‘At Meta I found myself wrestling my deputy in an MMA gym’: Nick Clegg on the culture shock of Silicon Valley

In an exclusive extract from his new book, the former Meta number two recalls the mindset, the mantras and the man at the top• Read an interview with Nick Clegg hereI’m not a creature of Silicon Valley. I didn’t study computer science. I’ve never written a line of code. I haven’t spent my career immersed in the processes, debates and science of technological progress. I came to Meta, Facebook as it then was, in 2018 as an emigre from the world of British and European politics. I wasn’t really sure what to expect.As an Englishman, I never cease to be amazed by the sheer scale of America. It’s striking, when you first set foot in this part of Northern California, how remote it feels from the power centres of the east coast. It’s not just the nearly 3,000 miles that separate you from Washington DC and New York; the three-hour time difference means you feel out of sync. The day’s news agenda is in full flight on the east coast before the west is awake. The biggest European stories broke the night before. It’s like you’re far away from everywhere. It’s no wonder people who want to strike out on their own, at a safe distance from the prying eyes of the men in suits, are attracted to this place. It’s a natural home for idealists who want to stick it to the man. Continue reading…Technology | The GuardianRead More