The Philosopher in the Valley
Alex Karp, Palantir and the Rise of the Surveillance State
$52.41
- Hardcover
304 pages
- Release Date
11 November 2025
Summary
‘An excellent look at what Palantir does, as well as a fascinating insight into the mind of its eccentric chief executive’
Palantir Technologies is the most interesting company in the world – and the most controversial.
Palantir builds data integration software: its technology ingests vast quantities of information and quickly identifies patterns, trends and connections that might elude the human eye. Founded in 2003 to help the U.S. government in the war on terrorism – an ear…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781398522176 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1398522171 |
| Author: | Michael Steinberger |
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster Ltd |
| Imprint: | Simon & Schuster Ltd |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 304 |
| Release Date: | 11 November 2025 |
| Weight: | 458g |
| Dimensions: | 23mm x 153mm x 234mm |
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Critics Review
‘Well written and researched’ * Observer *
‘Reveals what makes [Karp] tick … A new biography, The Philosopher in the Valley, reveals [Karp] to be a complex, thoughtful, often contradictory personality with a background that explains many of his insecurities’ * Guardian *
In Philosopher in the Valley, Steinberger provides an illuminating account of the company’s rise through a biography of its CEO, based on many hours of conversation with Karp and Palantir employees … While media attention is often focused on one of Palantir’s other co-founders, Peter Thiel, Steinberger’s book shows that Karp has been the driving force behind the company since its founding in 2003. Philosopher in the Valley is riveting and disturbing’ * TLS *
‘The story follows Alex Karp, philosopher-turned-CEO, as he navigates the ethical complexities of technical surveillance and its implications for privacy … Provide[s] a bracing view of the modern-day CIA and the technical revolution that is forcing intelligence agencies to adapt their tradecraft and business models’ – David McCloskey * Daily Mail *
‘As Big Tech’s reach grows, Michael Steinberger’s portrait of Palantir’s enigmatic boss offers a timely study of surveillance … an excellent look at what Palantir does, as well as a fascinating insight into the mind of its eccentric chief executive … an engrossing portrait of Karp, a 58-year-old billionaire … The Philosopher in the Valley will give readers an excellent insight into how Karp and his ilk operate at a time when their reach seems to be becoming inescapable’ * Telegraph *
‘Engrossing … A chilling portrait of genius in the yoke of authoritarianism’ * Kirkus Reviews (starred) *
Michael Steinberger
Michael Steinberger is a longtime journalist who writes primarily for The New York Times Magazine. He has written cover stories for the magazine about Joe Biden, George Soros, and Roger Federer. Before becoming a journalist, Steinberger spent several years working on Wall Street. He is the author of Au Revoir to All That: Food, Wine, and the End of France and The Wine Savant: A Guide to the New Wine Culture.
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