December 22, 2015

The Hollywood-ization of Silicon Valley

In its formative years, Silicon Valley was known for its tech companies. The people who worked at those companies were well-known within their own industries… but not generally to the greater population. The stereotypical “nerdy, introverted, smart person” was welcomed and allowed to flourish here, but largely persecuted elsewhere.

Interest in Silicon Valley now extends well beyond the Bay Area. With people like Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs (both of whom are quoted in Valley Speak) becoming household names–complete with high-profile movies about their lives–and billionaires abounding, there is a heightened public interest in learning more about Silicon Valley and a new appreciation for its sometimes-eccentric characters. Steven Colbert has even been hosting many start-up founders on his Late Night show. There’s a high level of public interest in these “geeks,” many of whom are now celebrities in their own right.

One of my new favorite shows is HBO’s Silicon Valley, which frequently uses Bay Area jargon as a punchline for its hilarious dialogue. For those having trouble getting the jokes,  a copy of our book could come in handy!

When we wrote Valley Speak: Deciphering the Jargon of Silicon Valley, we wanted it to be enjoyed by those in the tech industry as well as people who just want to learn more about the culture of the Bay Area. The book is dense enough to give new information to even the most seasoned of Silicon Valley ninjas, but also has a light, fun tone for those whose interest is more casual.

As part of our research for the book, we pulled over 300 quotes from successful people in Silicon Valley. Each word in the book is accompanied by quotes from a handful of these elite minds. With a language that’s constantly developing, hearing the words used in context by people in the know is a major piece of the puzzle in getting a firm handle not only on how they are used but on what certain people think about them.

As interest in Silicon Valley continues to grow, we’re excited to see how the language evolves. Will words that originated in the Bay Area become mainstream nationwide? It’s already happening. We hope that after reading Valley Speak you start integrating some Silicon Valley buzzwords into your own vocabulary!

– Steven Ganz