Does Elon Musk Read A Lot?
He’s known as a futurist, a genius, a prolific inventor, and a legendary entrepreneur who has made dreams come true and changed the face of business. But does Elon Musk read a lot? It might seem like a silly question – why wouldn’t he read?, but it’s something that people have been asking ever since he burst onto the scene.
Elon Musk has always been known for his fierce intelligence and aptitude for problem solving. He is renowned for working obsessively and gaining complete mastery over the most intricate of disciplines. People naturally assume that all these achievements are based on some sort of intellectual super-power that he alone possesses.
However, the truth is that, like most successful people, Elon Musk has worked hard to hone his skills, and this has involved an immense amount of reading. His biographers and associates have noted that he has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and reads at a voracious pace. He is known to burn through books on subjects as diverse as finance, leadership, engineering, history, and philosophy.
It is clear that Elon Musk actively seeks knowledge and works out solutions, methods, and strategies by drawing from both personal experience as well as things he has picked up from his reading. He also encourages reading among employees and associates, taking the time to recommend titles and discuss interesting points from books he has read.
In his own words, Elon Musk has commented that reading “gives the bigger picture and a better understanding of how things work. When I did my pre-med degree, a lot of people would read textbooks and that sort of thing. I’d read textbooks, and then read biographies of famous scientists, great inventors and people like that. That gave me a much better understanding of how things worked in the real world.”
He particularly has a fondness for biographies of inspirational leaders, believing them to be important sources of wisdom. The billionaire attributes much of his success and leadership skills to the wealth of knowledge he gained from book, writing in a tweet “Founders should read more biography & history. Those disciplines teach enduring principles that are applicable to all business contexts.”
It is obvious that the books Elon Musk reads have a powerful influence on the way he views the world and approaches problem solving. But not just any book will do. He is known to possess a sharp eye for detail and ferret out books with true value, looking for books with a complexity and depth that few authors are willing to commit to.
Inspiration for Innovation
Musk also values the importance of inspiration for successful innovation. He is a connoisseur of both fiction and popular science, actively seeking out works that provide deeper insight into the various aspects of technology, academia, business, and culture.
In the past, he has recommended books such as the Bible, the works of Isaac Asimov, the Red Mars trilogy, and the Foundation series. Musk has been open about the influence these stories have had on his own life and career, offering readers one of many examples of how powerful learning can be in purely fictional narratives.
His drive to keep exploring new subjects and topics has pushed him past borders and over language barriers. From French to Mandarin, books in locations all over the world provide different cultural perspectives and ideas, allowing thought leaders like Musk to explore new avenues of innovation.
Championing Education
Elon Musk is not just a voracious reader himself, he is also a champion of open education. He has used books as a platform to create a vision for the future, believing that education remains a powerful tool for effecting lasting changes.
He has taken an active role in broadcasting these changes, appearing in interviews, public talks, and even as a guest in various comic books as an advocate for educational investment. He has encouraged people of all ages to engage in reading and knowledge-building, understanding the benefits of a deep understanding for learning and future success.
Musk has even been known to gift books to his employees, families, and friends. He has provided tomes from some of the greatest minds in history, such as philosopher and mathematician Alan Watts, and scientist Richard Feynman. It isn’t unusual for him to give out books on topics such as business, history, physics, and engineering to everyone he works with, ensuring that they make the most of their potential.
Strategy and Leadership
Musk believes strongly in the power of strategy. Not just strategy in the business sense, but also in terms of the greater good. He regularly reaches out to people and organizations, and has an incredible understanding of the power of collaboration.
He is one of the most vocal advocates for AI awareness and progress, but not just as a technology. He also drives for a safety culture and understanding of the great potentials and dangers of AI. He is a champion for the monitoring and reinforcement of ethical standards and values when it comes to the development of this groundbreaking technology.
In the same way, Musk is a leader in the field of practical ethics. He understands that effective leaders must be knowledgeable in many aspects of life, and not just in terms of technology. He reads extensively on topics related to philosophy, morality, law, and history, looking for deeper and sustainable solutions for the improvements of humanity.
Building the Future
What truly sets Musk apart as a thought leader is his ambition. All the information and knowledge he has constructed through his reading has enabled him to build a future of possibilities. He is a champion of the idea that dreams can be turned into reality, and is always looking for new and innovative ways to make this happen.
Musk often looks to books to find this motivation, reaching back to our innate nature to explore, discover and progress. He has thus built a strong belief system around the idea of bold action, believing that through reading and education, we can slowly but surely make the world a better place.
A Culture of Curiosity
Part of what makes Musk so successful is the fact that he is not afraid to ask questions and be creative. He encourages a culture of curiosity to surround him, as he is constantly asking questions and gathering vast amounts of information to obtain the answers he is searching for.
He not only believes that it is important to ask questions, but actively seeks out different perspectives and opinions, utilizing them in his decision making and planning. He is also adamant that this culture be perpetuated throughout the organization, and works to foster an environment of learning and discovery at every level.
This is why he continues to read, engaging with different disciplines and ideas in order to see what’s on the other side of the coin. He has a refusal to accept the status quo, understanding that through reading and learning, new opportunities to expand our capabilities and knowledge are always there for us to take.
Steadfast Dreams
One of the biggest things that Elon Musk never fails to do is stay true to his dreams. Despite the immense challenges and complexity of this vision, Musk never gives up and continues to read, investigating and learning more and more, further pushing his boundaries to turn the impossible into the possible.
When asked if he still finds time to read in spite of all his other commitments, he answered “Absolutely, books are a great way to learn more, understand concepts, find new contexts and look at problems in different ways. Reading is definitely a huge part of my personal growth and development”.
Exploring New Possibilities
Elon Musk’s commitment to learning and exploration is in part what makes him so successful. He takes the time to read and research, grounding himself in knowledge and understanding before taking big risks and decisions.
By relying on his reading and personal experiences, he has been able to stretch the boundaries of what was thought possible, continuing to explore new possibilities. It is this passion for knowledge and insight that has driven much of the success enjoyed by Musk and his businesses.
Understanding Human Nature
At the end of the day, Elon Musk has made a name for himself as a person not just of ideas, but of action. He reads and researches extensively to gain an understanding of the world around him, and is not afraid to take a stand for what he believes in.
But most of all, he seeks to understand human nature and the desires of our collective evolution. He often draws from books that talk about the need for empathy, understanding, and respect for one another, looking for a way to bring out the best in all of us.
