I think what I like best about this piece is the way in which it emphasizes the cultural homogeneity of Silicon Valley and the tension that enjoying and benefiting from that culture creates. It&#x27;s absurd that each of these companies present itself as radical, creative, and free-thinking, when it&#x27;s just another start-up with standing desks and Nerf guns lying around. Even the snack selection is stereotypical &quot;the requisite wholesale box of assorted Clif Bars.&quot;<p>At the same time, the more relaxed, casual, and less hierarchical corporate structures that these companies have adopted can be very rewarding. While they haven&#x27;t yet nailed the work-life balance considerations for many employees, more comfortable environments may end up fostering more productive, more inclusive teams (albeit there&#x27;s a long way to go w&#x2F;r&#x2F;t diversity in tech) [1].<p>Just a plug: I&#x27;ve been a subscriber to n+1 for a long time, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it on the front page of Hacker News. It&#x27;s a fantastic publication.<p>1. <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;nyti.ms&#x2F;1oCxUeF" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;nyti.ms&#x2F;1oCxUeF</a>