Most people only see arch-nemeses in movies. Thus, as a luxury item or a bucket-list entry they are surprisingly satisfying as so few people have one.

In this video I go into some of the thinking that lead me to choosing my arch-nemesis to be the surfer-dude/investor/physicist Garrett Lisi. Since you can really only have one Arch-Nemesis, I thought it was a bit disappointing that there was no canonical guide available (particularly for young men interested in life long rivalry as a motivator) for making a successful decision in this important irrevocable life-cycle event.

If this video enables just one young person to choose an adversarial tormentor successfully, it will all have been worthwhile.

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Transcript

Choosing an Arch-Nemesis

A Video Essay by Eric Weinstein

Hi, this is Eric Weinstein, and welcome back to my YouTube channel.

Today, I’m thinking a little bit differently for two reasons.

First, this is my office—it has been my office for about five years here at Thiel Capital. However, with a reorganization happening, I’m going to be moving out. Some of you have questioned why there’s a ghostly image on the glass window behind me, and I thought it might be interesting to talk about that.

The second reason is a bit more dramatic. Yesterday, while sitting in a parked car, I was suddenly and forcefully rear-ended. The airbags in the other car deployed, and the experience made me reflect on how fragile life is. We spend so much time trying to extend life and make it meaningful, yet we often forget how easily it can be taken away. Had circumstances been slightly different, I might have sustained far more serious injuries. This made me think about what’s truly important—what we should strive to accomplish before we leave this beautiful world.

These two things have led me to a topic I hadn’t expected to discuss: the importance of having an arch-nemesis.

The Value of an Arch-Nemesis

I feel incredibly fortunate to have selected an arch-nemesis who suits me well. I may not have a fleet of Teslas or ski chalets across the world, but I do have one luxury that many people don’t—an arch-nemesis. And today, I want to talk about why having one is important, how you might acquire one, and what you should consider in the process.

Choosing an arch-nemesis is a significant decision—comparable to choosing a life partner, deciding where to live, or determining what field to build your career in. It’s not about the exaggerated, cartoonish rivalries we see in superhero stories. To me, an arch-nemesis is someone with whom you share a deep connection—someone whose objectives you respect but whose methods you fundamentally disagree with.

For example, consider the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X likely shared a common goal—true liberation and equality for Black Americans. However, they had vastly different views on how to achieve it. They respected each other but disagreed sharply on strategy.

My Arch-Nemesis

For me, the overarching goal has always been to understand the physical world—this strange construct in which we exist. What is reality? What are the fundamental truths underlying our universe?

The ghostly figure on the glass behind me represents Garrett Lisi—a physicist known for his “Theory of Everything.” He became famous (or infamous) years ago as the “surfer dude” physicist, someone who lives in Maui, seemingly never held a conventional career, and yet put forward an ambitious idea to unify physics. He’s a risk-taker, willing to live in a van with no security, pursuing physics on his own terms.

Garrett’s approach is rooted in E8 Lie Group symmetry, a mathematical structure that fascinated both of us. The E8 group is an incredibly complex 248-dimensional object, which suggests a way to unify vector-like objects (which give us photons) and spinner-like objects (which give us electrons). It’s an elegant and beautiful idea, but ultimately, I believe it won’t work.

Despite that, Garrett is one of the few people in the world willing to put forth a theory of everything—a bold, comprehensive attempt to explain reality. Even though I disagree with his approach, I deeply respect the effort. It’s not just about refining the mathematics of physics; it’s an attempt at a physical explanation for our world.

How to Choose an Arch-Nemesis

If you’re considering selecting an arch-nemesis, here are some key criteria:

1. You should respect them. If something bad were to happen to your arch-nemesis, you should feel genuinely upset. You want them to stay in the game for the long haul.
2. It should be a mutual relationship. Your arch-nemesis should recognize you as their rival. You can’t just declare Elon Musk or Donald Trump your nemesis if they don’t even know you exist.
3. If you were to lose, you should want them to win. This is crucial. Even though you compete, you should prefer that they succeed rather than see both of you fail.
4. They should be similar to you in some way. Ideally, your arch-nemesis should be close in age and background, so you can see a reflection of yourself in them.
5. They should push you to be better. The competition should be energizing, not discouraging.

For me, Garrett Lisi fits this role perfectly. He has been both an insider and an outsider in physics, much like myself. He has a PhD in physics, while mine is in mathematics. He left the academic system earlier, while I remained longer. We share enough similarities that I can see myself in him, yet we differ enough to make the rivalry meaningful.

The Symbolism of an Arch-Nemesis

The image of Garrett on my office window reminds me of this relationship. I felt better about displaying it when I saw a similar gesture from Floyd Mayweather. After defeating Conor McGregor, Mayweather had massive pictures of himself and McGregor inside his home—acknowledging that, in some way, their rivalry was mutually beneficial.

So, I encourage you to think about whether you are ready to choose an arch-nemesis. Can that decision motivate you to keep pushing forward, even when you feel discouraged? Can it drive you toward your goals in a healthy way?

My friend Peter Thiel often says, “Competition is for losers.” His point is that focusing too much on rivalry can distract you from solving difficult problems. However, I believe an arch-nemesis is an exception to this rule. When I don’t feel like thinking about physics, I remind myself that Garrett is out there, somewhere, catching waves in Maui, working on his theory. Instead of discouraging me, that motivates me.

Conclusion

Since I’m leaving this office, it falls to me—not some anonymous cleaning staff—to remove Garrett’s image from the glass. His then-girlfriend, Crystal, drew it in dry-erase ink on both sides of the window. And I always knew that when the time came, I would be the one to take it down.

To young men in particular, I want to say this: You don’t have to wait to find an arch-nemesis. When you identify someone who pushes you, who challenges you, and who earns your respect, embrace that dynamic. Choose only one. Make it a long-term relationship. Stay in dialogue with them over time, and let the rivalry energize you both.

Thank you for watching. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel.

And now—without further ado—the time has come.

Be well.