Free Audiobook : Elon Musk, By Walter Isaacson

As a child in South Africa, Elon Musk suffered from bullying that culminated in a vicious beating, leading to a week in the hospital. Yet, the emotional scars from his father, an engineer, a rebel, and a captivating dreamer, were far more enduring.

Musk's father left him with a psyche that was both robust and vulnerable, marked by sudden mood swings, a penchant for risk, an attraction to drama, a heroic sense of purpose, and a relentless drive that could sometimes be cruel and destructive.

At the start of 2022, after SpaceX had sent thirty-one rockets into space, Tesla had sold a million cars, and Musk had become the richest man on the planet, he spoke with some regret about his drama-seeking behavior. "I need to step out of this crisis mode I've been stuck in for about fourteen years, or maybe my whole life," he confided.

This was more a moment of introspection than a promise to change. Even as he spoke, he was stealthily purchasing Twitter shares, aiming to control the global digital playground. The very place where he once was bullied was now his to command.

For two years, Walter Isaacson followed Musk, observing his professional life, touring his factories, and engaging in in-depth interviews with Musk, his family, friends, colleagues, and critics. This book offers a deep dive into Musk's life, filled with stories of success and struggle, asking if his personal demons are the same fuel that powers his innovations.