Elon Musk

By: Walter Isaacson

Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb, Walter Isaacson

The #1 New York Times bestseller from the author of Steve Jobs—this is the astonishingly intimate story of the most fascinating and controversial innovator of our era—a rule-breaking visionary who helped to lead the world into the era of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Oh, and took over Twitter.

When Elon Musk was a kid in South Africa, he was regularly beaten by bullies. One day a group pushed him down some concrete steps and kicked him until his face was a swollen ball of flesh. He was in the hospital for a week. But the physical scars were minor compared to the emotional ones inflicted by his father, an engineer, rogue, and charismatic fantasist.

His father’s impact on his psyche would linger. He developed into a tough yet vulnerable man-child, prone to abrupt Jekyll-and-Hyde mood swings, with an exceedingly high tolerance for risk, a craving for drama, an epic sense of mission, and a maniacal intensity that was callous and at times destructive.

At the beginning of 2022—after a year marked by SpaceX launching thirty-one rockets into orbit, Tesla selling a million cars, and him becoming the richest man on earth—Musk spoke ruefully about his compulsion to stir up dramas. “I need to shift my mindset away from being in crisis mode, which it has been for about fourteen years now, or arguably most of my life,” he said.

It was a wistful comment, not a New Year’s resolution. Even as he said it, he was secretly buying up shares of Twitter, the world’s ultimate playground. Over the years, whenever he was in a dark place, his mind went back to being bullied on the playground. Now he had the chance to own the playground.

For two years, Isaacson shadowed Musk, attended his meetings, walked his factories with him, and spent hours interviewing him, his family, friends, coworkers, and adversaries. The result is the revealing inside story, filled with amazing tales of triumphs and turmoil, that addresses the question: are the demons that drive Musk also what it takes to drive innovation and progress?

©2023 Walter Isaacson (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Well told

I’m inclined to believe that this is a fair account of the life and mind of a complicated, talented, and influential person.

We want people like him to be our heroes but we learn once again that we can appreciate, admire, and even, to the degree that we are able, emulate them. But we learn yet that it isn’t wise to make any single fellow human being our “hero.” While some people have heroic characteristics and accomplishments, they are, in the end, another fallen person, living amongst fallen people in a fallen world.

I’m more grateful than ever that Elon Musk occupies this fallen world at the same time as I and my loved ones. He is making significant contributions. But I am reminded once again that I have to look elsewhere for a Saviour. I believe with my whole heart and mind that I have found him in a man who lived some 2000 years ago.

All I can say is Amazing book

I purchased because I saw the author interviewed on TV and he said he had full access and control of final product. Only knew news stories about Musk so bought it.
It is a mesmerizing book. I could not quit listening. Friends were listening for the first 2 hours and then had to leave and went out and bought it so they could finish it. Definitely a worthwhile listen. I have a lot of respect for Musk knowing his genius and even for his irrational behavior in many instances.

A Complex Man

Very thorough and well written. I understand him better and my admiration has grown but I still don’t actually like him. Being CEO of so many cutting-edge companies is maybe too much for one person. I will watch with interest to see what he does next.

A man on a mission for humanity, not humans

An incredible window into an extraordinarily flawed human being. It is clear that Elon keeps his eyes to the sky and will stop at nothing to get there.

One on hand, I admire his transparency in this biography as yet another open source philosophy to inspire other entrepreneurs and dreamers to tackle Earth’s hardest problems.

On the other hand, Elon is undeniably tortured by his dad and fear of being alone. He executes not by thoughtful strategy, but by ice in his veins taking risks and sheer willpower with no regard for emotions.

Reads like an adventure movie

Great reader of a great story. My only criticism is that the author, like his subject, spends too much time on Twitter. Still a great listen

Awesome book

Awesome and inspiring. Another great bio by Issacson! This seems like a real and honest depiction of a very accomplished and complicated man.

All good

I read the Kindle version and well as listened to the Audible version. Both are excellent.

Fascinating, painful, and inspiring

I was shocked by how much I identified with Elon and how I felt his pain as his story unfolded.

The story is well written and the narrator is top notch.

Highly recommended.

Fabulous book! I’ve already given three copies as gifts and will get more

Well written, well narrated, full of lots of interesting facts. It’s the perfect gift for men and women. Really enjoyed it.

An Education For the Reader

I found this book to be fascinating ! I learned about electric cars, rocketry, AI, and the behind-the-scene workings of Twitter. Reading about Musk’s accomplishments and abilities made mine feel small and insignificant. The author did not hide Musk’s quirks and inability to “play well with others.” Nor did he downplay Musk’s significant accomplishments. He fully explained Musk’s emotional ups and downs. What a complex person he must be! Reading this book was like watching a train wreck—fascinating but still a train wreck!