
Summary
Ashlee Vance follows Elon Musk from his upbringing in South Africa to his work in the United States with PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. The biography examines the technical ambitions behind his companies and the personal fortune he put into them, placing his career within a wider account of invention and entrepreneurship.
Why read it Our view
Read it to examine what it takes to move from internet businesses into products that must be built and tested in the physical world. Musk’s commitment of his own fortune also gives a basis for considering how much personal risk a founder can carry.