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elena_cyra 's review for:
Elon Musk
by Walter Isaacson
As a biography, Isaacson did a good ish job. There was a lot here that I didn't know about Musk. I wish there had been more critique and interrogation of some of the ideas and situations that came up throughout as it was disappointing that Isaacson brushed over these.
For example, Musk has used IVF a number of times and seems to be interested in sex selection of his kids, which arguably has a number of ethical questions worth raising around the way the wealthy navigate procreation. Not to mention impregnating two women this way in the same timeline without informing them about each other. It's also unclear if Isaacson ever spoke to Musks estranged daughter.
There was also the issue of sexual harrasment on Tesla factory floors, which is an ongoing case, but Isaacson seems to not mention it at all. The situation of the air hostess on his private jet, who was paid off by SpaceX seemed to only be worth a paragraph for Isaacson despite the quite obvious signal of Musk slowly giving in to the corruption of power and trying to see just what exactly he can get away with. His descent into becoming like his father could also have used more unpacking. It was disappointing that theres countless examples of misogyny popping up around Musk, in a variety of ways but Isaacson doesn't seem to spend much time on this and instead repeats himself a lot on the various impressive missions Musk has assigned himself - saving humanity from AI, zero emissions transport, colony on Mars etc.
Funnily enough, the repeated theme of Musk being totally unfocused on people and lacking empathy in his approach to life, work, etc. also seems to be my issue with this book. Isaacson never questions how Musks own lack of empathy might show up in the way his businesses find success. The human cost to how he succeeds will also impact the version of what is successful. How can he ensure AI is ethical when he himself functions with such a void of empathy?
Musk has raised (unsure how much active involvement he has) a child who absolutely despises him. He has boasted about his long hours at work, implying someone else raising his kids. Further indicating how readily he is willing to fail his children, who seem to serve as social capital, rather than beings worthy of the same care he bestows on his ego projects. But he's going to save humanity? Seems unlikely. He hasn't even got his own home in order.
Historically speaking, this type of man is as common as the flu virus in the depths of winter. An unremarkable and readily available curse. The only difference is that Musk has eye watering wealth attached to him.
Musk seems to care about humanity in the abstract but lacks any social or historical insight into how human societies ought to be shaped for the betterment of people. His ego seems to have prevented him from asking why he should be the one shaping this future.
In another way, I was impressed by how Musks' way of operating pulls at the threads of many of the social beliefs we have around work and industry. Twitter can operate with 75% fewer staff, which really does make you wonder how relevant many jobs are and how the 'growth first' approach of various industries may exist in opposition to progress.
I did appreciate how Musk is "not motivated by profit" in the sense that he doesn't necessarily pursue this as an end goal. His ambitions are admirable in many ways. And, I do think it will fundamentally transform the world we live in if he is successful with his endeavours. It's just a shame he's such a prick about the whole thing.
For example, Musk has used IVF a number of times and seems to be interested in sex selection of his kids, which arguably has a number of ethical questions worth raising around the way the wealthy navigate procreation. Not to mention impregnating two women this way in the same timeline without informing them about each other. It's also unclear if Isaacson ever spoke to Musks estranged daughter.
There was also the issue of sexual harrasment on Tesla factory floors, which is an ongoing case, but Isaacson seems to not mention it at all. The situation of the air hostess on his private jet, who was paid off by SpaceX seemed to only be worth a paragraph for Isaacson despite the quite obvious signal of Musk slowly giving in to the corruption of power and trying to see just what exactly he can get away with. His descent into becoming like his father could also have used more unpacking. It was disappointing that theres countless examples of misogyny popping up around Musk, in a variety of ways but Isaacson doesn't seem to spend much time on this and instead repeats himself a lot on the various impressive missions Musk has assigned himself - saving humanity from AI, zero emissions transport, colony on Mars etc.
Funnily enough, the repeated theme of Musk being totally unfocused on people and lacking empathy in his approach to life, work, etc. also seems to be my issue with this book. Isaacson never questions how Musks own lack of empathy might show up in the way his businesses find success. The human cost to how he succeeds will also impact the version of what is successful. How can he ensure AI is ethical when he himself functions with such a void of empathy?
Musk has raised (unsure how much active involvement he has) a child who absolutely despises him. He has boasted about his long hours at work, implying someone else raising his kids. Further indicating how readily he is willing to fail his children, who seem to serve as social capital, rather than beings worthy of the same care he bestows on his ego projects. But he's going to save humanity? Seems unlikely. He hasn't even got his own home in order.
Historically speaking, this type of man is as common as the flu virus in the depths of winter. An unremarkable and readily available curse. The only difference is that Musk has eye watering wealth attached to him.
Musk seems to care about humanity in the abstract but lacks any social or historical insight into how human societies ought to be shaped for the betterment of people. His ego seems to have prevented him from asking why he should be the one shaping this future.
In another way, I was impressed by how Musks' way of operating pulls at the threads of many of the social beliefs we have around work and industry. Twitter can operate with 75% fewer staff, which really does make you wonder how relevant many jobs are and how the 'growth first' approach of various industries may exist in opposition to progress.
I did appreciate how Musk is "not motivated by profit" in the sense that he doesn't necessarily pursue this as an end goal. His ambitions are admirable in many ways. And, I do think it will fundamentally transform the world we live in if he is successful with his endeavours. It's just a shame he's such a prick about the whole thing.