What entrepreneurs can learn from Zuckerberg

A conversation with David Kirkpatrick, author of The Facebook Effect

For entrepreneurs, the early days of Facebook is one of the more intriguing narratives of our time. And, David Kirkpatrick, author of The Facebook Effect, does a superb job helping readers understand the players behind Facebook, notably Mark Zuckerberg.

One learns that from the start, Mark's intention was to build something of cultural value and his ambition was to have Facebook dominate the world. At the time, that ambition probably meant taking over college, said Sean Parker Facebook's founding president, who was featured prominently in the book. Nonetheless, as Sean describes Mark, "He had imperial tendencies." (Aside: Sean is also portrayed in the upcoming movie The Social Network. He's being played Justin Timberlake.)

In my first interview with David, we talk less about the details of the book and the storyline, but more about what an entrepreneur could learn from reading this book and whether Mark - based on David's many conversations with Facebook insiders - has as much lasting power as the company he's built to last. Has Facebook reached a point at which it requires a new person at the helm?