Elon Musk is well known for revolutionary technology like Tesla cars. He may not recommend every book, but he has read many books, and you may find his honest opinions on them, and we absolutely love them. Today we are here with a list of 25 books recommended by Elon Musk.
Finally, let’s see his take on those books one by one, and the first book on this list is written by his mom!
#1 A Woman Makes a Plan by Maye Musk
About the Book
Title: A Woman Makes a Plan
Author: Maye Musk
Genre: Business, Biography
Publisher: Vikings
Pages: 224
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
Firstly, Maye Musk, a Canadian-born model and mother of six, has been a successful entrepreneur for over 40 years. Moreover, in her book, Musk shares her journey of becoming self-made and how she built her empire. However, Musk’s story is not just about business success; it’s also about the struggles of being female in a male-dominated industry. Moreover, she shares the difficulties she faced as a woman in an industry where women are often objectified and how she learned to embrace herself at every stage of life. However, Musk is a strong advocate for women in business and encourages them to pursue their dreams confidently. Lastly, in this book, you’ll learn the secrets behind Musk’s success and the importance of taking risks and never giving up.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
My Mom wrote a book ❤️.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift A Woman makes a Plan, click on the below link:
#2 Britannica Concise Encyclopedia by Britannica Editors
About the Book
Title: Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Author: Britannica Editors
Genre: Reference
Publisher: Britannica
Page No: 2115
Goodreads rating: 4.5/5
Firstly, the Britannica Concise Encyclopedia is a concise and authoritative encyclopedia of history, life, and culture. Moreover, it is an invaluable reference book for students, teachers, librarians, writers, and anyone who wants to know more about the world around them. Lastly, it is one of the finest books recommended by Elon Musk.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Read through [this book]. I’d recommend that.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, click on the below link:
#3 Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie
About the Book
Title: Catherine the Great
Author: Robert K. Massie
Genre: Historical, Non-fiction
Publisher: Random House, Inc. (N.Y.)
Pages: 625
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
Firstly, Catherine the Great is a biography of the life and times of Catherine II, Empress of Russia. Secondly, the book tells the story of a woman who became one of the most potent leaders in world history. However, she was born Sophia Augusta Fredericka to Christian August, Duke of Anhalt-Zerbst, and Princess Johanna Elizabeth of Holstein-Gottorp on May 2, 1729, in Stettin (now Szczecin in Poland). Firstly, the book starts with her early years when she was raised by her mother, who was not very interested in raising her daughters to be successful women. Secondly, it moves on to when she meets her husband Peter III and becomes empress consort at age eighteen. Finally, her story takes many twists and turns, but eventually, she becomes an empress consort.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“I know what you’re probably thinking … did she really f* a horse?”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Catherine the Great, click on the below link:
#4 Deep Learning by Ian Goodfellow
About the Book
Title: Deep learning
Author: Ian Goodfellow
Genre: A.I., Non-Fiction
Publisher: MIT Press
Pages: 787
Goodreads rating: 4.4/5
Summary
Firstly, Ian Goodfellow is a Canadian computer scientist and a deep learning researcher. Secondly, he is the creator of generative adversarial networks (GANs) and co-author of the textbook Deep Learning. Goodfellow’s research focuses on machine learning algorithms that can generate new data from scratch, with applications in natural language processing, speech recognition, image generation, and lastly, machine translation. His work on generative adversarial networks has been particularly influential, leading to many new applications in machine learning research. Finally, it is one of the best books recommended by Elon Musk.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Written by three experts in the field, [this book] is the only comprehensive book on the subject.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Deep Learning, click on the below link:
#5 Dune Series by Frank Herbert
About the Book
Title: Dune
Author: Frank Herbert (and Brian Herbert)
Genre: Space, Adventure, Fantasy
Publisher: Ace Books
Type: Series
No. of Books: 8
Books in it: #1 Dune, #2 Dune Messiah, #3 Children of Dune, #4 God Emperor of Dune, #5 Heretics of Dune, #6 Chapterhouse: Dune, #7 Hunters of Dune, #8 Sandworms of Dune
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
Firstly, The Dune series is a science fiction novel Frank Herbert wrote. Secondly, it is about the battle to control the desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. The book was firstly published in 1965 and followed by five sequels. The story follows Paul Atreides, heir to Duke Leto Atreides, and his family’s feudal empire on the desert planet Arrakis (also known as “Dune”). Paul’s family accepts the stewardship of Arrakis from the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV to provide specifically spice to the empire. Still, they are betrayed by a household member, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen of Giedi Prime and House Harkon.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Brilliant. [The author] advocates placing limits on machine intelligence.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Book 1 in Dune, click on the below link:
#6 Fault In Our Stars by John Green
About the Book
Title: Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult
Publisher: Dutton Books
No. of Pages: 313
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
Firstly, the Fault In Our Stars is a novel by John Green, published in 2012. Secondly, the story follows the life of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl who is terminally ill with cancer, and her love interest Augustus Waters. Moreover, the book has been translated into over 51 languages and has been on the New York Times bestseller list for more than five decades. It also won many awards, such as the 2014 L.A. Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature, which it shared with Divergent by Veronica Roth. Lastly, it is one of the finest books recommended by Elon Musk.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Must admit to liking [this book]. Sad, romantic and beautifully named.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Fault in Our Stars, click below:
#7 If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens … Where is Everybody? by Stephen Webb
About the Book
Title: If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens … Where is Everybody?
Author: Stephen Webb
Genre: Science, Space, Non-Fiction
Publisher: Copernicus Books
Pages: 288
Goodreads rating: 4.2/
Firstly, the book If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens … Secondly, Where is Everybody? by Stephen Webb discusses the Fermi Paradox and how it relates to our understanding of life. The Fermi Paradox is a paradox that asks where all of the aliens are in a universe that is teeming with them. Moreover, this book discusses what we know about life and why we should be able to find it in other parts of the universe. Finally, the author argues that there are three possible explanations for why we haven’t found any evidence of extraterrestrial life yet: 1) there are no aliens, 2) they have not yet reached us, or 3) they are here but not detectable by us.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Great book. Read it when it came out.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift If the Universe Is Teeming The Aliens, click on the below link:
#8 Liftoff by Eric Berger
About the Book
Title: Liftoff
Author: Eric Berger
Genre: Science, Biography
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 288
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
Firstly, Liftoff is a book about the future of space exploration and what it means to be an astronaut. Moreover, the author, Eric Berger, is a veteran aerospace journalist who has been reporting on space exploration for over two decades. Secondly, this book is divided into three parts. Part one focuses on the history of human spaceflight and how we got to this point in time. It also discusses some of the leading players in space exploration, such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson. However, part two focuses on the future of space exploration and what it will take for humans to visit Mars, build a base on the Moon, or even create a permanent colony on Mars. Finally, part three discusses how we can ensure that humans don’t destroy Earth by going into space too quickly or recklessly.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Book is accurate.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Liftoff, click on the below link:
#9 Lying by Sam Harris
About the Book
Title: Lying
Author: Sam Harris
Genre: Psychology, Non-Fiction
Publisher: Four Elephants Press
Pages: 108
Goodreads rating: 3.8/5
In this book, Sam Harris argues that the truth is not only a moral value but also the most important one. However, he says we should always speak our minds and tell the truth, no matter what. Lastly, it is one of the best books recommended by Elon Musk.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Excellent cover art and lots of good reasons not to lie!”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Lying, click on the below link:
#10 Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark
About the Book
Title: Life 3.0
Author: Max Tegmark
Genre: A.I., Non-fiction
Publisher: Trade Paperbacks
Pages: 364
Goodreads rating: 4.0/5
Firstly, this book summarizes the author’s thought-provoking talk on A.I. and its potential impact on our future. Secondly, the book starts with the fundamental questions we should ask ourselves about A.I. Moreover, it raises the question of what we should do with A.I. In addition to this, it also makes one question, how will it change our lives? Why does it matter? These are fundamental questions to understanding how to live in a world where A.I. is becoming more common. The book then details how A.I. will change the world, starting with jobs. It talks about how machines can do many jobs and what will happen when they take over those jobs. It also talks about how this might affect wages globally, as people who lose their jobs because of automation may not have enough money to buy things like food or clothing.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“A compelling guide to the challenges and choices in our quest for a great future of life, intelligence and consciousness—on Earth and beyond.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Life 3.0, click on the below link:
#11 Masters of Doom by David Kushner
About the Book
Title: Masters of Doom
Author: David Kushner
Genre: History, Non-fiction
Publisher: Trade Paperbacks
Pages: 339
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
Firstly, David Kushner’s book Masters of Doom is about the lives of John Carmack and John Romero, two friends who created one of the most influential games in the history of video games. Lastly, the book is a fascinating account of the rise and fall of these two men, from their humble beginnings in the early 1980s to their fall into obscurity.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“A great book.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Masters Of Doom, click on the below link:
#12 Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes
About the Book
Title: Merchants of Doubt
Author: Naomi Oreskes
Genre: Environment, Non-fiction
Publisher: Bloomsbury Press
Page No: 274
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
Firstly, in Merchants of Doubt, Naomi Oreskes and Erik. Moreover, Conway explores the methods used by a few individuals to obscure the truth about environmental issues that are important for public safety and economic development. Secondly, the book is an in-depth exploration of how a small number of people with commercial interests have been able to create confusion, suppress scientific findings, and prevent government action on what are some of the most pressing issues facing humankind. Finally, it is one of the best books recommended by Elon Musk.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Worth reading [this book]. Same who tried to deny smoking deaths are denying climate change.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Merchants of Doubt, click on the below link:
#13 On War by Carl von Clausewitz
About the Book
Title: On War
Author: Carl von Clausewitz
Genre: Philosophy, Non-fiction
Publisher: Publishing Platform
Page No: 182
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
Firstly, On War is an unfinished book by Carl von Clausewitz, a Prussian military theorist and strategist. Secondly, in 1832, Clausewitz started writing his book with the help of his wife, Marie. Unfortunately, he died in 1831 before he could finish it. Nevertheless, he was one of the most essential military theorists. This unfinished work is still considered one of the most important books on strategy. It’s often called “the Bible” for military strategists because it has been translated into many languages and has significantly influenced how wars are fought.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“There should be a chapter saying ‘if you have a decisive technology advantage, you can actually win with minimal casualties.'”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift On War, click on the below link:
#14 Screw Business As Usual by Richard Branson
About the Book
Title: Screw Business As Usual
Author: Richard Branson
Genre: Business, Non-fiction
Publisher: Virgin Books
Page No: 357
Goodreads rating: 3.6/5
Firstly, in his book, Richard Branson tells how he turned a small company into one of the world’s most respected brands. Secondly, in Screw Business As Usual, Richard Branson shares his secrets for success and offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs. Moreover, he provides insights on taking risks, innovating, and building your business legacy. Finally, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to start their own business or improve their existing one.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“This approach should be taken to heart by all, as it really is the smart move.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Screw Business As Usual, click on the below link:
#15 Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore
About the Book
Title: Stalin
Author: Simon Sebag Montefiore
Genre: Cultural, History, Non-Fiction
Publisher: Vintage
Pages: 848
Goodreads rating: 4.0/5
Firstly, the book Stalin is a biography of Joseph Stalin, the dictator of the Soviet Union, from 1922 to 1953. Mainly, the author Simon Sebag Montefiore has written this book intending to provide a complete account of Stalin’s life and work and dispel some myths about him. Secondly, the book is divided into childhood, Revolution and Terror, and War. It covers Stalin’s life from birth until he died in 1953 when he was succeeded by Nikita Khrushchev. The author has tried to be objective while telling the story to not glorify or demonize Stalin. Moreover, this book will provide much information about how Joseph Stalin became one of the most influential people on Earth and how he changed Russia.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
One of the few books so dark I had to stop reading.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Stalin click on the below link:
#16 Structures by J. E. Gordon
About the Book
Title: Structures
Author: J. E. Gordon
Genre: Science
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Page No: 395
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
Firstly, the structure is a book written by J.E. Gordon and published in 1859. Secondly, it is a text that focuses on constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures built by humans. Moreover, “Structures” is one of the earliest books written about structural engineering. The author’s main goal in writing this book was to understand how structures work and how to build them properly so that they are structurally sound and safe from collapse or any other damage. Lastly, it is one of the best books recommended by Elon Musk.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Read through [this book]. I’d recommend that.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Structures, click on the below link:
#17 Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom
About the Book
Title: Superintelligence
Author: Nick Bostrom
Genre: Science, Non-fiction
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Page No: 352
Goodreads rating: 3.8/5
Firstly, Superintelligence is a book by Nick Bostrom which explores the potential dangers of artificial intelligence, or A.I. Secondly, Bostrom examines the future of humanity and other intelligent life if we create superintelligent A.I. Lastly, he argues that it is possible that this could lead to an existential catastrophe.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
Worth reading [this book]. We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Superintelligence, click on the below link:
#18 The Art of War by Sun Tzu
About the Book
Title: The Art of War
Author: Sun Tzu
Genre: Philosophy, Non-Fiction
Publisher: Harper Press
Pages: 273
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
Summary
Firstly, in The Art of War, Sun Tzu outlines the best strategies for military success. Secondly, he emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself, knowing one’s enemy, and understanding the terrain to be fought on. He also notes that strategy is more important than tactics in achieving victory. Sun Tzu’s teachings are still applicable to today’s business world. His principles can be applied to various scenarios such as marketing and sales, negotiation, organization management, etc.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“I’ve read [this book] many times.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift The Art Of War, click on the below link:
#19 The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
About the Book
Title: The Selfish Gene
Author: Richard Dawkins
Genre: Science, Philosophy, Non-Fiction
Publisher: Plume
Pages: 350
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
Firstly, the Selfish Gene is a 1976 bestseller by Richard Dawkins. Secondly, it presents the gene-centric view of evolution and natural selection instead of the traditional view of the animal or plant as the unit of selection. Finally, it is one of the best books recommended by Elon Musk.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Most people don’t realize that the origin of the word ‘meme’ is [this book].”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift The Selfish Gene, click on the below link:
#20 The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison
About the Book
Title: The Stainless Steel Rat
Author: Harry Harrison
Genre: Science-fiction
Publisher: Orion
Page No: 208
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
In particular, The Stainless Steel Rat is about a con man who becomes an agent for the intergalactic police force and becomes a hero. However, the book starts with the protagonist, James Bolivar diGriz, aka the Stainless Steel Rat, captured by his enemies on Earth and sentenced to death by disintegration. Finally, he escapes from his captors and joins the space fleet of Warden of Ophiuchus as an undercover agent.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“A bit more obscure.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift The Stainless Steel, click on the below link:
#21 Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
About the Book
Title: Stranger in a Strange Land
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Genre: Fantasy, Philosophy, Science-Fiction
Publisher: Ace
Pages: 525
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
Firstly, his book is a science fiction novel with a protagonist born on Mars and raised by Martians. Secondly, the novel explores his interaction with Earthlings and how he deals with some of the problems humans face. The book was published in 1961 and translated into more than 25 languages. Finally, it won the Hugo Award for best science fiction novel in 1963.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“I like [this book], although it kind of goes off the rails at the end.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Stranger Strange Land click on the below link:
#22 The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
About the Book
Title: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Author: Douglas Adams
Genre: Fantasy, Science-Fiction
Publisher: Del Re
Pages: 193
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
Firstly, the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a book series by Douglas Adams. Secondly, the first book was published in 1979, and the fifth book was published in 1992. However, the series follows the adventures of Arthur Dent, a human, as he travels around space and time with his alien friend Ford Prefect. Moreover, they are often accompanied by Zaphod Beeblebrox, Trillian Astra, Marvin the Paranoid Android, and other characters. Finally, the series is known for its humour and references to popular culture.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“A book of philosophy disguised as a silly humor book.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Galaxy, click on the below link:
#23 The Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R. Martin
About the Book
Title: The Song of Ice and Fire Series
Author: George R.R. Martin
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Politics
Publisher: Harper Voyager Books
Type: Series
No. of Books in the series: 5
Books in the series: #1 A Game of Thrones, #2 A Clash of Kings, #3 A Storm of Swords, #4 A Feast for Crows, #5 A Dance with Dragons
Goodreads Rating: 4.4/5
Firstly, the Song of Ice and Fire is set in the fantastical world of Westeros. Secondly, an epic war ensues between the great houses of Westeros to claim the throne after the death of King Robert Baratheon in the East; the last living Targaryen raises an army to claim her right in the Easttful throne.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“Best books in recent years imo are Iain Banks & George Martin.”
Elon Musk
If you want to buy/gift, The Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R Martin, click on the link below:
#24 Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
About the Book
Title: Waiting for Godot
Author: Samuel Beckett
Genre: Philosophy, Fiction
Publisher: Grove
Pages: 109
Goodreads rating: 3.8/5
Firstly, Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett is a play that follows two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, as they wait endlessly for someone named Godot. However, they are joined by a third character, Pozzo, who is blind, and his servant, Lucky. Finally, the play explores the meaning of human existence and the true meaning of life.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
Have recently come to appreciate the awesome, absurdist humor of [this book].”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Waiting For Godot, click on the below link:
#25 Zero To One By Peter Thiel
About the Book
Title: Zero to One
Author: Peter Thiel
Genre: Business, Startup, Entrepreneur
Publisher: Virgin Books
Pages: 195
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
Firstly, Zero to One is a book on building companies that create new things and ways to find value in unexpected places. Secondly, this book stems from a course about startups that Peter Thiel taught at Stanford in 2012. Moreover, it includes notes on Startups and how to build companies’ future. Finally, it is the guide to creating new things which haven’t been created yet.
Elon Musk’s Opinion:
“[This author] has built multiple breakthrough companies, and [this book] shows how.”
Elon Musk
To buy/gift Zero To One, click on the below link:
P.S.: Some books recommended here are available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, you can read these books. Also, check out this article: Is Kindle Unlimited Worth It?
Lastly, to conclude, here is the list of the Books recommended by Elon Musk:
1 | A Woman Makes a Plan by Maye Musk | Buy Now |
2 | Britannica Concise Encyclopedia by Britannica Editors | Buy Now |
3 | Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie | Buy Now |
4 | Deep Learning by Ian Goodfellow | Buy Now |
5 | Dune Series by Frank Herbert | Buy Now Full series |
6 | Fault In Our Stars by John Green | Buy Now |
7 | If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens … by Stephen Webb | Buy Now |
8 | Liftoff by Eric Berger | Buy Now |
9 | Lying by Sam Harris | Buy Now |
10 | Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark | Buy Now |
11 | Masters of Doom by David Kushner | Buy Now |
12 | Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes | Buy Now |
13 | On War by Carl von Clausewitz | Buy Now |
14 | Screw Business As Usual by Richard Branson | Buy Now |
15 | Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore | Buy Now |
16 | Structures by J. E. Gordon | Buy Now |
17 | Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom | Buy Now |
18 | The Art of War by Sun Tzu | Buy Now |
19 | The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins | Buy Now |
20 | The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison | Buy Now |
21 | Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein | Buy Now |
22 | The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams | Buy Now |
23 | The Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R. Martin | Buy Now Full series |
24 | Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett | Buy Now |
25 | Zero To One by Peter Thiel | Buy Now |
Lastly, we hope that this list of the Books recommended by Elon Musk helped you pick your recommendation. Do read them all explicitly. They are fun.
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