...

[–] Mr_WorldlyWiseman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Is Peter Thiel actually that much of an AnCap though? the modern conservative movement doesn't actually care that much about economic liberalism.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

He's called it out as his most influential book. And he wrote the preface to the 2020 edition, so....?

https://www.thenerdreich.com/the-sovereign-individual-radical-bible-of-techs-cognitive-elite/