Moby Dick — A Story for Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs

One of the most challenging books I have ever read from a vocabulary point of view. Close to 400 words that I had to look up. One of my goals while reading through the classics is to increase my vocabulary by learning all new words. This book came close to breaking my resolve. Nautical terms, copious whale terms, classical and Biblical references all abound.

Once you get past all the background material and dive into the main story, it is a riveting tale of one man’s obsession told from the crews’ point of view. It could just as easily be retold as a “visionary” high-tech entrepreneur searching for a “unicorn” (startup worth more than a billion dollars). There is a fine line between genius and madness. This story shows the horrific consequences when one crosses the line.

Captain Ahab is tormented by the one that got away. Having lost his leg to Moby Dick, he searches the world in pursuit of revenge. Ishmael, is a twenty-something year old, who is along for the ride. Much of the story is told from his point of view.

Whalers were some of the first entrepreneurs in America, supplying lighting oil by employing some of the most advanced technology of the day. Crew members also participated in profit sharing similar to today’s tech workers. Mellville shows that obsessive bosses have been around since the beginning of the country. Just be sure that you aren’t following one that has gone off the deep end.