📖 15 Books Recommended by Elon Musk

Introduction to Elon Musk Book Recommendations

Elon Musk, known for his work in companies like SpaceX and Tesla, is often called the smartest person by those who meet him.

Whenever anyone asks him how he learned to build rockets, he says, ‘I read books.’

In an interview with Esquire, he shared that he learns a lot from reading. He even suggested some books from his own collection. So, it seems that for Musk, books are a key tool for learning and getting new ideas.

Here are 15 books that Elon Musk finds inspirational.

1. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

This book, with over 500 pages, gives a detailed look at Benjamin Franklin's life. Franklin was a printer, inventor, and later a diplomat and politician. He invented the lightning rod and bifocal glasses, and he helped create public libraries and fire brigades.

Franklin traveled a lot and played a big role in America's independence and its government system. The book covers his personal life and his role in the USA's early history. It's a good read for anyone interested in Franklin and the founding of the United States, similar to Isaacson's biographies of Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein.

2. Lying by Sam Harris

The author defines lying as making others believe something you know isn't true. He discusses rare cases where lying might be necessary, like in spying or to save a life, but generally suggests honesty is the best policy.

People lie for fear, gain, or thinking it's for someone's good. However, lying can create more problems and guilt. Being honest is better for staying out of trouble and being true to ourselves.

The book acknowledges the difficulty of always telling the truth, especially in tough situations. But it argues that honesty makes us better and is usually the right choice, even if it leads to personal losses.

Honest people tend to have better relationships, while dishonesty drives people away. The author is critical of lying by governments and large organizations. Overall, the book promotes honesty as the best long-term solution.

3. Screw Business As Usual by Richard Branson

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur. Richard Branson, the famous guy behind Virgin, takes you on a journey around the world. He meets different entrepreneurs who are solving big problems like environmental issues, health, education, saving animals, and energy.

Branson shares his conversations with these people, adding lots of famous names. He's like a leader who's all about making changes and doing things differently. He's always been like that, ever since he started his first business with a magazine called STUDENT.

The book shows Branson's caring side and even made me cry in the first chapter! It's all about using business to do good things for society. Branson believes that teaching people to use business for social good is key to fixing big-world problems.

He's really passionate and always has a "let's just do it" attitude, especially because he knows we don't have a second planet to move to if we ruin this one.

4. Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes

"Merchants of Doubt" is an eye-opening book that reveals how some groups spread confusion about various scientific issues, not just climate change. Authors Oreskes and Conway explain how tactics used by the tobacco industry to downplay smoking risks were also applied to other issues like nuclear winter, acid rain, and the ozone hole.

The book highlights how misinformation about the ozone hole and climate change was spread for political and business reasons. It also discusses Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring," defending her work against criticism and showing its importance in raising awareness about pesticide dangers.

The authors draw parallels between extreme belief in free markets and attacks on environmentalism and government regulation. They note how this has led to intimidation and silence in the scientific community.

Overall, the book clarifies a lot of misinformation in scientific debates and is highly recommended for understanding these issues better.

5. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

This book isn't just a biography of the guy who made Apple famous. It's like three books in one. First, it's a business guide using Apple, NeXT, and Pixar as examples. It shows how to start a company, how companies can fail, and how to run a successful, creative business.

It's also a history book about the rise of consumer electronics, with lots of drama and stories from the industry. The book talks about the fight between open and closed computer systems and how this shaped the gadgets we use today.

But the most interesting part is about Steve Jobs himself. This book doesn't just praise him. It shows how he could be mean and difficult to people close to him, like Steve Wozniak and Daniel Kottke. People describe Jobs as dishonest and not very nice, which is shocking if you've always seen him as a hero.

Despite his vision and success, Jobs had a lot of personal issues. The book makes you think about how someone so talented could also be so hard to deal with. It's a mix of inspiring and sad.

This book is great for business leaders, tech fans, or anyone curious about the man behind Apple. It's a deep dive into what it took to create the products we use every day and a look at a very complex person.

6. Our Final Invention by James Barrat

This book, "Our Final Invention" by James Barrat, is about super-smart machines taking over the world. The author writes in a fun, slightly sarcastic way, which makes it a good read.

The book says that these super-intelligent machines could become so powerful that they'll be like gods. They won't hate us, but we might just get in their way as they expand across the galaxy.

Barrat also talks about people trying to make AI that's safe and friendly. But he's not very hopeful about it. He thinks it's unlikely we can keep these super-smart AIs under control forever.

He even discusses the idea of combining AI with human brains to keep it moral. But he points out that humans haven't always been great with morals either. Imagine really bad people in history with super AI brains—that could have been a disaster.

Overall, it's a book that makes you think and is a bit of a wild ride!

7. Zero to One by Peter Thiel

This book offers valuable insights for church leadership, emphasizing the importance of thinking independently and not just following popular trends. It suggests focusing on meaningful, impactful actions rather than competing with others. The book advises having a smaller, committed leadership team for effective decision-making. It also highlights the need for deeply invested individuals in the church to ensure long-term growth. This approach can help shape a strong and forward-thinking church.

8. Dune by Frank Herbert

Each book in the "Dune" series feels like its own story, but they're all set in the same universe, often with thousands of years between them. The author had a big plan for the series, which can be a bit tough to follow at times. You really need to read these books in order to understand what's happening, as they all connect.

What's really cool is that, even though some of the first books were written a long time ago, they don't feel outdated. The author avoided the usual old sci-fi clichés about technology. He focused more on ideas than on gadgets. You can see how his experiences with psychedelics and living in Oregon influenced the books.

He also based the people of Dune on Arabic nomads, which was pretty unusual back in the 60s when these books were written. Back then, Middle Eastern culture wasn't as well-known as it is now, so the "Fremen" in Dune would have seemed very exotic.

Even after 50+ years, these books still hold up really well. If you've only read the first "Dune" book, there's so much more to discover. It's a great change from a lot of today's predictable sci-fi stories.

9. Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks

The book is about the Culture, a huge society that interferes with other civilizations, including the Chelgrians, who are somewhat human-like but distinct. The story focuses on two Chelgrian characters: Ziller, a composer on a Culture space station, and Quilan, a soldier on a secret mission. Their stories intertwine with a larger narrative involving space exploration and intrigue. Banks is known for his grand storytelling, and this book ends satisfyingly, making it a recommended read for sci-fi fans.

10. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green is an amazing novel about Hazel, a 16-year-old girl with lung cancer, and her romance with Augustus, a boy who survived bone cancer. They bond over Hazel's favorite book, "An Imperial Affliction," which ends abruptly, leaving them both eager to find out what happens next.

Their deep conversations touch on life, death, and the importance of remembering those who are gone. The book is filled with beautiful, thought-provoking quotes and deals with heavy themes like grief and the inevitability of being forgotten.

Although the characters speak more like philosophers than teenagers, it makes the story even more impactful. It's a sad and heartbreaking tale, but it's absolutely worth reading for its depth and exploration of hope amidst despair. This book is a memorable story about the power of memory itself.

11. The Machine Stops by E. M. Forster

E.M. Forster's 'The Machine Stops' is a story way ahead of its time. It imagines a world where people don't really meet each other but talk through technology instead. The main character, Vashti, has thousands of 'friends' online but hasn't met any of them in person. Her son wants to do physical things like going outside, which is unusual in their world where a big machine takes care of everyone's needs and is almost like a god to them. But then, just like the title says, the machine breaks down. I won't spoil the rest, but it's a great story to discover on your own. It's a real classic.

12. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

The book is about two buddies, Vladimir and Estragon, waiting for someone named Godot. But we never find out who Godot is—maybe he's like God, or maybe not. The play doesn't tell us.

Vladimir and Estragon seem like funny, homeless guys who talk in circles, kind of like a comedy routine. It's hard to understand but really funny, like those old Abbott and Costello skits. Then two more guys, Pozzo and Lucky, show up and make things even crazier. Lucky's not too smart, but suddenly he starts talking like a genius, which is hilarious and reminds me of Laurel and Hardy.

The play doesn’t have a clear story. It's more about ideas and has a lot of symbols, making people think about different things.

You might need to read or watch it a few times to get it. It's a classic because it's unique and makes you think.

13. The Big Picture by Sean Carroll

Sean Carroll's book "The Big Picture" is a mix of science and big ideas. He talks about everything, from black holes to philosophy. His main idea, "poetic naturalism," is about seeing things from different angles. He says there's no absolute truth in science, but we try to get close to it.

He discusses topics like reality, gender identity, and the future of technology. He believes in the "Many-Worlds" theory, which is about many universes existing at once. The book also talks about the start of life and consciousness.

Carroll looks at ethics, suggesting that our choices depend on what's good for us. He thinks everything in the universe was set up from the start. The book is funny and thought-provoking, encouraging us to keep going even when things get tough. It's great for anyone who likes big ideas and science.

14. Ignition! by John Drury Clark

This book is super fun to read!

It's all about the history of rocket fuel from the late 1800s to around 1980, told by someone who knows a lot about rocket fuel chemistry. The way it's written is really catchy and funny.

If you're curious about rocket fuel and how it's made, this book is a great place to start. Just remember, it's about the history, not a guide on how to make it yourself. The author explains why some chemicals work for rocket fuel and why others don't, and talks about some scary accidents that happened.

There are a few parts that get really detailed about certain types of rocket fuels. You can skip these parts if you want and still get the main ideas.

But a big warning: don't try any of this at home. Everything in this book is super explosive. The book gives a lot of information, but even professional chemists can get hurt doing this stuff. So, definitely no DIY rocket fuel making!

15. Howard Hughes by Donald L. Barlett

This book is super detailed and tells the story of Hughes's life, including all his business stuff and how things ended sadly for him. Hughes had a tough time with his mental health. Because he was so rich, he could kind of create his own place to deal with his issues, but it seems like it made things worse. The book really shows how all of this happened.

Conclusion

So, these are the 15 books that Elon Musk finds really interesting. They cover a bunch of different topics, from the story of Benjamin Franklin to the future of AI and space travel. There are books about big thinkers, cool science stuff, and even some about the challenges and risks of technology. Musk seems to like books that make you think and maybe change how you see the world. Whether you're into science, history, or just good stories, there's something in this list for everyone. It's a great peek into what inspires a guy like Elon Musk!

If you are interested in other topics and how AI is transforming different aspects of our lives, or even in making money using AI with more detailed, step-by-step guidance, you can find our other articles here:

• Creating Realistic AI Avatar Videos For Free with This AI Tool: A Simple Guide

• 20 AI Startups Raise over $800M (May 10, 2024 - May 16, 2024)*

• Try Before You Buy: How to Use AI to Virtually Try On Clothes at Home*

• Free GPT-4 Alternative: How to run Llama 3 on Your Local Computer*

• Master Client Onboarding: A Quick Guide for Welcome Emails Using AI Tools*

• AI Agents: Revolutionizing Technology for the Future

_{*indicates a premium content, if any}