Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic FutureElon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
Score Modern
What it's about
Ashlee Vance tells the life of Elon Musk up to 2015: his childhood in South Africa, his early internet companies and the sale of PayPal, and his huge bets on Tesla, SpaceX and SolarCity. Written with access to Musk and the people around him, it's also a look at a new age of American invention.
Why it's worth reading
It has spent 32 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's the book that shaped the public image of Musk as a builder of electric cars and rockets.
You'll love it if you liked
Steve Jobs
Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
Shoe DogGood to know
It ends in 2015, long before Twitter/X. Walter Isaacson's 2023 biography covers the later years.
By the numbers
- Readers81 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 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
- #100 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #266 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #524 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future worth reading?
Yes. It has spent 32 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #524 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 78.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future about?
Ashlee Vance tells the life of Elon Musk up to 2015: his childhood in South Africa, his early internet companies and the sale of PayPal, and his huge bets on Tesla, SpaceX and SolarCity. Written with access to Musk and the people around him, it's also a look at a new age of American invention.
How long does it take to read Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future?
About 10 hours (392 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future?
If you liked it, try Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon by Michael Lewis or Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.