The books that built Elon Musk’s mind
"“I was raised by books. Books, and then my parents.” - Elon
“I was raised by books. Books, and then my parents.”
Elon Musk is a name synonymous with innovation, ambition, and relentless pursuit of progress. The mind behind revolutionary ventures like Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, Musk has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible.
But what fuels his exceptional vision and determination? Among the myriad factors, one stands out: his voracious appetite for knowledge. Musk has often credited books as pivotal in shaping his ideas, decision-making, and leadership style.
I read books to figure out how to build rockets: Elon Musk
Non-fiction, in particular, has been a cornerstone of his intellectual journey. From physics and engineering to philosophy and business strategy, Musk’s reading list reflects his insatiable curiosity about the world and beyond. These books are not just a window into his thought process but also a treasure trove of insights for anyone aspiring to think big, challenge norms, and solve problems on a global scale.
Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, an avid learner, or simply curious about the ideas that inspire one of the most influential minds of our time, this list will provide valuable perspectives and actionable wisdom
In no particular order, here is the list of (non-fiction) books recommended by Elon Musk.
ReWork by Jason Fried #Audiobook
From the founders of the innovative software company 37signals, here’s a business book that challenges conventional wisdom by presenting a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship.
Only the Paranoid Survive by Andrew S. Grove #Audiobook
Andrew Grove, the President and CEO of Intel, the world’s leading chipmaker, shares invaluable insights into navigating pivotal moments of change in any industry—moments that can lead to either massive success or disastrous failure. Under his leadership, Intel grew to become the largest computer chipmaker globally, the 5th most admired company in the Un…
The Idea Factory by Jon Gertner #Audiobook
The Idea Factory by Jon Gertner tells the definitive history of Bell Labs, a powerhouse of innovation that shaped the 20th century. From its inception in the 1920s as AT&T’s research and development arm to its decline in the 1980s, Bell Labs was home to groundbreaking technologies that defined modern life. Key innovations such as the transistor, laser, …
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari #Audiobook
What makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us Sapiens?
I read Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series as a teenager and was inspired to make life multi-planetary.
Zero to One by Peter Thiel #Audiobook
The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won’t make a search engine. If you are copying these guys, you aren’t learning from them. It’s easier to copy a model than to make something new: doing what we already know how to do takes the world from 1 to n, adding more of something familiar. Every new creatio…
High Output Management by Andrew S. Grove #Audiobook
Andrew Grove is President of Intel, America’s leading manufacturer of computer chips. However, the management techniques he unveils in this bestselling and user-friendly guide are equally applicable for sales managers, accountants, consultants, even teachers—anyone whose job entails getting a group of people to produce something of value.
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