books have always been a huge part of my life. i never expected to have the chance to publish one of my own at age 21. this is a dream years in the making, and you can read HOW TO RULE THE WORLD yourself this tuesday.
The HOW TO RULE THE WORLD book tour begins next Monday! Come hear about Silicon Valley's training ground at events in NYC, DC, Cambridge, Stanford, SF, and more — and spread the word to anyone who may be interested!
Named a best book of the month by @kirkus_reviews , @amazonbooks , @applebooks , @barnesandnoble , and selected as a most anticipated title of 2026 by @nytbooks , HOW TO RULE THE WORLD comes out on May 19th.
Theo Baker is going on tour! Join him on the road as he celebrates the publication of How to Rule the World, available May 19th.
How to Rule the World is a one-of-a-kind memoir, searing exposé, and brilliant journalism wrapped into one propulsive narrative. At 17-year-old, Theo Baker arrives at Stanford ready to change the world, only to confront an ecosystem of power where elite higher education treats students as assets and sidesteps accountability. When Baker follows a lead at the student newspaper, he is pulled into an investigation that escalates across the country—culminating, by the end of his freshman year, with the resignation of Stanford president.
RSVP to an event near you at our link in bio.
😎 Coming in May, one Stanford freshman follows a lead for his school's paper that takes him on a journey into the power, wealth, and greed at the top of our education system.
Reviews are rolling in for this one-of-a-kind memoir meets reportage that you don't want to miss. More at our link in bio.
🌟“This incendiary account . . . is at its most fascinating when detailing his disillusionment with the ‘rot’ at the heart of academia that prizes the appearance of success over the truth. It’s a confident testament to the power of independent journalism from an author with a bright future.” —Publishers Weekly
🌟“In this absorbing memoir, a college journalist reveals how his scoops brought down his august school’s leader . . . brisk and punctuated with well-explained details.” —Kirkus
Some selfies since spring.
Because I’ve basically disappeared from the world for the last year writing, I thought I’d share some updates! (Ft. Natural beauty, digging through archives, a bunch of reporting trips, a vague attempt at James Dean on Halloween, and big game. Also, dc is cold as fuck. And the very first galley!)
Thrilled to announce that my debut HOW TO RULE THE WORLD will be published by @penguinpress on 5/19 — just in time for graduation!
This book is the culmination of three years of reporting and writing, 250+ interviews, and way too many all-nighters. It is an attempt to capture the weird, money-soaked subculture of Stanford/Silicon Valley that has so much influence over the rest of the world.
The book takes place over the course of my freshman year, as I found myself dragged in two directions at once: A programmer witnessing jaw-dropping wealth vested in the hands of teens, and a fledgling investigative reporter revealing misconduct despite stiff resistance. This is the story of the kids who are being raised to rule the world—and what they’re learning from those who already do. The corner cutting, manipulation, and avarice encouraged by a system with too few safeguards to catch bad behavior.
Hope you’ll give it a read :) Learn more at the link in bio.
Such a pleasure to work with the talented Elena Seibert! My Instagram bio since middle school has read: “Oliver Sacks fan club,” so getting to meet the photographer behind some of his most iconic portraits, including the cover of Musicophilia, was an honor—and no wonder so many people love working with Elena! She rocks!
We were four hours into our chaotic impromptu road trip when I received a call from the seller: The car I was going to buy had blown its engine. So the entire reason for the road trip had evaporated. Never mind, we decided, why not enjoy ourselves anyway? And we did!
