The Philosopher in the Valley
Alex Karp, Palantir and the Rise of the Surveillance State
$31.99
- Paperback
304 pages
- Release Date
11 November 2025
Summary
In the age of big data, no company embodies its promise and its perils more than Palantir. This software firm sells some of the most powerful and dangerous technology in the world, ingesting huge quantities of data and spotting patterns, trends, and connections that would likely elude most people. Apart from Facebook, you’d be hard-pressed to find another tech company that’s making as big of a splash – or fraught with more potential pitfalls.
Founded in 2003 to help the US government …
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781398522183 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 139852218X |
| Author: | Michael Steinberger |
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster Ltd |
| Imprint: | Simon & Schuster Ltd |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 304 |
| Release Date: | 11 November 2025 |
| Weight: | 334g |
| Dimensions: | 234mm x 153mm x 19mm |
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What They're Saying
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 *‘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) *
About The Author
Michael Steinberger
Michael Steinberger is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine.
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