Michael Moritz - Lessons From 40 Years of Investing and Writing - [Invest Like the Best, EP.491]

The Angels and Demons We Inherit

Patrick

When I was reading your book, one of the lines or the ideas that has really stuck with me ever since is where does one person end and the next person begin. And this deep dive that you took into the impact of one's history, family history, heritage — on who a person is. I'm interested in this from so many angles as a parent, as a person interested in history, as a person interested in genetics — nature versus nurture.

If I were to sum up the book in that question, what is your answer to that? What did you come away thinking after this deep study of your own family's history?

Michael

One of the things that came out of the book, which I didn't really expect, was discovering who I am and why I became whatever it is that I've become. And that was an unexpected gift of the writing. And it came from this exploration of my family's past, in particular, my parents. Going back and excavating the deep memories of childhood, the sort of atmosphere in our home and in the general milieu in which I grew up, helped me understand a lot about why I am who I am and react to certain things in the fashion that I do.