Elon MuskElon Musk
What it's about
Walter Isaacson shadowed Elon Musk for two years, sitting in on meetings and interviewing his family, friends and enemies. The book runs from a violent childhood in South Africa and his relationship with his father, through PayPal, Tesla and SpaceX, to his purchase of Twitter, and tries to explain the risk-taking and the rages that come with him.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and spent months on it. Whatever you think of Musk, Isaacson's access makes this the fullest picture of one of the most influential people of the century.
You'll love it if you liked
Steve Jobs
The Code Breaker
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler DynastyGood to know
It ends in 2023, before Musk's later turn in politics. Some critics feel Isaacson is too generous to his subject.
By the numbers
- Readers84 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller64 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz16 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #20 of the 85 self-help and business books we rank
- #78 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #73 of the 481 new books we rank
- #388 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Walter Isaacson
Steve Jobs
Leonardo da VinciThe Code Breaker
Einstein: His Life and UniverseIf you like this, read next
The House of Morgan
Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times
Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning
Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives
1929Explore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 ranked
Self-help and business booksTop 25 · 85 ranked
New booksTop 25 · 481 rankedBooks of the 2020sTop 25 · 555 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 ranked
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 ranked
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedQuick answers
Is Elon Musk worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list and spent months on it. It ranks #388 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Elon Musk about?
Walter Isaacson shadowed Elon Musk for two years, sitting in on meetings and interviewing his family, friends and enemies. The book runs from a violent childhood in South Africa and his relationship with his father, through PayPal, Tesla and SpaceX, to his purchase of Twitter, and tries to explain the risk-taking and the rages that come with him.
How long does it take to read Elon Musk?
About 14 hours (558 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Elon Musk?
If you liked it, try Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson or Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe.