Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Code summary
Margaret O’Mara
Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America
30 mins
Brief summary
'The Code' by Margaret O'Mara is a history of Silicon Valley, exploring how the region became a global center for innovation and technology. It highlights the role of government funding, entrepreneurial drive, and cultural and social factors in shaping the tech industry's growth.
Table of Contents
The Code
Summary of 10 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 10
We need to see through the mythology of Silicon Valley.
At a time when many of us treat our smartphones as extensions of our bodies, it’s hard to imagine that just a few decades ago there was no such thing as the internet, and the few computers that existed filled entire rooms.
This technological transformation has truly been, as Ronald Reagan predicted in 1988, a “revolution.” It has changed how we communicate and organize ourselves, and has fundamentally transformed our political landscape in ways that no one could have predicted.
And it all emerged in Silicon Valley – a once-sleepy area of Palo Alto, California. Silicon Valley is much more than a place. It has become synonymous with a global network, a startup sensibility, and a disruptive way of working and thinking.
The key message here is: We need to see through the mythology of Silicon Valley.
But how did Silicon Valley become a technological powerhouse? There are many origin stories. A romantic narrative peddled by Steve Jobs and scores of others is that it became a hotbed of innovation because it’s always been anti-establishment and steeped in the counter-cultural ideas of the 1960s.
Others will tell you that Silicon Valley is so successful because it’s been so supportive of entrepreneurs. Free from oppressive corporate dogma and government interference, brilliant engineers like Bill Packard and Dave Hewlett were free to turn budding ideas into major businesses, run according to their own eccentric ideas of how a company should operate.
These stories aren’t untrue, but they’re incomplete. They focus on the brilliance of a few individuals while ignoring the political and institutional structures that allowed them to develop their ideas and make them reality. For example, Steve Jobs’s innovative company Apple wouldn’t have been possible without the invention of small and economical computer chips. The company that invented these chips would never have had the resources to bring them to market were it not for the enormous amounts of federal funding they received for research and development during the Cold War. And Steve Jobs became a household name partly because he was born into a system that rewarded white men with every opportunity, while blocking access to women and people of color.
To truly understand the success of Silicon Valley, we need to go past the myth of the entrepreneur as lone wolf, and analyze the political, social, and institutional systems that allowed some tech entrepreneurs to flourish.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Code?
Key ideas in The Code
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Code about?
The Code (2019) examines the remarkable history of Silicon Valley, the lush Californian valley that became synonymous with tech startups and the creation of some of our society’s most disruptive inventions like the internet. With a curious, critical gaze, The Code uncovers the reality behind the myths, and shows that while entrepreneurship and technical genius were important to the valley’s rise, none of its most famous achievements would have been possible without military collaborations and enormous amounts of federal funding.
The Code Review
The Code (2019) explores the history of Silicon Valley and its influence on the modern world. Here's what makes this book worth reading:
- It provides a detailed and well-researched account of the rise of Silicon Valley, offering insights into the key players and events that shaped the tech industry.
- By connecting technological advancements to societal changes, the book helps readers understand the impact of Silicon Valley on our daily lives.
- The author's engaging storytelling brings the history of Silicon Valley to life, making it an enjoyable and fascinating read.
Who should read The Code?
- Entrepreneurs curious about the Silicon Valley blueprint for creating successful startups
- Technophiles wanting to know more about the birthplace of some of our most disruptive technologies
- Social historians interested in the human stories behind the headlines
Categories with The Code
Book summaries like The Code
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Code FAQs
What is the main message of The Code?
The main message of The Code is the history and impact of Silicon Valley's tech industry.
How long does it take to read The Code?
It takes several hours to read The Code. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Code a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Code is a fascinating read that offers valuable insights into the tech industry. It's definitely worth a read!
Who is the author of The Code?
The author of The Code is Margaret O’Mara.
What to read after The Code?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Code, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Unbroken Bonds of Battle by Johnny Joey Jones
- Coach Yourself Confident by Julie Smith
- The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen
- VISA by Paul Chutkow
- How Highly Effective People Speak by Peter Andrei
- Workstyle by Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst
- The Skill Code by Matt Beane
- The Mind's Mirror by Gregory Mone
- How to Listen When Markets Speak by Lawrence G. McDonald
- Atomic Habits by James Clear