In most parts of the world, chief executives strive to be steady, straightforward and as uncontroversial as possible. Not in Silicon Valley. The titans of the technology business tend to be outspoken optimists whose quests to challenge entrenched industries and change the world make them seem like megalomaniac characters out of an Ayn Rand novel-albeit flecked with an engineer's social awkwardness. Steve Jobs, the late head of Apple, took on music labels, redefined computing with the iPod and iPhone, and helped change the look of animated films through Pixar. Peter Thiel, a libertarian venture capitalist and a founder of PayPal, wants to set up a floating island that can incubate new social policies. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is spending millions to commercialise human space travel and build a clock that can last for 10,000 years.
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