The Technological Republic

Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West

By: Alexander C. Karp, Nicholas W. Zamiska

Narrated by: Nicholas W. Zamiska

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A cri de coeur that takes aim at the tech industry for abandoning its history of helping America and its allies.”—The Wall Street Journal

From the Palantir co-founder, one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025, and his deputy, a critically-acclaimed and sweeping indictment of the West’s culture of complacency, arguing that timid leadership, intellectual fragility, and an unambitious view of technology’s potential in Silicon Valley have made the U.S. vulnerable in an era of mounting global threats

“Not since Allan Bloom’s astonishingly successful 1987 book The Closing of the American Mind—more than one million copies sold—has there been a cultural critique as sweeping as Karp’s.”—George F. Will, The Washington Post

Silicon Valley has lost its way.

Our most brilliant engineering minds once collaborated with government to advance world-changing technologies. Their efforts secured the West’s dominant place in the geopolitical order. But that relationship has now eroded, with perilous repercussions.

Today, the market rewards shallow engagement with the potential of technology. Engineers and founders build photo-sharing apps and marketing algorithms, unwittingly becoming vessels for the ambitions of others. This complacency has spread into academia, politics, and the boardroom. The result? An entire generation for whom the narrow-minded pursuit of the demands of a late capitalist economy has become their calling.

In this groundbreaking treatise, Palantir co-founder and CEO Alexander C. Karp and Nicholas W. Zamiska offer a searing critique of our collective abandonment of ambition, arguing that in order for the U.S. and its allies to retain their global edge—and preserve the freedoms we take for granted—the software industry must renew its commitment to addressing our most urgent challenges, including the new arms race of artificial intelligence. The government, in turn, must embrace the most effective features of the engineering mindset that has propelled Silicon Valley’s success.

Above all, our leaders must reject intellectual fragility and preserve space for ideological confrontation. A willingness to risk the disapproval of the crowd, Karp and Zamiska contend, has everything to do with technological and economic outperformance.

At once iconoclastic and rigorous, this book will also lift the veil on Palantir and its broader political project from the inside, offering a passionate call for the West to wake up to our new reality.©2025 Alexander C. Karp, Nicholas W. Zamiska (P)2025 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“The Technological Republic provides a fascinating, if at times disturbing, insight into the reassertion of US hard power.”—Financial Times, “Best Books of the Week”

“Equal parts company lore, jeremiad, and homily . . . The primary target of The Technological Republic is not a nation that has failed Silicon Valley. It is more cogent and original as a story about how Silicon Valley has failed the nation.”—The New Yorker

“[Karp] and his co-author, Nicholas Zamiska . . . have produced something no less ambitious than a new treatise in political theory. . . . Nuanced, caveated, largely compelling, and reassuringly humble.”—The Wall Street Journal

Incoherent ramblings

Feels like they believe we all need to think the same things (religion or morals or pride in the same thing so we can work towards something better) while constantly complaining that because society has become so unwilling to be dominated by single-minded megalomaniacs we are all doomed if we don’t follow some Stepford level sameness that such leaders promote. It never occurs to them that we all see the world differently. Somehow they think that because individuals in society can loudly complain about what makes those individuals uncomfortable, it’s like some sort of oppressive domination by fashion.

I know it’s an important piece of social engineering expression to know about, but picking random quotes from great thinkers as it does to support their blinkered perspective is at best tiresome and at worst … I won’t say.

Overall 🤨😾😡

What is the point of this book?

I listened to this on audible while walking the dogs every morning. I have no idea what the point is? Lots of big flowery words in every sentence?

Good listen

Like the prescription to cure the nihilism and narcissism of Silicon Valley and the US as a whole

Brilliant and thought provoking!

Alex Karp is a man of keen intellect, who in today’s world, has a unique view on the responsibility our best technology companies and brightest engineers have to our nation state. It is a view that is/was not very popular in the valley, but that does not stop Alex from meticulously making his case. His success in building Palantir on that very notion, has many waking up to the idea that service to our nation, might just be good business as well. Good for you Alex! Count me in as someone who greatly admires your work.

Silicon Valley Lost its Way

Fascinating thought piece lamenting the focus of our greatest tech minds on solving little commercial problems while refusing to support America’s military - whose success is the foundation of Silicon Valley itself and whose continued success is a necessary condition for America’s future including the future of that part of America just south of San Francisco. Thought provoking book, a good contribution to our collective exploration of where we go next.

Dr. Alex Karp is a trailblazer!

The future is ours if we seize the opportunity to lead unapologetically. The US tech industry used to be partners with the US government to stay on the cutting edge of technology. Somewhere within the last few decades, Silicon Valley betrayed the very government that allows them to enjoy the benefits of being in a capitalistic society.

In return the big tech companies focus their efforts and intellect on technology applications for consumers of frivolous social media platforms and applications instead of the future of global dominance in AI technology in all aspects of western society. If joint effort takes place, US tech and government can seize this opportunity to build and maintain AI supremacy.

Lacrimosa

My name is Ozymandias. Look upon my work and despair.

Important read for those who agree the flame of the west must be preserved.

Amazing Perspective

I found this perspective outstanding and learned a lot from it. Karp is a patriot who isn't afraid of the cancel culture mob. In my opinion, other tech companies should volunteer their services to keep America safe. Instead, they take their freedom for granted and feel entitled to security. National security should always be their top priority. Karp understands where the future is heading.

My expectations were too high

Good book. Agreed with many of the perspectives. However, my admittedly high expectations of finding some novel perspective or overwhelmingly persuasive argument were let down.

Very insightful!

Quick listen, excellent points and very straightforward and most of all insightful. Should be a mandatory listen for all college grads