Ambitious Stanford first-year students set on changing the world are turning to this book for inspiration

Theo Baker is set to graduate from Stanford University this spring with accomplishments that go beyond the typical senior profile. He has secured a book deal, received a George Polk Award for investigative reporting as a student journalist, and gained an insider's perspective on one of the world's most idealised institutions.

His upcoming book, How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University, was excerpted in The Atlantic on Friday. Based on the excerpt, the work offers a detailed look at the culture and power dynamics within Stanford. It also raises a broader question: whether a book of this kind can meaningfully influence behaviour, or whether it might instead draw even more attention to the system it critiques.

The situation recalls the cultural impact of Aaron Sorkin's The Social Network. While the film portrayed aspects of Silicon Valley culture as deeply flawed, it also inspired many viewers to emulate figures like Mark Zuckerberg. What was intended as a critical narrative became, for some, a source of aspiration rather than caution.

Baker's account of Stanford appears more detailed and grounded. Drawing on interviews with hundreds of individuals, he describes what some call the "Stanford inside Stanford." According to one student quoted in the book, participation in this inner circle begins early, often during the first year, and is not accessible to everyone. It is depicted as a network in which venture capitalists actively engage with young students, in which early-stage funding is sometimes provided before ideas are fully formed, and in which the lines between mentorship and exploitation can be difficult to distinguish.

Steve Blank, who teaches a well-known startup course at Stanford, characterises the institution as "an incubator with dorms," suggesting that its role increasingly centres on fostering entrepreneurial activity.

What distinguishes the current environment, according to the excerpt, is not merely the presence of pressure but the extent to which it has been internalised. Whereas previous generations may have felt external expectations from Silicon Valley, many students now arrive already assuming they will launch startups, raise funding, and pursue rapid financial success.

Examples of this mindset can be seen in students who leave school early to build companies, often with the support or encouragement of the institution itself. In some cases, individuals achieve significant financial backing and gain deep knowledge of venture capital and product development at a young age. Yet these successes can come with trade-offs, including limited personal time, fewer relationships, and a narrowing of life experiences outside of work.

The excerpt also points to broader systemic effects. Beyond instances of misconduct, which Baker describes as widespread and often lacking consequences, there are personal costs associated with this environment. These include missed milestones in early adulthood and the pursuit of ambitions that are statistically unlikely to succeed. As Blank notes in the book, while all entrepreneurs may view themselves as visionaries, only a small percentage ultimately achieve that status.

The long-term outcomes for the majority remain uncertain, with questions about what happens to those whose ventures fail often left unaddressed by both Silicon Valley and the institutions that feed into it.

Baker also highlights insights from Sam Altman, who observes that the venture capital networking circuit may no longer reliably indicate genuine talent. Students who spend time engaging with investors and presenting themselves as founders may not necessarily be the ones building meaningful products. This dynamic suggests that the performance of ambition can sometimes overshadow actual innovation.

How to Rule the World arrives at a moment when these themes are particularly relevant. At the same time, there is a certain irony in the possibility that a critical examination of Stanford's relationship with power and influence could ultimately reinforce its reputation, especially if the book gains wider attention or is adapted into other media.