The New New Thing: A Silicon Valley Story

Michael Lewis’s The New New Thing offers a vivid, deeply human portrait of Silicon Valley during one of the most explosive periods of technological and economic transformation in modern history. Rather than writing a conventional business history, Lewis tells a story that centers on the chaotic energy, personalities, and cultural shifts that fueled the Internet boom of the 1990s.

At the heart of the narrative is Jim Clark, a relentless and unconventional entrepreneur whose rise from a turbulent childhood to billionaire innovator encapsulates the ethos of Silicon Valley: a place where bold ideas and disregard for traditional limits can reshape the future almost overnight.

The book explores the mindset of innovators who push boundaries, the atmosphere of manic pursuit surrounding new technological frontiers, and the culture of wealth creation that redefined American capitalism. Lewis uses Clark’s ventures—including Silicon Graphics, Netscape, and Healtheon—as windows into a much broader story about how the world changed when the Internet burst from obscurity into the center of global economic life.

Jim Clark: A Reluctant Hero of the Digital Revolution

Jim Clark emerges in Lewis’s narrative as a figure equal parts visionary, rebel, and obsessive experimenter. Raised in a troubled household in rural Texas, Clark was not destined for prestige or stability. School provided little refuge—he barely completed high school, frequently clashed with authority figures, and drifted through early adulthood without direction.

His path shifted dramatically after entering academia and discovering computer science, which became the outlet through which his restless intellect could operate without restriction. Clark refused to accept rules or structures as fixed. He built a career out of challenging assumptions, ignoring hierarchy, and rejecting bureaucratic stagnation in traditional engineering environments.

Abrupt departures and personal conflicts trailed him, but so did extraordinary accomplishments. His reputation for refusing to compromise—and for forcing others to confront choices they were afraid to make—grew into legend. What set him apart was not just intelligence, but a psychological makeup wired for disruption.

Silicon Graphics and the Birth of High-Performance Computer Graphics

Clark’s breakthrough came with the founding of Silicon Graphics, a company that transformed digital graphics and provided the computational power required for early 3D modeling, animated effects, and scientific visualization.

The technology shaped industries ranging from film production to aerospace research, enabling breakthroughs such as realistic cinematic effects, advanced simulation environments, and real-time imaging. Despite the enormous success of Silicon Graphics, Clark grew frustrated as the company matured and shifted toward conservative corporate management.

He resented the transition from experimental innovation to risk-averse administration. Public investors, budgeting constraints, and business politics replaced the creative chaos he thrived in. Feeling hemmed in, he walked away from the company he founded, leaving behind a fortune and global influence in pursuit of new challenges.

Netscape and the Acceleration of the Internet Age

Clark returned to Silicon Valley determined to build something bigger and more transformative than Silicon Graphics. He saw potential in the relatively obscure Internet, which at the time was used primarily by academics. He believed that the right software could make the Internet accessible to the general public, and partnered ...