Slate Magazine | Stanford Was Once a Cradle of Innovation. What It’s Turned Into Is Something Else Entirely. by Laura Miller AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. Theo Baker’s memoir *How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University* offers a vivid, insider’s critique of Stanford’s culture of elite entrepreneurship and unchecked ambition. Drawing on his own experience as a first‑year computer‑science student turned investigative reporter, Baker reveals how the university’s “insider” clubs market students as commodities for venture‑capital funding, how ethical corners are routinely cut, and how a climate of power‑driven competition extends from undergraduates to senior administrators—culminating in his award‑winning exposé of President Marc Tessier‑Lavigne’s mishandled research. The book intertwines personal rites of passage with a broader indictment of a system that cultivates future “masters of the universe” while silencing dissent, making Baker’s account both a compelling coming‑of‑age story and a stark horror‑story of Stanford’s hidden rot. Read more: https://slate.com/culture/2026/05/stanford-university-theo-baker-how-to-rule-the-world-book-marc-tessier-lavigne-silicon-valley-tech-vc.html #Stanford #TheoBaker #MarcTessier_Lavigne #highered #journalism #ScottTurow #GeorgePolk