Smart People Should Build Things

Smart People Should Build Things offers a stark picture of the current culture and a revolutionary model that will redirect a generation of ambitious young people to the critical job of innovating and building new businesses.

The author, Andrew Yang, ran for the US Presidency as a Democrat in 2020. As the Founder and CEO of Venture for America (which has ceased operations as of 6 August 2024), Yang knows first-hand how our current view of education is broken. His book blends personal insight, policy critique, and inspiration for a more entrepreneurial economy.

In Smart People Should Build Things, Yang critiques the conventional path of high-achieving graduates flocking to finance, consulting, and law. Many college graduates aspire to finance, consulting, law school, grad school, or medical school out of a vague desire for additional status and progress rather than from a genuine passion or fit.

He argues that this culture stifles innovation and entrepreneurship, key drivers of economic growth. Instead, Yang advocates for talented individuals to create businesses that build jobs and drive societal progress, sharing lessons from his experience with Venture for America.

The book is both a call to action and a roadmap for reshaping the US labour market by empowering creators rather than corporate climbers.