Making stuff

by Russ Roberts on August 3, 2009

The latest EconTalk is a conversation with Paul Graham. Graham sees a similarity between hackers and painters (and writers and craftsmen). They all make stuff. I think it’s one of the reasons Silicon Valley is such an exciting place. People are focused on creating. Thinking, too. But thinking that leads to new things. New products. New techniques. He also has lot of interesting things to say about start-ups, innovation, urban development, Cezanne, high school, and the next big thing.

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Tagged as: Paul Graham, start-ups, Technology, ventures

Scatterbrain

Sorry, but I didn't enjoy this one at all. It was much more "journalistic" than the usual high quality intellectual content I've come to expect from EconTalk. I did enjoy your futile attempts to bring Hayek into the discussion though.

sandre

It was excellent. Do more of this - outside of academic economics.

J Cortez

That guy is a great interview. His enthusiasm for his business and the tech industry in general was very apparent. As much as I enjoy the podcasts, sometimes the interviewees, while interesting in their own way, can get a little dry. This was a break from the usual routine.

I looked up his essay on school and while I didn't agree with his theory of class structure in public high schools, I can't help but agree that he is spot on in calling it useless warehousing/prison for teenagers.

Tony Cookson

Great podcast. I love his passion for funding innovation. Great perspective on life too: He nailed it on the purpose for high school.

Ray Gardner

Cool podcast. I had to get over his manner of speech as I felt like I was listening to a hyperactive 20-something, but I really enjoyed the interview.

Graham's statement about the artistic poor rising above the "squalid" and how the uneducated poor tend to mimic the rich with their plastic substitutes was incredibly insightful.