Just finished reading this book on a long plane flight. In 2023 when the author was a seventeen year old Stanford freshman, Baker took down Stanford University's president with his well-researched articles in The Daily, Stanford's student paper. (This isn't a spoiler, the information has been out there for a few yers.)
On the back of his reporting, Baker won the prestigious George Polk award for investigative journalism, the youngest winner in the award's history.
My one criticism is in regards to his writing on Stanford's so-called War on Fun. I think the university's rules have much to do with the SA of Chanel Miller on the Stanford campus. Miller gave a searing witness statement at the end of her attackers trial which was later published. She later disclosed her identity and gave interviews (so I am not outing this courageous woman). Baker does not put the War on Fun into that context; I think he should have.
That said, Baker gives us a glimpse into a world most of us will never see. During his freshman year, he meets people who have great influence on the world, from VCs to billionaires to Condoleeza Rice. Definitely worth a read.
by AnagnorisisForMe