Silicon valley icon Marc Andreessen explores investing, decision making, and the art of solving unsolvable problems.

In this discussion, Andreessen reveals why the Internet has become the conduit for some people to disrupt traditional power structures and for others to enforce them, optimistic and pessimistic scenarios for the future of the Internet, assessing judgment, and the book he turns to for insight.

Andreessen is a co-founder and general partner at the venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, and has invested in companies such as Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Skype, among others. He co-created the highly influential Mosaic internet browser and co-founded Netscape, and has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time.

View all book recommendations here: https://fs.blog/knowledge-podcast/mar...


00:00 - Intro
02:13 - Why Marc “reads backwards” to understand the world
03:57 - Societies reaction to new technology
07:51 - How technology influences social hierarchy
16:00 - The idea of free information
17:48 - Optimistic side for the next ten years
23:00 - Pessimistic side for the next ten years
26:25 - How to not get burned from past failures
29:31 - How to extract the right lessons from an experience
34:13 - How do you assess the judgement of founders
38:40 - The three types of venture investments
42:23 - Decision making process a16z uses to make investments
47:44 - How probabilistic thinking can help you make great decisions
51:29 - The problem with the education system
59:28 - Political policy platform that encourages innovation
01:06:10 - Mental Model of Elon Musk and others
1:12:10 - How to not become complacent
1:14:04 - The last book Marc re-read

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ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE PROJECT

Like the mentor you’ve always dreamed of having, The Knowledge Project shares timely yet timeless lessons for work and life. Past guests include Naval Ravikant, Daniel Kahneman, Jim Collins, Angela Duckworth, Seth Godin, Melanie Mitchell, & Esther Perel.

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