Elon Musk - Walter Isaacson (2023)

This book was very hard to finish, and I’m going to use this space to explain why. Sure, Elon Musk is the visionary tech titan behind Tesla (e-cars and clean energy), SpaceX (aerospace) and Neuralink (neurotechnology company developing brain-machine interface) just to name a few, but he also is a deeply flawed and destructive figure. The main problem of this book is that it focuses mostly on his role as a tech titan, and it reads like a hagiography.

Musk is painted as a hardcore, badass entrepreneur, but his relentless pursuit of profit often comes with ignoring safety rules (self-driving cars, launching spacecrafts that aren’t ready, and disobeying covid measures), and also at the expense of his employees, who are subjected to a toxic work environment characterized by grueling hours, constant pressure, and a callous disregard for their mental health. Musk’s trail of dismissed workers and estranged friends is a testament to his inability to build and maintain healthy relationships, both personal and professional.

Not only does Isaacson explain this by referring to Musk’s childhood in South-Africa and Asperger’s syndrome, he repeats the mantra over and over again that this “dark side” is the reason for his success. Which I very much doubt: a toxic male alpha is the reason most businesses fuck up in the long run.

Another aspect that is very annoying is that Isaacson doesn't notice that Musk preaches about saving the environment and the planet, but that his actions tell a different story. His ventures often contribute to environmental degradation, and his flip-flopping on climate initiatives reveals a man more interested in public image than genuine commitment. The contradiction between his rhetoric and reality is stark and disturbing. I mean, he has many children in order for the planet to survive (in his own words), but at the same time he is developing spaceships to colonize Mars. Overlooking that this will only be possible for the happy few who can afford it. The concept of degrowth is lost on this entrepeneur. And let's be real: by the time it would be affordable for the common Joe, there is going to be so much crap circling around the earth, that it’s going to be impossible for the rest of civilisation to escape.

Musk’s personal life is equally chaotic, but I admit the craziness makes the book an interesting read. His relationship with his transgender daughter, Jenna, is a painful example of his inability to connect with those closest to him. The strain on their relationship is a heartbreaking indictment of a man more focused on his own ambitions than the emotional needs of his family. It also explains why Musk shifted to the very right of the political spectrum, and makes him, apart from a billionaire who can't build a family or a sustainable future, a very dangerous man.