If you want a *really* deep dive into LoTR, including discussions of the worldbuilding, Tolkien himself, the lore, and everything associated with it, check this out:
I think these tech bros misread Tolkien in much the way that millions misread the New Testament. They pick and choose the parts that match their desires and ignore the overall message. If you want to think about them as an Ent might, they admire a few trees and ignore the forest.
Overall, The Lord of the Rings suggests that the best thing to do with power - symbolized by the ring itself - is to recognize its tempting danger and then get rid of it.
I want to be generous and say that perhaps Tolkien and LotR is a touchstone for Thiel and his epigones; he (and perhaps they) read the books when they were younger and innocent lads and the books made a huge, lasting impact on them. So they 'honor' their memory of the books by appropriating a few key words and terms...
Except their act of honor is, for many people (me included), more a disgrace than an honor. I would prefer they use their other touchstone, Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged. They could name their companies and projects, Galt's [Big] Gulp for the portfolio management venture, Train in Tunnel for something explosive, etc. I would be good with that. Just stop data-mining Tolkien and LotR. Please.
Thank you for an excellent article. Much appreciated!
If you want a *really* deep dive into LoTR, including discussions of the worldbuilding, Tolkien himself, the lore, and everything associated with it, check this out:
https://reactormag.com/columns/lotr-reread/
Note that at Tor, and especially in this reread, the comments are absolutely worth checking out.
And then, of course, there's that famous rip-off "Bored of the Rings"
https://reactormag.com/tbr-stack-reviews-the-harvard-lampoons-bored-of-the-rings//
"He would have finished Goddam off then and there, but pity stayed his hand. *It's a pity I've run out of bullets, he thought.*"
I think these tech bros misread Tolkien in much the way that millions misread the New Testament. They pick and choose the parts that match their desires and ignore the overall message. If you want to think about them as an Ent might, they admire a few trees and ignore the forest.
Overall, The Lord of the Rings suggests that the best thing to do with power - symbolized by the ring itself - is to recognize its tempting danger and then get rid of it.
I want to be generous and say that perhaps Tolkien and LotR is a touchstone for Thiel and his epigones; he (and perhaps they) read the books when they were younger and innocent lads and the books made a huge, lasting impact on them. So they 'honor' their memory of the books by appropriating a few key words and terms...
Except their act of honor is, for many people (me included), more a disgrace than an honor. I would prefer they use their other touchstone, Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged. They could name their companies and projects, Galt's [Big] Gulp for the portfolio management venture, Train in Tunnel for something explosive, etc. I would be good with that. Just stop data-mining Tolkien and LotR. Please.
Thank you for an excellent article. Much appreciated!
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