Whatever your opinion on Elon Musk, he’s undoubtedly an influential public figure. From books about Elon Musk’s personal life and biographies based on firsthand observation to long-form journalism on Elon Musk’s business ventures at Tesla, Twitter, and SpaceX, this curated list of books about Elon Musk will help you understand the man and the companies creating the future.

Elon Musk
by Walter Isaacson
IN A NUTSHELL. Observing an innovator firsthand
SHORT & SIMPLE. A biography of Elon Musk from a storyteller who shadowed Musk for two years.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you’re looking for a book about Elon Musk based on firsthand observations and interviews.
Isaacson followed Musk around for two years to write this biography which hit #1 on the New York Time’s Bestseller list in 2023. This biography book about Musk covers everything from his childhood to his business ventures with Tesla and SpaceX while offering insight into Musk’s emotional life.
Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age
by Eric Berger
IN A NUTSHELL. How SpaceX made it
SHORT & SIMPLE. The story of how Elon Musk and others formed and succeeded with SpaceX.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you’re looking for a book about Elon Musk that’s focused on SpaceX.
This 2024 book about SpaceX and Elon Musk from journalist Eric Berger is a fascinating read about how SpaceX came to be, and its moments of failure and success in the modern space industry. This book about Musk is the perfect read if you’re looking for a book focused on Elon Musk’s work with SpaceX.
Elon Musk: The Life, Lessons & Rules for Success
by Influential Individuals
IN A NUTSHELL. Intro to Musk’s life and mantras
SHORT & SIMPLE. An introduction to Elon Musk’s life, quotable quotes, and rules for success.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you’re looking for a book about Elon Musk that’s a light read.
This book about Elon Musk is part of a series on influential figures. Along with an overview of Musk’s life and business ventures, this easy-to-read biography includes a series of quotes from Musk and a list of rules for success taken from Musk’s story.
Extremely Hardcore: Inside Elon Musk's Twitter
by Zoë Schiffer
IN A NUTSHELL. Critical take on Musk’s handling of Twitter
SHORT & SIMPLE. This book about Elon Musk is a critical take on how he handled the Twitter takeover based on employee interviews and review of internal documents and other primary sources.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you’re looking for a critical book about Elon Musk.
The story of how Elon Musk took over and changed Twitter practically overnight is told by journalist Zoë Schiffer based on interviews with Twitter employees and primary sources. If you’re looking for a book about Elon Musk focused on Twitter or told from a critical perspective, this 2024 release is a good choice.
Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century
by Tim Higgins
IN A NUTSHELL. How Elon Musk’s Tesla succeeded against the odds
SHORT & SIMPLE. The ups and downs of Tesla’s founding and ultimate success.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you’re looking for a book about Elon Musk focused on Tesla.
Elon Musk himself isn’t a fan of this 2021 book from journalist Tim Higgins, but if you’re looking for a book about Musk and Tesla, Power Play is a good choice. The book portrays missteps at Tesla and delves a bit into Musk’s personal life, but ultimately this book about Elon Musk is focused on Tesla’s wild ride to success.