Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy · Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Michael Moritz shares how writing his book led to an unexpected self-discovery, revealing the profound impact of his parents and childhood environment on his adult identity. He emphasizes that imprints from formative years, often absorbed unconsciously, shape one's life as 'angels and demons'.
“One of the things that came out of the book, which I didn't really expect, was discovering who I am and why I became whatever it is that I've become. And that was an unexpected gift of the writing. And it came from this exploration of my family's past, and in particular my parents.”
“Going back and excavating the deep memories of childhood, the sort of atmosphere in our home and in the year in which I grew up. Helped me understand a lot about why I am who I am and react to certain things in the fashion that I do.”
“Because, unwittingly, obviously, every parent leaves an imprint on a child. That's obviously especially true during the formative years, whatever the formative years are, I'm no sort of child specialist or scientist, but before you turn 12, 13, 14 years old, those imprints that you've absorbed in some manner, consciously or unconsciously, those remain with you and are both the angels and demons I think that you deal with for the rest of your life.”