Elon Musk Reading List
Elon Musk is one of the greatest minds of our time. He is the Founder, CEO and CTO of SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturing company, which claims that it can drastically cut spaceflight costs “by a factor of 100” and is currently being tested. The goal of SpaceX is to create the technology to reduce space transportation costs and enable the colonisation of Mars. In fact, SpaceX might beat ISRO by developing cheaper technology and we all know that he is the genius mind behind Tesla as well.
In addition to being a brilliant businessman, Elon is also an avid reader. In fact, when he was once asked how he learned how to build rockets, he replied that he reads books. So for all entrepreneurs who want to follow in his footsteps, here’s a list of his favourite books that might inspire you.
The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
Elon has admitted that he faced a tremendous existential crisis between the ages of 12 and 15. During this time, he resorted mostly to science fiction and fantasy novels. He said that the heroes of these stories helped him shape his vision to save the world. As Galadriel would put it, “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life - Walter Isaacson
Benjamin Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the United States. A renowned polymath with skills in writing, printing, statesmanship and diplomacy, he was also well known for his inventions of the lightning rod, bifocals and the Franklin stove. Although he was born in South Africa, Elon moved to the Unites States, where he completed his education, founded his businesses and gained citizenship. Writing on Elon’s reading list on Inc., Contributing Editor Geoffrey James says, “Musk probably sees Franklin as the type of American he himself would like to be and become: a combination of statesman, inventor and businessman.” #Books
