Paper Belt on Fire: How Renegade Investors Sparked a Revolt Against the University
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Paper Belt on Fire: How Renegade Investors Sparked a Revolt Against the University Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Michael Gibson (Author), Alex Boyles (Narrator), Blackstone Publishing (Publisher)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 75 ratings
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Paper Belt on Fire is the unlikely account of how two outsiders with no experience in finance—a charter school principal and defrocked philosopher—start a venture capital fund to short the higher education bubble. Against the contempt of the education establishment, they discover, mentor, and back the leading lights in the next generation of dropout innovators and in the end make their investors millions.

Can such a madcap strategy help renew American creativity? Who would do such a thing?

This story is the behind-the-scenes romp of one team that threw educational authorities into a panic. It fuses real-life personal drama with history, science, and philosophy to show how higher education and other institutions must evolve to meet the dire challenges of tomorrow.

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  1. Listening Length
    11 hours and 18 minutes
  2. Author
    Michael Gibson
  3. Narrator
    Alex Boyles
  4. Audible release date
    November 29, 2022
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Blackstone Publishing
  7. ASIN
    B0B8LT7SPQ
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 11 hours and 18 minutes
Author Michael Gibson
Narrator Alex Boyles
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date November 29, 2022
Publisher Blackstone Publishing
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0B8LT7SPQ
Best Sellers Rank #197,363 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#43 in Biographies of Educators (Audible Books & Originals)
#633 in Educator Biographies
#1,280 in Entrepreneurship (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
75 global ratings
A manifesto by the modern-day Tom Wolfe
5 Stars
A manifesto by the modern-day Tom Wolfe
The world needs another book about investing like it needs more mosquitos. Thankfully, Michael Gibson knows this and this is not simply a book about investing. While Paper Belt on Fire touches on techno-optimism, stagnation vs. progress, credentialism, seasteading and charter cities, Iron Man curing diabetes, self-driving cars, and quantum computing, it's so much more. This is an adventure.I've had a front-row seat watching many of the stories in this book unfold (disclosure that I've had the pleasure to work at 1517 for the last few years) and Michael's style not only captures the absurdity and reality of so many of these situations so well, it captures it in a way that makes you want to keep reading every page even though you know exactly what comes next.I was trying to put my finger on Michael's style recently. His narrative nonfiction always grabs the attention in a way that so few are able to successfully do. And he's able to craft such an interesting story with details that others would otherwise ignore or gloss over.Then it hit me: it's Tom Wolfe.This book reads just like the narrative nonfiction style of greats such as From Bauhaus to Our House or The Right Stuff. Sure, The Right Stuff is ostensibly about going to space but it is really, actually about heroism and adventure and the men who have, well, the right stuff to take on that challenge.In the same way, this book is about technology and credentialism and stagnation on the surface. Below that surface, there's a story about the people it takes to set the Paper Belt on fire and ignite a whole new generation of adventuring problem solvers, scientists, innovators, and founders. It's a journey to the edge of what is possible -- really, truly possible because it has been seen by Michael's own eyes -- and back.Put down the exposes written by "experts" from the outside looking in and pick up this book if you want a real adventure from those lighting that Paper Belt on Fire.
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Top reviews from the United States

nays
5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book provides a great look into the near future and is a great read for anyone in early adult hood.
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Danielle Strachman
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, fun, and a guide for the future!
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
I have worked with Michael for 12 years through our adventures building the Thiel Fellowship and starting 1517 together. Needless to say, my bias was positive before I ever read the book.

But that said, I was truly floored at the craft in which Michael weaves riveting personal narrative with historical facts and science deep dives (My mom says it best, "Michael is a *really* good writer!" And my mom doesn't read books about venture capital!). It makes the book a lot of fun to read and I found myself laughing out loud regularly.

Upon getting my copy at his book launch a couple weeks ago, I walked the streets of Manhattan, flipping the pages, eyes popping, "You wrote THAT part?!" many a time. Michael goes into deep descriptions about what it was like to be on the ground floor of the Thiel Fellowship, raise our first two funds for 1517, what it's like to be crammed down by investors up the stack, and the triumphs and sorrows as we are on the venture ride with our teams. Interweaved is Michael's personal story of searching for his father and working to unravel who he is. Michael concludes the story with a call to action for which problems need the most minds on them right now for our society to flourish further. A beacon for what needs to be done!

I have always said that Michael is the most well read person that I know which makes him a great fund partner since he knows something (and sometimes a lot of somethings) about many things. Stephen King in his memoir "On Writing" advises writers to be great readers as it pulls their craft forward seeing and dissecting different styles and nuance.

Kudos to you Michael for being both a great reader and writer and now sharing it with the masses!
30 people found this helpful
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Jared from Iowa
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Read
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
I've known of Michael for years, and when I heard he had a book coming out I was excited- the guy was the co-founder of the Thiel Fellowship and a well known investor. I was not expecting the book to be well written. I've read dozens of Silicon Valley-adjacent memoirs, and they usually are a) useful, b) have a few interesting anecdotes, and c) clunky. Michael's book is the opposite of clunky. It's funny, coherent, and gripping- I read most if it in a day, and remember nearly every page. It's a shockingly fun read, that encouraged me to think more about how to be a renegade, how to have fun while working, and how to be much more cool. Michael Gibson is one of the few people left in our sterile and professional world that is genuinely cool, and this book is cool, too.
5 people found this helpful
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Zachary Slayback
5.0 out of 5 stars A manifesto by the modern-day Tom Wolfe
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
The world needs another book about investing like it needs more mosquitos. Thankfully, Michael Gibson knows this and this is not simply a book about investing. While Paper Belt on Fire touches on techno-optimism, stagnation vs. progress, credentialism, seasteading and charter cities, Iron Man curing diabetes, self-driving cars, and quantum computing, it's so much more. This is an adventure.

I've had a front-row seat watching many of the stories in this book unfold (disclosure that I've had the pleasure to work at 1517 for the last few years) and Michael's style not only captures the absurdity and reality of so many of these situations so well, it captures it in a way that makes you want to keep reading every page even though you know exactly what comes next.

I was trying to put my finger on Michael's style recently. His narrative nonfiction always grabs the attention in a way that so few are able to successfully do. And he's able to craft such an interesting story with details that others would otherwise ignore or gloss over.

Then it hit me: it's Tom Wolfe.

This book reads just like the narrative nonfiction style of greats such as From Bauhaus to Our House or The Right Stuff. Sure, The Right Stuff is ostensibly about going to space but it is really, actually about heroism and adventure and the men who have, well, the right stuff to take on that challenge.

In the same way, this book is about technology and credentialism and stagnation on the surface. Below that surface, there's a story about the people it takes to set the Paper Belt on fire and ignite a whole new generation of adventuring problem solvers, scientists, innovators, and founders. It's a journey to the edge of what is possible -- really, truly possible because it has been seen by Michael's own eyes -- and back.

Put down the exposes written by "experts" from the outside looking in and pick up this book if you want a real adventure from those lighting that Paper Belt on Fire.
Customer image
Zachary Slayback
5.0 out of 5 stars A manifesto by the modern-day Tom Wolfe
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2022
The world needs another book about investing like it needs more mosquitos. Thankfully, Michael Gibson knows this and this is not simply a book about investing. While Paper Belt on Fire touches on techno-optimism, stagnation vs. progress, credentialism, seasteading and charter cities, Iron Man curing diabetes, self-driving cars, and quantum computing, it's so much more. This is an adventure.

I've had a front-row seat watching many of the stories in this book unfold (disclosure that I've had the pleasure to work at 1517 for the last few years) and Michael's style not only captures the absurdity and reality of so many of these situations so well, it captures it in a way that makes you want to keep reading every page even though you know exactly what comes next.

I was trying to put my finger on Michael's style recently. His narrative nonfiction always grabs the attention in a way that so few are able to successfully do. And he's able to craft such an interesting story with details that others would otherwise ignore or gloss over.

Then it hit me: it's Tom Wolfe.

This book reads just like the narrative nonfiction style of greats such as From Bauhaus to Our House or The Right Stuff. Sure, The Right Stuff is ostensibly about going to space but it is really, actually about heroism and adventure and the men who have, well, the right stuff to take on that challenge.

In the same way, this book is about technology and credentialism and stagnation on the surface. Below that surface, there's a story about the people it takes to set the Paper Belt on fire and ignite a whole new generation of adventuring problem solvers, scientists, innovators, and founders. It's a journey to the edge of what is possible -- really, truly possible because it has been seen by Michael's own eyes -- and back.

Put down the exposes written by "experts" from the outside looking in and pick up this book if you want a real adventure from those lighting that Paper Belt on Fire.
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20 people found this helpful
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AtlanticFlyer
5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing like it
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2022
Verified Purchase
I'm on my second time through already, and still can't put out the light and sleep.
Michael's story is wound into a multi themed work that's exciting, reflective, thought-provoking, challenging, futuristic, and just plain fun.
I found myself laughing out loud and exclaiming, "Oh My God!", and yelling to my wife, "did you read this part yet? Listen, Listen to this!"
The first chapter grabs you right away, and makes you ache for more.
You've got to take this book on your next flight, but be ready to answer when someone says,"that looks good."
Got to get back to reading now...
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Alex Palmer
5.0 out of 5 stars It's not a book about business, it is a book about people.
Reviewed in Canada on January 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
Punctuated by the rally cries seeking to inspire deeper examination of the anemic western institutions, this one is a generous and delicious read.

The book stands out as poetically written, but that poetry (as all good poetry) speaks of people and what they are like in real life. The life not speculated over in tabloid publications masquerading as journalism.

As all good stories, Paper Belt on Fire has anecdotes and re-telling of some key moments in recent innovator/founder/funder history.
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Pablo Peniche
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read!
Reviewed in Mexico on January 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
Michael is a great writer and this book is thought-provoking, showing a different side of Silicon Valley
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Namik Abasov
5.0 out of 5 stars Michael will take you through an exciting and thought-provoking adventure
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2022
Verified Purchase
In Paper Belt on Fire, Michael Gibson manages to craft a thrilling tale of adventure and innovation that is sure to captivate any reader.

At its core, this book is a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of technology and society, and how advancements in science and engineering can lead to incredible progress and opportunities for growth. Gibson weaves together a diverse array of topics, from self-driving cars to analysing research papers of academics on the average age of inventors, to paint a vivid picture of history, the future, and the potential future holds.

But beyond the discussions of technology and its potential, Paper Belt on Fire also delves into the human stories behind the innovations. Gibson does a fantastic job of bringing to life the personalities and motivations of the entrepreneurs and visionaries who are driving these exciting advancements.

Michael will take you through an exciting and thought-provoking adventure that will leave you asking many questions about the current education system and society.
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