Books Recommended by Elon Musk
Life 3.0
Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Max Tegmark
Source: "A compelling guide to the challenges and choices in our quest for a great future of life, intelligence and consciousness—on Earth and beyond." - Elon Musk
On War
Carl von Clausewitz
Source: "There should be a chapter saying 'if you have a decisive technology advantage, you can actually win with minimal casualties.'" - Elon Musk
Superintelligence
Paths, Dangers, Strategies
Nick Bostrom
Source: "Worth reading [this book]. We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes." - Elon Musk
Dune (6 books)
Frank Herbert
Source: "Brilliant. [The author] advocates placing limits on machine intelligence." - Elon Musk
Merchants of Doubt
How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming
Naomi Oreskes
Source: "Worth reading [this book]. Same who tried to deny smoking deaths are denying climate change." - Elon Musk
Acts of Love
Talulah Riley
Source: "All characters – even those based on real people – are entirely fictional..." - Elon Musk
Deep Learning
Ian Goodfellow
Source: "Written by three experts in the field, [this book] is the only comprehensive book on the subject." - Elon Musk
A Song Of Ice And Fire (5 books)
George R. R. Martin
Source: "Best books in recent years imo are Iain Banks & George Martin." - Elon Musk
Screw Business As Usual
Turning Capitalism into a Force for Good
Richard Branson
Source: "This approach should be taken to heart by all, as it really is the smart move." - Elon Musk
Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Source: "A counterpoint to communism and useful as such, but should be tempered with kindness." - Elon Musk
Waiting for Godot
A Tragicomedy in Two Acts
Samuel Beckett
Source: "Have recently come to appreciate the awesome, absurdist humor of [this book]." - Elon Musk
Culture (10 books)
Iain M. Banks
Source: "Compelling picture of a grand, semi-utopian galactic future. Hopefully not too optimistic about AI." - Elon Musk
The Selfish Gene
Richard Dawkins
Source: "Most people don't realize that the origin of the word 'meme' is [this book]." - Elon Musk
Catherine the Great
Portrait of a Woman
Robert K. Massie
Source: "I know what you're probably thinking ... did she really f* a horse?" - Elon Musk
Structures
Or Why Things Don't Fall Down
J. E. Gordon
Source: "Really, really good if you want a primer on structural design." - Elon Musk
Foundation (7 books)
Isaac Asimov
Source: "[This series is] fundamental to [the] creation of SpaceX." - Elon Musk
The Fault in Our Stars
John Green
Source: "Must admit to liking [this book]. Sad, romantic and beautifully named." - Elon Musk
Zero to One
Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
Peter Thiel
Source: "[This author] has built multiple breakthrough companies, and [this book] shows how." - Elon Musk
Stranger in a Strange Land
Robert A. Heinlein
Source: "I like [this book], although it kind of goes off the rails at the end." - Elon Musk
The Lord of the Rings (4 books)
J. R. R. Tolkien
Source: "I know it's cliche, but [this] is my favorite book ever." - Elon Musk
FAQ
Did Elon recommend every book here?
Not necessarily. This book list has Elon Musk must-read recommendations, but it also has a mix of mentions and suggestions.
How do you know he mentioned each book throughout his life?
Every suggestion made by Elon Musk is validated by our editors. You can find the sources to the recommendations linked next to the books.
Did Elon actually create this list?
No. This reading list was curated by our editors based on confirmed mentions from Elon Musk, the sources are made available under each recommendation.
235 books
Got feedback? Email us 📧