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Hey there Bad Asses!
Welcome to the second week of The Founders.
This book is really turning out to be a fascinating read so far! Love them or loathe them, the book dives deep into the origin stories of some of the world’s most impactful entrepreneurs.
Total bad asses is every sense of the word!
What’s really apparent from this book only several chapters in, and which was highlighted by one of our book club members over on our Discord channel is just how key networking has been to the success of these individuals.
It seems they truly leveraged their personal connections and those of others to being together an absolute All-Star team. If this book is anything so far, it is a Master Class in networking!
If you’ve not yet started, then don’t stress! You still have plenty of time to get the ball rolling. Can I recommend the audio book if you can get your hands ears on it! That narration is brilliant.
Join our chat with Jimmy Soni!
Don’t forget to register for our end of month book club call on 26th May at 17:00 GMT (12:00 EST / 09:00 PST). Here’s the link: https://calendly.com/tristanburns/badassbookshelfjune
﹅ Key highlights from The Founders so far…
A scrappy start-up with serious brains
What would later become PayPal began as a chaotic blend of ambition, intellect, and conflicting visions. It wasn’t clear who was in charge, and everyone was kind of winging it—but that messy energy was also its superpower.
Clashing egos, converging ideas
Max Levchin and Peter Thiel had very different personalities and working styles, but their partnership shaped the company's early trajectory. Watching them butt heads (and occasionally align) gives insight into how creative tension can drive innovation.
Move fast, risk everything
The early team operated with near-reckless speed—burning through cash, rewriting code overnight, and pivoting constantly. It wasn’t sustainable, but it created momentum no bank or big tech company could match.
What are your first impressions of The Founders?
● Additional resources
Here are some great resources that Soni has put out it to the world if you’re thirsty for more!
Book: A Mind at Play (also by Soni)
Before The Founders, Soni co-wrote this award-winning biography of Claude Shannon, the father of information theory. If you enjoy tech history and brilliant minds, this is a great follow-up.
→ Check it out
Jimmy Soni on Twitter/X
He occasionally shares behind-the-scenes insights, deleted stories, and anecdotes that didn’t make it into the book.
→ Follow him here
► Join the conversation
What Bad Ass Bookshelf members are saying
We’re building an incredible community over on our Bad Ass Bookshelf Discord channel where over 110 of you have joined in the fun (it’s free BTW).
Here are some of the chats we’ve been having:
Some excellent book recommendations - for both fiction and non-fiction
How we’re getting on with reading this month’s book, The Founders
Introductions from a diverse set of non-fiction book-fans like ourselves!
Got a question for Jimmy Soni?
We’re thrilled to share that The Founders author, Jimmy Soni, will be joining our live book club call this month! This is a rare chance to ask him anything — from behind-the-scenes stories that didn’t make the book, to his thoughts on the wild personalities, the breakneck pivots, and the early chaos of PayPal.
Not sure what to ask? Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
What surprised him most while researching The Founders?
Which founder was the hardest to interview — and why?
What lessons does he think apply most to today’s solo founders and early-stage teams?
Are there any PayPal myths he wants to debunk?
Hit reply to this email with your question (or drop it in Discord if you're hanging out there). We’ll gather the best ones to share during the live call!
Let’s make the most of having Jimmy in the (virtual) room!
♦︎ Next book club call
We're so excited to host our next Bad Ass Bookshelf bookclub call to discuss The Founders at the end of June! Call details below:
Date: Thursday 26th June
Time: 17:00 GMT (12:00 EST / 09:00 PST)
Register for the call here:
Cannot wait to see you all there!
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