3 chapters across the catalog
Will Hearst, a long-time friend and former newspaper executive, discusses John C. Dvorak's significant impact on the technology industry during the 1970s and 80s. Hearst credits Dvorak with having a keen eye for talent, noting how he introduced him to legendary tech writer John Markoff. The discussion highlights Dvorak's "snarky" but honest product reviews, which could famously make or break a company's success.
MIT Media Lab, Book Marketing and Wired Magazine Hit Pieces
A host recounts a visit to the MIT Media Lab with Will Hearst, where Nicholas Negroponte allegedly bragged about "pre-selling" books to manipulate bestseller lists. After writing a critical column about the lab's inventions, the host was targeted by a "hit piece" in Wired Magazine written by Paulina Borsuk. The story concludes with a comparison to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem using campaign funds to buy her own books to inflate sales figures.
John C. Dvorak shares a rumor about a backdoor in the OpenTable reservation system used by consultants to track the meetings of Silicon Valley executives. He claims to have seen an itinerary of restaurants visited by Will Hearst, suggesting that reservation data can be used to predict mergers and acquisitions.
