May 1, 2025
Elon Musk, the mind behind Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and more, is an avid reader and regularly recommends books for others to read. From sci-fi epics to dense technical literature, his reading list is wide and diverse. And here we mention 10 books recommended by Musk.
etimes.in
A book about creation and innovation, ‘Zero to One’ talks about making and generating new things, ones that are not already in the market, and then building something from scratch. And the way Musk created things from zero, he is bound to take inspiration from this book.
Random-House
A philosophical novel about individualism, innovation, and the power of the human mind, Elon Musk endorsed this one and said “Very appealing if you’re a sophomore in college. It’s a counterpoint to communism and useful as such, but should be tempered with kindness.”
Penguin-UK
A book that deeply influenced Musk, ‘Foundation’ is a sci-fi series about the predictions of the collapse of society and the knowledge of rebuilding society. Musk said about the book, “Foundation Series is fundamental to the creation of SpaceX.”
Spectra
Another sci-fi in the list, Herbert’s ‘Dune’ is a cult classic and favourite across generations. It is about politics, power, environment, and more, and Musk endorsed it as a brilliant book.
Penguin-USA
Another cult classic, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is an iconic fantasy series that is read and loved by generations of people. It packs action, friendship, strength, courage, fights, and so much more, and reading it is like falling into a world of possibilities.
William-Morrow-Paperbacks
‘Deep Learning’ was endorsed by Musk as “Written by three experts in the field, Deep Learning is the only comprehensive book on the subject.” It is considered to be one of the most holistic and best books on deep learning, the backbone of AI.
The-MIT-Press
Musk adores and respects Franklin and thinks of him as the epitome of a self-made man. A scientist, inventor, diplomat, and philosopher, this autobiography is a peek into his life and experiences.
GENERAL-PRESS
Elon Musk recommended and endorsed ‘Surface Detail’. He wrote on X “[I recommend] all of [Banks' books]. Especially Surface Detail.”
Little-Brown-Book-Group
A memoir by Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, who raised her children as a single mom while building her own career, this one has to be one of Musk’s favourite reads.
Penguin-Life
A book that talks about the future of artificial intelligence, from the promises it makes for the future, to the dangers of AI, ‘Life 3.0’ is a must-read for people wishing to learn more about AI, and the possible ups and downs.
Knopf
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