Elon Musk
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Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer, for short ChatGPT, belongs to a San Francisco-based Artificial Intelligence research and deployment company. One of OpenAI’s co-founders is… It starts with Elon and ends with Musk. The venture started in 2015 and Musk sold his stake in the company to Microsoft in 2018. With all the hype from ChatGPT and Musk’s co-founder status of OpenAI, I got curious and asked ChatGPT to “write a 2000 book review on Ashlee Vance’s book Elon Musk”. At the end of this post, you find the response ChatGPT provided.
Surrendered to Artificial Intelligence to write the book review in this occasion, I will share some personal conclusions I arrived to, while reading the book. First and foremost, the book’s first edition dates in May of 2015. Therefore, the most contemporary events, like the unveiling of Telsa’s Cybertruck (2019) or Musk’s acquisition of social media Twitter, are not accounted for in Vance’s book.
The parallelism between Musk and Leonardo Da Vinci reoccurred in my thoughts as I read into the book. The Renaissance inventor, born near Vinci in 1495, was ahead of his time. He envisioned, centuries before they become a reality, machines like the ornithopter (flying machine), parachute, and aerial screw (helicopter). Musk visions became realities: internet banking (Paypal); electric vehicles (Telsa); venturing into space (SpaceX); and sustainable energy production (SolarCity), to name a few. Energized by his visions, Elon’s resilience and resourcefulness made the future happen in the present. I dare say Elon Musk is the Da Vinci of the XXI century.
Elon Musk’s focus on what creates fundamental value to people is admirable. In the early 2000’s, when most big tech companies were obsessed with how to make people click Ads. During the same period, Musk was raising heaven on earth, defying the automotive industry with Tesla’s electric cars; stirring the aerospace industry with SpaceX reusable rockets; and shaking the utilities industry with SolarCity becoming the largest installer and financier of solar panels. Elon Musk’s D.R.D. (Defiance. Resilience. Determination) are commendable in defying the status quo of well-established industries and being determined that there were other ways to build cars, fly rockets, generate energy, despite the criticism and common believe.
Throughout the book, there are a few characteristics that I picked, which resonated deeply and led me to personal conclusions:
Musk loved to read from a very young age. It is said that at the age of nine he read the Encyclopedia Britannica. A light read if you were to ask me.
Conclusion: read more
Elon’s philosophy while building his businesses: Build quickly. Learn quickly.
Conclusion: Learning happens while building. Don’t wait until something is finished or perfect
Elon Musk did not expect from his employees anything he was not willing to do himself
Conclusion: roll your sleeves up and lead by example
There is a darker side to Musk. People working in his companies fear(ed) him. He was attributed a detachment from human connection, who worked his employees until exhaustion, before discarding them. Only those who have worked with him can attest to this criticism. I would not be surprised if it were true and could not be more distant or allergic to that type of behavior. Pondering about this, I came up with the reflection of: Could Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity have happened had he not pushed himself and his employees to their limits?
Without further ado, I leave you with a more review-like text, from ChatGPT.
My ChatGPT’s request: “Write a 2000 word book review on Ashlee Vance's book, Elon Musk.”
The response generated by ChatGPT’s aritificial intelligence:
Ashlee Vance's book "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future" is a detailed and insightful look into the life and work of one of the most ambitious and successful entrepreneurs of our time. Vance, a journalist and author, spent several years interviewing Musk, as well as many of his colleagues, friends, and family members, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the man behind the companies.
The book begins with an introduction to Musk's early life, including his childhood in South Africa, his education at the University of Pretoria and the University of Pennsylvania, and his early entrepreneurial ventures. Vance provides a thorough examination of Musk's character and motivation, revealing a man who is driven by a deep sense of purpose and a relentless desire to achieve his goals.
One of the book's strengths is the way it delves into the creation of Musk's three most notable companies: Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity. Vance provides a fascinating account of the early days of each company, describing the struggles and setbacks that Musk faced along the way, as well as the moments of triumph and success. He also provides an in-depth look at the technology and innovations that have made these companies so successful, including the development of the electric car, reusable rockets, and solar power systems.
Vance also provides a great deal of insight into Musk's management style and leadership abilities. He reveals a man who is both demanding and demanding of his employees, and who is not afraid to make bold decisions and take risks. Vance also describes how Musk's intense focus and drive can be both a strength and a weakness, and how it can sometimes lead to conflicts and tensions within the companies he leads.
The book also examines Musk's relationships with the people in his life, including his family, friends, and colleagues. Vance provides an honest and nuanced look at these relationships, showing how they have been both a source of support and a source of tension for Musk. He also examines how Musk's personal life has been affected by his work, and how his work has been affected by his personal life.
Overall, Ashlee Vance's book "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future" is a thorough and well-written account of one of the most fascinating and successful entrepreneurs of our time. Vance has done an excellent job of giving readers an inside look at the man behind the companies, and of providing an in-depth examination of the technology and innovations that have made Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity so successful. The book is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about Musk, his companies, or the future of technology and energy.
In conclusion, the book is a well-written, insightful and engaging account of one of the most ambitious and successful entrepreneurs of our time. It provides a great deal of information on how Musk's companies were started and how they have grown over the years. It also gives an idea of the hardships, failures and successes that Musk faced along the way. The book is highly recommended for anyone who is interested in learning more about Musk, his companies, or the future of technology and energy.
