Elon Musk: How the Billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla is Shaping our Future Paperback – 10 Mar. 2016

Great book about a great man and company, found it easy to read and not so technical I couldn't understand it

A mixed review from me on this one. In some places the author of this book really conveys the sense of drama such as the first few launches of the rocket engine yet in other parts the book can be really dull. We learn pretty early on in the book that if you are looking for praise from the boss then don’t bother working for Musk as you aren’t going to get it. So ok a couple of anecdotes / examples of his lack of any human interest for his staff and we should be done but the book goes on and on introducing different characters who then shortly after get fed up with being treated like slaves and leave his employment. The modus operandi of Musk are exactly the same and there are not even unique tales to go with each departure. Also from about 60% through the book the author seems to have ran out of anything interesting to say and just goes on about random employees that have worked at SpaceX which I found frankly boring. Shame because I really wanted to enjoy it but it kind of run out of steam. It would have been a much better book if more time had of been spent explaining some of the technology and less on describing the education and career history of some bit players that came and worked for Musk and then departed. As one of the other reviewers sated I thought the book (author) redeemed himself to an extent in the last two chapters. One thing I did learn is that Musk sound a truly dreadful character to work for. With him there is no carrot just a hell of a lot of stick! Certainly worth a read.

Picking up this book, I had feared to would only be a praise account of Elon Musk's not too incredible accomplishments but having come to the end (yes, I read the Acknowledgements at the end too 😁) I found a narration of a life lived in a dynamic, cruel, yet empowering world that we all share, yet Elon has thrived in.This book takes you on a concise yet anecdotally rich story of the life of Elon (includes accounts of his great grand parents too) painting the struggles of a child that morphed through different cycles into the person we think we know. It paints instances of his genius as well as extracts of his harsh and sweet sides too. Guess you don't change the world by being cookie-cutter nice. 😅I especially enjoyed how Ashlee managed to rope in accounts of co-founders and their signifance in the companies for which Elon has become the poster child of, the economic and social considerations that influenced them, as well as how we got to have a new sided "Elon did everything" view of these companies in, and more.I have walked away with a great appreciation of the sacrifice Elon and the workmates that have laughed, cried, mourned, and exhibited a plethora of other emotions as Elon's "Unified Theory" has began to come to fruition. I am especially pleased to see the accounts of loyal employees who stay in the dark despite carrying most of the work but being motivated by the common goal. What a tale! It may be sad in some cases but to see that someone, who others would happily take on offering more praise and maybe more pay, stay on because they believe in the dream and goal; that to me makes working for Elon great and worth the pain.Hopefully I shall find out at some point too 😉In short, I thoroughly recommend this book! Thank you Ashlee, thank you Elon Musk and Co.

This book gives a very personal first-hand account of Elon Musk's story. Through extensive interviews with Musk himself, his close associates, rivals and others who have worked with him, Vance constructs a never seen before look at how Musk operates.Starting with a brief introduction to his childhood and upbringing, we see how a history of getting bullied and excluded built the instilled a sense of determination and focus in him, but at the same time often oblivious to the people around him. Bringing these characteristics to his work at PayPal and X.com, and subsequently Tesla Motors, SpaceX, and SolarCity, we see how even when pushed to the brink of bankruptcy and catastrophic failure, Musk still remains committed to his vision - to solve the problems of mankind. Undaunted by personal and business setbacks, Musk constantly pushes the people around him to achieve more than they think possible. And by hiring the very best and brightest, this often results in unprecedented results that completely dumbfound the naysayers.Few individuals have the gumption to pursue as revolutionary innovations as Musk, and this book presents the good, bad and controversial side of this remarkable entrepreneur. A truly inspiring read for entrepreneurs, policy-makers, or simply anyone who hopes to leave that little mark in history.

A brilliant account of Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance and thoroughly readable and enjoyable book. Elon Musk is a very dangerous Entrepreneur. He is one of the Ayn Rand's character from Atlas Shrugged personified, in fact more. If anyone says humans will colonise Mars, then it sounds impossible. But when Musk says he is going to achieve that target by 2025 then he means it and we should be prepared that he is going to make it happen.He has fought mediocracy and sluggishness of humans to do "impossible over impossible",not once but many times.When he says he himself will go to Mars when he reaches the age of 75 (never to come back), that implies till then he has grand plans for earth such as Tesla, SolarX, Hyperbole and others.He is a towering giant of all time and will create a new world, nay new solar system for us. And on earth, he is going to prove that he rules over all the governments and the corporates.