The End of Reality

1. Four Billionaires Are Selling a Fantasy Future

This book seeks to understand the role of four very powerful billionaires—Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg, and Marc Andreessen—in creating a world where “nothing is true and all is spectacle.”

The Technocrats' vision. Four powerful billionaires – Musk, Thiel, Zuckerberg, and Andreessen – are driving society towards a future detached from reality, where spectacle replaces truth. They are deeply interconnected, investing in each other's ventures and forming a Silicon Valley "interlocking directorate." Their influence extends beyond technology into politics, shaping a world described as digital anarchy by experts like the Eurasia Group.

Selling a lie. The future they promote – crypto fortunes, extended lifespans, life in the Metaverse or on Mars – is presented as inevitable and desirable, but the author argues it's a fantasy. This narrative mirrors tactics used by figures like Donald Trump, inviting people into alternative realities. Surrendering to these lies empowers those with the wealth and magnetism to create spectacle over truth.

Digital oligarchy. These billionaires control online access for billions through platforms like Facebook and Twitter. While often seen as progressive, the author contends they are part of an anti-democratic trend, focused on preserving their monopolies and fortunes. Their platforms amplify disinformation and partisan division, which benefits their business models by increasing "engagement."

2. Technocracy's Roots Lie in Anti-Democratic Ideologies

The Technocrats make up a kind of interlocking directorate of Silicon Valley, each investing in or sitting on the boards of the others’ companies.

Historical parallels. The Technocrats' ideology has roots in early 20th-century movements that emerged during periods of societal crisis and technological upheaval. Italian Futurism, founded by Filippo Marinetti, glorified technology, speed, violence, and rejected the past, eventually merging with fascism under Mussolini. This movement provided a template for combining innovation, disruption, and a disdain for traditional norms and democracy.

American technocracy. In the US, the Technocracy movement of the 1930s, co-led by Elon Musk's grandfather Joshua Haldeman, proposed that engineers, not politicians, should run society. This movement, with its uniformed rallies and authoritarian tinge, ultimately failed but reflected a distrust of democratic institutions during the Great Depression. Haldeman, like many libertarians, eventually gave up on changing society and sought refuge abroad.

Libertarian foundation. The Technocrats draw heavily from American libertarian thought, particularly the ideas of Albert Nock and Ayn Rand.

• Nock believed in philosophical anarchism and saw the state as inherently evil, advocating for a small group of true believers ("the Remnant") to emerge after liberalism failed.
• Ayn Rand's objectivist philosophy, emphasizing radical individualism and rejecting altruism, became a guiding light for modern libertarianism, influencing figures like Peter Thiel and Paul Ryan.
• This ideology views government regulation and taxation as oppressive and sees market forces as the only legitimate form of social organization.

3. The Technocrats Operate Outside Norms, Seeking Monopoly and Influence

All four of them seem to take the attitude that the ordinary rules of civility, law, and business conduct don’t apply to them.

Disdain for rules. The Technocrats share a "move fast and break things" mentality, believing technological progress should not be hindered by government, moral objections, or even existing laws. They operate with a sense of entitlement, often flaunting regulations (like Musk with the SEC) and engaging in aggressive tactics to eliminate competition. Peter Thiel famously stated, "Competition is for suckers."

Monopoly as a goal. Unlike earlier tech pioneers who focused on building tools for empowerment, today's Technocrats aim to build monopolies to control markets and extract value. Ben Thompson's "aggregation theory" explains how digital platforms achieve dominance by controlling user demand, leading to winner-take-most scenarios.

• Google dominates search advertising.
• Meta controls major social media platforms.
• Amazon dominates online retail.

Political influence. The Technocrats actively seek political influence to protect their interests and advance their ideology.

• They lobby heavily against regulation.
• They fund political candidates who align with their views (like Thiel supporting MAGA candidates).
• They leverage their platforms to shape political discourse and amplify favored narratives.

4. Technology Fuels Radical Inequality and Creates a Precariat Class

As the chart shows, the share of US wealth held by the top 1 percent begins to really rise in the 1980s, and despite a small dip in the great recession of 2008, that growth continues to this day.

Software's profitability. The rise of tech fortunes is directly linked to the nature of the software business, which has extremely low marginal costs compared to traditional manufacturing. This allows for unprecedented profitability and wealth concentration. The share of US wealth held by the top 1% has dramatically increased since the 1980s, correlating with the rise of Big Tech.

Neoliberal policies. The embrace of neoliberal economic theories since the 1980s, advocating for privatization, deregulation, and lower taxes, has disproportionately benefited Big Tech. Policies like the repeal of the fairness doctrine in broadcasting and the creation of "Safe Harbor" liability shields for online platforms allowed tech companies to grow unchecked and profit from content created by others.

The gig economy and automation. Big Tech has created and powered the gig economy, pushing more workers into the "Precariat" – a class of freelancers and gig workers lacking traditional benefits and security. Automation, often incentivized by tax policies favoring machines over labor, is replacing workers, particularly those without college degrees.

• One in three US workers does gig work.
• Automation is linked to increased "deaths of despair" (suicides, drug overdoses) among middle-aged workers.

5. Fantasy Culture Prepares Society for Virtual Realities

And as the fantasy/superhero genre came to dominate the movies and video games, pop culture’s countercultural role faded away.

Escapism as control. The rise of fantasy culture, from superhero blockbusters to immersive video games, serves a similar function to the "bread and circuses" of ancient Rome – distracting the populace from real-world problems and inequality. This trend has replaced pop culture's earlier countercultural role. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, in particular, is seen as promoting a libertarian ideology through characters like Iron Man.

Disenchantment and re-enchantment. Sociologist Max Weber's concept of the "disenchantment of the world" through science is relevant; fantasy culture re-enchants our lives by offering mystery and spectacle. Mark Zuckerberg explicitly frames the Metaverse as a "magical sensation" that will make life "immeasurably richer and more fulfilling" for those experiencing "reality deprivation."

Gaming the system. Video games, especially those involving virtual violence and crime, have paved the way for the Metaverse by demonstrating people's willingness to spend hours in fantasy worlds. The rise of game streaming platforms like Twitch and the dream of becoming a "creator" reflect a desire for fame and escape from mundane reality, even though only a tiny fraction achieve significant success.

6. Social Media and Disinformation Erode Reality and Democracy

The rise of social networks correlates with the metastasis of social distrust, and as you will see, political polarization could get worse in the new world the Technocrats are planning for us.

The outrage machine. Social media platforms, particularly Facebook and Twitter, have become engines of polarization and distrust. Algorithms designed to maximize "engagement" prioritize emotionally charged content, leading to an "outrage machine" that makes online life uglier and more divisive. This benefits platforms financially as anger keeps users glued to their feeds.

Conspiracy theories and cults. Social media has fueled the spread of conspiracy theories like QAnon, which thrive on cognitive dissonance and a desire for community among alienated individuals. These theories often employ tropes from fantasy culture and are instrumentalized by political actors to delegitimize opponents and sow chaos.

• 44% of US voters believe the federal government is controlled by a secret cabal.
• QAnon activity tripled on Facebook between March and June 2020.

Weaponizing propaganda. Figures like Steve Bannon and Peter Thiel have used social media to implement a strategy of "flooding the zone with shit," overwhelming the public with disinformation to disorient them and make reality seem unknowable. This tactic, borrowed from historical authoritarian regimes, aims to break down information spaces and undermine democracy.

7. Crypto is a Con Built on Libertarian Magical Thinking

Bitcoin has no reason to exist. It delivers no meaningful benefit for society. It is a form of gambling, propelled by naked greed and generating vast quantities of CO2 emissions.

Unreal currency. Crypto currencies like Bitcoin are presented as a revolutionary alternative to government-controlled "fiat money," but the author argues they are based on "libertarian magical thinking" and lack real value. Despite claims of decentralization, control is highly centralized among early investors ("whales") who profit at the expense of later adopters. The recent market crash has exposed the fragility and speculative nature of crypto.

Scams and fraud. The crypto ecosystem is rife with scams, fraud, and manipulation. The anonymity afforded by crypto facilitates illegal activities like tax evasion, money laundering, and ransomware. The collapse of major exchanges like FTX has resulted in massive losses for ordinary investors, particularly those targeted by cynical marketing campaigns featuring celebrities.

• Losses in crypto scams were 60 times higher in 2022 than in 2018.
• More than 80% of NFTs created on OpenSea were plagiarized or fake.

Regulatory resistance. Crypto advocates, including Technocrats like Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel, actively lobby against government regulation. They exploit the complexity of the technology to create loopholes and avoid oversight, ensuring the market remains favorable to early investors and large holders. This resistance hinders efforts to protect consumers and address the negative externalities of crypto mining and fraud.

8. Mars Colonization is a Costly, Unrealistic Ego Trip

Put bluntly, Musk’s idea of Martian space colonies is insane.

Fantasy destination. Elon Musk's ambition to colonize Mars is presented as a grand vision for humanity's future, but the author argues it's a costly, unrealistic ego trip. Despite Mars being a lifeless desert, the idea of a human colony persists, driven by a mix of scientific curiosity, geopolitical competition, and the promise of future profits from mining.

Scientific skepticism. Many scientists, particularly those involved in robotic Mars exploration, believe sending humans is unnecessary and adds enormous cost and danger without significant scientific benefit. Robotic probes are capable of conducting the necessary research to understand Mars's past and its implications for Earth's future.

• Landing a human crew requires 100 times the cargo of a rover mission.
• Mars lacks a magnetic field, exposing humans to dangerous radiation.
• Terraforming Mars is far more difficult than stabilizing Earth's climate.

Public funding for private dreams. Musk's Mars plans rely heavily on public funding, despite his libertarian rhetoric against government spending. SpaceX has received billions in government contracts and subsidies, and Musk seeks trillions more for a Mars colony. This diverts resources from pressing real-world problems like climate change and infrastructure.

9. Transhumanism Threatens Equality and Human Nature

If we start transforming ourselves into something superior, what rights will these enhanced creatures claim, and what rights will they possess when compared to those left behind?

Merging human and machine. Transhumanism, the idea of enhancing humans through technology, is seen as a dangerous project that could fundamentally alter human nature and exacerbate inequality. From virtual reality avatars to genetic engineering and life extension, these technologies blur the lines between human and machine, potentially creating a divide between enhanced elites and unenhanced masses.

Seeking immortality. Peter Thiel, driven by a fear of death, is a major investor in life-extension research, including controversial methods like parabiosis (young blood transfusions). While some scientists pursue legitimate aging research, others promote speculative ideas about living for thousands of years, often lacking scientific consensus. This pursuit of eternal life for the wealthy raises profound ethical questions about resource allocation when millions die young from preventable causes.

Autonomous weapons. The transhumanist vision extends to warfare, with Technocrats like Andreessen and Thiel investing in autonomous weapons systems ("killer robots") and AI for military use. They argue this removes humans from danger and ensures US global hegemony, but critics warn it lowers the threshold for war, increases civilian casualties due to AI bias, and raises ethical concerns about machines making life-or-death decisions.

10. We Must Resist the End of Reality and Choose Realism

To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle.

The fight for reality. The Technocrats' projects and the disinformation they enable threaten the foundation of democracy by eroding shared reality and fostering division. The rise of neofascism, fueled by conspiracy theories and identity politics amplified on social media, seeks to dismantle democratic institutions and establish authoritarian rule.

Resistance is necessary. Facing threats to democracy and the environment, submission is not an option. Resistance involves rejecting the fantasy futures offered by the Technocrats and focusing on real-world problems and solutions. This requires both individual choices and collective political action.

Choosing realism and regeneration. An alternative path lies in embracing realism and regenerative economics – an economic philosophy focused on sustainability, equity, and restoring natural and social systems. This contrasts with the extractive, growth-obsessed model favored by the Technocrats.

• Regenerative principles include holistic wealth (valuing human and natural capital), empowered participation, and circular resource flow.
• Examples include regenerative farming, sustainable building, and circular fashion initiatives.

Actionable steps. Resisting the end of reality involves:

• Rejecting Technocrat-promoted technologies like VR headsets, crypto, and life-extension therapies.
• Opposing public funding for unrealistic ventures like Mars colonies.
• Advocating for government regulation of Big Tech, including repealing liability shields, breaking up monopolies, and regulating crypto.
• Supporting local, decentralized initiatives and a shift towards a regenerative economy.

Last updated: June 2, 2025