There are a lot of people profiles in this book, some known well and others are not, but all share one important quality: they are some of the most wealthy and annoying people on the planet. They also found the perfect vessel for their own ambitions in those of Donald Trump.

Though the history of the future is of course unwritten, it’s easy to think that this cadre of crypto enthusiasts, defense contractors, and venture capitalists will wind up being significant players when hindsight can be applied. Wealthy due to significant contingencies in the global economy, they have seemingly limitless resources with which to pursue their goal of transforming the government, both federal and local, into a corporate state which they can rule as would-be philosopher-kings/CEOs. By cataloging their words and actions up close, Silverman demonstrates just how illusory this feeling of superiority is, but it’s hard to feel too superior given their ability to use money as insulation from any consequences.

I picked up this book because it was about a group that seemed to be connected but in ways that were hard to suss out from my lowly post as a mid-level government bureaucrat. The economy these men participate in feels so fake to me, but it’s clear after reading this thay they would probably say the same about my work and life. I appreciated Silverman’s emphasis on how cheap credit, Pentagon largesse, and large investments from the Saudis and other GCC kingdoms were essential for their libertarian-infused griping and populist posing.

Though an enjoyable read, the transitions between some chapters felt a bit forced in trying to connect people who were interesting as individual subjects but lacked a more tangible connection. The dry humor brought some much-needed levity to what would otherwise be a grim tour of some of the people most responsible for our current predicament.

Gilded rage : Elon Musk and the radicalization of Silicon Valley / Jacob Silverman. Bloomsbury, 2025.