Elon Musk Biographer on How the Tesla CEO Acts Behind Closed Doors | WSJ

[@Dubitz]

This interviewer keeps asking negative questions of Musk, and yet Isaacson keeps answering as neutral as possible while also complimenting Musk (and Jobs too) and giving credit where credit is due to them. Makes me appreciate Isaacson much more now, I definitely support his positive judgement of Musk after spending so much time so close to him.

[@gonzalezm244]

The interviewer has to represent a sort of devil’s advocate to get a broader discussion going. A lot of people antagonize Elon so it’s important to address those people’s concerns. I thought the interviewer was great!

[@programmer1840]

Agree, very annoying that he keeps asking negative questions with a pre-set agenda. That is a problem with a lot of society, they try to point out the negative aspects without looking at the net effect.

[@channelthechannel]

Interviewer couldn't be more transparent or predictable - WSJ is a joke.

[@Noobs4020]

Was going to write this exact thing, so desperate to paint a dictator personality and Walter shoots it down. Was a much better interview than I expected and that is only because of Walter.

[@harmankardon478]

@@gonzalezm244 your naive, the reporter is sticking to the anti-musk corporate media agenda.

[@DREAMSANDSOUL]

Not "demon" but deeply traumatized as a child. This is so sad. I've been working many years in the IT industry and I can tell you, I would never ever work for such people again

[@jannichi6431]

Dell is so different than Elon. Hopefully Elon can find love and stay off Pharmas. He seems so much more sober than a decade ago when he was in StarLink mode. Twitter X is hurting Politicians careers too. MTG, Cruz, just a couple of addicts.

[@MarcoPolo-fy4qr]

Indeed.

[@BlondeManNoName]

@@jannichi6431 People with NPD and BPD can't accept love. They never do.

[@estebanamador7601]

​@BlondeManNoName in summary: if BPD is Bipolar Disorder, well I'm Bipolar, and trust me, I can accept love and give love too. I have OCD too, and my comfort zone is when I'm a rational and logical thinker (I like too call it my cold mode), but I could be in emotional mode too, but honestly, I'm too sensitive to emotions, they are so strong (mainly all emotions derived from empathy during suffering from other people (anxiety and sadness), so I go to cold mode to try to figure out with the person how to solve their problem, Im not very expressive, but that doesn't means I don't care about their problems, I'm just thinking how can be solved and how I can help them, and, depending of the kind of situation, many times I'm worried about them, or just listening to them and if i have too cry, well, i cry too. Greetings

[@termsofusepolice]

@@estebanamador7601 BPD stands for borderline personality disorder. That's assuming the commenter is using the mental heath field acronym correctly.

[@sylviaowega3839]

I read Walter Isaacson’s biography on Einstein and Ben Franklin, and found him to be one of the greatest biographers.

[@nikki2kk]

Oh! I’ll have to pick up the one on Einstein.

[@divinegon4671]

And why do you think that?

[@westerling8436]

The list kinda dropped down with Musk

[@jeremyelliott9831]

Not sure how good of a biographer he is if after his research he thinks that Elon can design a battery and make the manufacturing process to build it😂

[@佐藤たか-r7y]

It may be best to give up on creating a viable market for Tesla in Japan. Japanese civil servants are desperately trying to crush or eliminate outstanding talent in Japan and stagnate Japan's growth. They are preventing Japan from changing. One example is the Winny incident, and the story of the "Love-train" test victims in Japan who are illegally being harassed and killed by the test organizers. Love-train "is a candidaite for the national examination organized by the Ministry of Justice in japan. He was illegally framed by the exam organizers,6 years ago. Ladies and gentlemen around the world, You can meet him at Starbucks Poppo Machida in Machida, Japan, in the evening. He is a great human being who believes in love and peace, without conflict in the world！ I have posted details of the incident in the comments section of the second-to-latest video on Starbucks Japan's official KZbin channel. In Japan, a country that is essentially a dictatorship because it is a backward country in terms of democracy, one genius continues to be held back.The masses are inferior in terms of democracy and thinking ability in Japan. Japan's prosecutors and the Ministry of Justice have an authoritarian nature that disregards human lights!

[@treehugger3971]

Scary to think that this dude has so much power

[@BigSources]

The interviewer was completly biased. In every question, he tried to make elon musk look as bad as possible and yet isaacson always tried to spin it in a positive way. This interview has also been edited, so i'd imagine the unedited version shines an even more positive light at elon musk. Nobody is perfect but the way wsj tries to display elon musk is driven by nothing but their agenda and the hatred for anything major that doesn't perfectly represent the values of the democrat party. I am not crazy by saying this, it's just that they are OBVIOUSLY biased and manipulative.

[@jancurtis9670]

And now he's part of the US government.

[@gcorriveau6864]

@@BigSources If we want to understand why the world often seems so crazy (wars; instability; famines; disasters) maybe we should take a closer look at the people we Idolize and give power to. If most of the world's rich, famous and powerful people are 'mentally unwell" then what else should we expect would happen?

[@BigSources]

@@gcorriveau6864 what has elon musk done that has a negative effect on the world? Genuinely, tell me. You call him mentally unwell and say he made the world a worse place. Prove it. Not all rich or powerful people are your enemies. Smart people don't call all rich people bad people, smart people call the rich people that are bad people bad people.

[@thewestfaceofdhaulagiri6697]

@@BigSources No. You just can't handle the reality of who Musk is so you try and spin the interviewer.

[@mfax1000]

Brutality honest. Enjoyed this book review.

[@wesleytietz4506]

Nothing brutal here. Facts don't care about your feelings...

[@LVCMS]

The key line, don't try to be like Elon Musk. Be yourself!! Their is a huge sacrifice people on this level make... We all make sacrifices you just need to own what you do and how you do it. Everyone thinks you are crazy until you are right. Mistakes are done by people doing stuff, make no mistakes, likely your are not doing anything. I love the algorithm method... First principals... Question requirements. Love it

[@Jane-zv5pu]

Walter is an outstanding interviewer and biographer. He is intelligent, honest and empathetic. Well done, Walter!😊

[@madhououinkyoma]

Interviewee*

[@shanekennedy6549]

got the book straight away

[@eddyr1041]

Seems he have people that support him, and his demon mode is put to good use. Unlike his father I guess😅

[@GregMoylan-pn6sr]

Isaacson thinks and speaks so clearly. A delight to listen to this man, either as a host or a guest.

[@susymay7831]

Its ok to be wrong, as long as you are not confident and wrong" - Elon Musk, giving one of his rules of thumb

[@telagraf]

Does anyone know what "not confident and wrong" means? I'm not fully understanding.

[@peter.g6]

@@telagrafIMO it means if you are confident that you are right, despite being wrong, there's a problem. In other words, the correct approach is to say "I think it's like this, but I might be wrong".

[@ct1762]

or just double-down and sue your opponent because your feelings are hurt- Elon Musk

[@ggrthemostgodless8713]

@@telagraf Think George W. Bush Jr.... that level of stupid and wrong, even when confronted with lots of evidence you continue to fight for that idea or way of doing things. I remember. It is also a level of ineptitude and thus incompetence that only a stupid person can achieve... in the movie Don't Look Up, with Leonardo DiCaprio, you see many examples of this, including the main character with the company that ends up being eaten by a dinosaur type in other planet.

[@jounigames5876]

It means it's okay to fail while genuinely trying. But if you boast about something, you better be correct@@telagraf

[@rollingthunderinho]

Walter Isaacson is an incredible author and speaker. Amazing interview I’m buying this book asap

[@stene123]

I read most of previous Walter Isaacson books (Franklin, Jobs, DaVinci, Einstein and Innovators) and they are brilliant. Now 1/3 read from this one and so far excellent book again. This guy has a skill to make topics like the history of computer science a interesting story you just can't stop reading.

[@cindymaceda2999]

Walter likes geniuses.😂

[@kristinefrink5726]

@@cindymaceda2999 Awww, that's sooo sweet.

[@Truthseeker371]

It's interesting to note the biographer insinuates the childhood experience lasts as long as we live. I cannot agree enough with his comment. Whether genius, villan, or ordinary persons, we all have some negative childhood memories, the dark side. How we deal with it changes our life in the adulthood. In the same token, the importance of upbringing is undeniable and affects not only the individual but also the society.

[@geoattoronto]

My job as a therapist is to know the methods that create real depth change in people’s lives and to use them lovingly and well. And I do.

[@glorialush9598]

Walter Isaacson wrote a great book. I enjoyed it immensely!

[@Kauffy901]

Mistaking confidence for competence is how you wind up with people like Musk.

[@joshk7286]

People who believe Elon is incompetent are the logical extreme of the phenomenon where politics inhibits objectivity. Your mind is pudding now, unfortunately.

[@onemilliondollar]

As a person with Aspbergers, being Bi-polar and having a personality disorder I can for sure tell you this is the case with Elon, we share so many traits after hearing this man talking about Elon. It was like he was talking about me at times.

[@Zulu333]

What personality disorder do you have? Do you think Elon Musk could have a cluster B personality disorder? Narcissistic personality disorder? Or would you guess its more of a Cluster C personality disorder? Obsessive- Compulsive Personality disorder? I can see the Asbergers and Bipolar 2 thats for sure.

[@onemilliondollar]

I have what you call excessive personality disorder, in my youth I had antisocial personality disorder, but I took responsibility for my life and got downgraded. This can absolutley be the case with Elon as he always is 200% in I dont think he is a narcissist, I think its the aspbergers making him look like it, I have myself thought about narcisissm, but I have concluded it is my Aspbergers putting me in the center of my own world. It is verry hard to diagnose someone from seing them in clips on youtube.@@Zulu333

[@cindymaceda2999]

Mozart, da Vinci, Bill Gates all apparently had/have Asperger’s. It’s not necessarily a disorder but rather a syndrome. If you harness this super-power for good, how is it a disorder? 😅

[@greghelton4668]

He’s never been diagnosed with Asperger’s.

[@onemilliondollar]

@@greghelton4668 He admitted hes on the spectrum in a TV show. Saturday night live, I belive.

[@TR-pu9tp]

Musk is not an Engineer, he has 2 Bachelor’s degrees one in Physics and Economics. He also didn’t invent Tesla he bought a small company that developed Tesla. Musk isn’t the brain behind Space X he is the money man. Is Musk a great business man, maybe ,but don’t attribute others peoples vision to him.

[@GoofieNewfie]

It is amazing how many people don't realize this.

[@fatimamebarki4599]

@@GoofieNewfieyea 😂😂😂

[@chemistchemist6438]

You pointed out the truth, only stupid people believes that Elmo is a genius.

[@edward_lee]

Good interview! Well prepared with good questions

[@waterwomaninFL]

I love this biographer but clarification, Steve Jobs did not invent the Macintosh, Steve Wozniak did. Steve Jobs was a brilliant man, salesman, inventor and motivator. Waz was the brilliant innovator..

[@davidtuer5825]

I don't much like what I've read of Steve Jobs, but his abilities are shown by the success and failure of Apple when he was there and when he wasn't. The question to ask of Steve Wozniak is, would he have made, in the first place, the Mac, and if he had, would he have sold it without Steve Jobs? Steve jobs came back to Apple as it teetered on brink of catastrophe, and out came the I phone.So who was the genius behind that?

[@terri6854]

@@davidtuer5825 The engineers who actually made it are the geniuses.

[@davidtuer5825]

@@terri6854 For goodness sake! Where were those geniuses when Apple was sinking, rapidly? Why did the I Phone only appear when Jobs returned? why did Apple sink when Jobs was sacked?

[@gluonone]

@@davidtuer5825because jobs knew how to acquire the right talent and then to push them to their limits. He surrounded himself with brilliant people. But Jobs had the vision of what people wanted, which nerdy engineers and scientists lack to a large degree. Its called having business acumen

[@davidtuer5825]

@@gluonone The question was rhetorical, I would have thought that was obvious.

[@joeroganpodfantasy42]

Really appreciate WSJ including the dad's perspective in the end there.

[@antetesija3033]

What a nice and wellspoken man sir Isaac is

[@ShaneShepherd]

Wow, what a fantastic interview. I was on the fence about buying this book prior to seeing this interview. Now, is a musk-buy!

[@jannichi6431]

Musk-buy, he's making us all Musk Buy. NeoLink is truly scary. Control freak for sure.

[@xxxxLidiyaxxxx]

….. I am pretty sure a mental health professional would diagnose this person with a serious disorder that needs to be treated… from psychopathic attacks on his employees and even loved ones too later not remembering or Andrea standing the consequences of his actions. That’s not a mental disorder. I don’t know what is.😮

[@BoudicasQuest]

i also struggle with cptsd. i overcame the worst of the effects by my mid-30's out of necessity. i still tend to "fawn" as my default. i still struggle with identity. all of this infuses my work, and each album i make reflects my...progress, for lack of a better term ~

[@AJyogi108]

I also struggled with CPTSD. It has taught me to be resilient ❤

[@LisaAerts]

Mr. Isaacson is describing a mental health problem, not a demon mode, and I believe the most important thing about his personality, he's really creepy.

[@Mark-gg6iy]

The way Musk treated Mr. Vern Unsworth was/is unforgivable.

[@Conrad-qv9fh]

Growing up in Pretoria in the 1980s was much more complex than people generally think. There was a war going on. There were sanctions. There were many bomb threats. Sometimes bombs did go off. There was a lot of bullying going on. Once a week high school boys had to wear military uniforms and take part in military drills. All young men had to join the army after finishing high school or university. Elon was therefore exposed to high levels of discipline in school, but luckily avoided being drafted into the army when he left for Canada after finishing high school. Army conscription then stopped around 1991 anyway. The school system on the other hand looked out for smart, Aspergers kids to help solve future problems. Kids with Aspergers were seen as gifted, not disabled and encouraged to attend extra and advanced classes. There were many bursaries available for smart, hard-working kids to attend universities. Errol Musk might have been negative as many higher level jobs and opportunities were reserved for members of the (Afrikaans speaking) Broederbond, a type of Illuminati. Hy possibly just didn’t want Elon to have unrealistic expectations. The South African economy at that time consisted mainly of a few very large companies and small companies had to have the right contacts to get business. Sanctions limited scope to create the type of companies that Elon wanted to create. Canada and the US opened up possibilities.

[@karatsurba4791]

Thank you for the insights

[@AG-ig8uf]

Oh pohr Elon, all that suffering he went tru while being white minority in apartheid SA.

[@radfordmunz9577]

@@AG-ig8ufyou said nothing. cry more

[@Zors1957]

So what. Are we supposed to feel sorry for him that he had such a hard time in a SA? Plenty of people survive much worse and don't turn out to be narcissistic fascist cyberbullies.

[@jannichi6431]

Always be kind. My computer tech friends and husband in pressure situations gave that advice early on, 1980s. High energy excitement.

[@glovere2]

It’s quite something to cultivate a reputation that allows the author into his subject’s lives to write books about them. After listening to Isaacson talk it’s easy to see why. He is so incredibly good at what he does and is very careful in the way he talks about it. I read the Jobs book and I will definitely be reading this one.

[@valentaino]

Exactly.. his new book is a real page-turner

[@therainman7777]

The Musk bio is fantastic.. Feels like you’re right there in the room or on the factory floor with Elon and co.

[@DivaAnnFisher]

I can state honestly that I am banned from tweeting on X. Why?

[@ositoguy]

Is actually really good, easy to get into, keep you wondering what's next and looking forward to get back into

[@ositoguy]

@@DivaAnnFisherthe book explains why things like this did happen

[@martinsmith2948]

what a wonderful and fantastic interview! thanks!

[@bret9741]

I haven’t met a perfect person yet…. What I like and appreciate about Elon is he has made tens thousands of people millionaires AND he has made his employees some of the best paid and technically advanced in the world… When I was in the Navy, the best Captains and C XO’s used demon mode to get things done these men and women could whip everyone into a battle winning team and that’s what winning leaders do…. Every single “nice guy” I know gets torn apart by the elite media and Ivy League graduates

[@carpark1414]

I was having a hard time reconciling whether this "demon" mode is really a good or bad thing, but your example in the Navy shows that there is definitely a place where this sort of temperament shines and is, basically, the way to do things when the stakes are high and extreme focus and performance is required. Not for everyone. Perhaps not for most. I include myself in the "not for" camp, but now I can see how this sort of thing can outshine and outperform when used in the right situations. They key is, of course, using it only when it gets this spectacular output and shutting it down when it is overkill - but that is something that is most likely extremely difficult to do as it is ingrained into Musks personality at such a deep level, he would risk losing his edge perhaps if he tried to change? Fascinating stuff.

[@hymnodyhands]

Every leader, though, is not on a battlefield ... many quiet "nice guys" are out quietly working together and being win-win leaders. I am the daughter of an Air Force veteran who had to learn: you cannot lead in every circumstance in the same way. Demons GENERALLY get exorcised where people want PEACE...

[@henrikwakman7776]

I love the mature setup of this interview piece, no jazzy intros or irritating buzz, just 2 people talking sense.

[@nassitaheri]

wsj gets in demon mode whenever they hear the name elon musk

[@patriciazoerner]

You nailed it here!

[@Johnny_Savage]

NYT even more

[@georgepagotelis]

Elon is GOOD guy and WSJ are in fact the BAD JEALOUS guy. Chamath Palihapitiya IS the BAD guy with so many dodgy stock buys sells and misdirection, not surprised he's not locked up.

[@Daniela.777]

literally

[@djGREENmojon]

Why is that?

[@charlesdinwyn7507]

Wow, one of the very best interviews I've ever heard. Well done!

[@skierpage]

It's an interesting perspective from someone who's got to know his subject, but good Elon Musk interviews are more interesting than this. Watch his interviews with Joe Rogan and Lex Fridman.

[@williamal91]

fantastic interview, well done

[@teddnagurski5583]

"Engineering mode"??????? He's not an engineer. He studied economics in college. He takes credit for the engineers who actually do the work.

[@Ma660t5andw1ch]

Wait, wait! He took 2 days of classes, that makes him an engineer in silicon valley…

[@MusicSoundPlayer]

THIS!!!!

[@Ameridlo]

tell me you are a failed engineer without telling me you are a failed engineer

[@hamster4618]

He has a BSc in physics as well as economics.

[@teddnagurski5583]

@@hamster4618 That's not engineering.

[@david-fm3gv]

The WSJ would vilify Steve Jobs daily if he were alive and working and pushing Apple (uncomfortably, as always) to new heights still today. Their adoration for him here is ridiculous.

[@Samson484]

Isaacson is a legend.

[@TrangLe-yb5sy]

Excellent interview. Thank you!

[@epona9166]

I'm not particularly interested in Elon and like most people fined him kind of creepy,, but anyone Walter Isaacson deems worthy of his time, I'll bite. I'm not put off by the negative nature of the questions. The back and forth of this interview makes it a better than average interview.

[@chriscollingwood3364]

The description of ‘demon mode’ is an example of a dissociated state.

[@VictimAdvocate]

BPD

[@maeshellewest-davies7904]

Demon mode sounds like a quality we don’t want in top level government position.

[@repentjesusiscomingsoon1529]

AMEN!!!!

[@lindaj5492]

You already had it, and are about to get it again with T’s second term. Ketchup on the walls.

[@brunosmith6925]

Your book is great Walter - mine got here yesterday and I read it cover to cover overnight...

[@gnanasabaapatirg7376]

wow

[@vickilawrence7207]

Traumatized kids will often be addicted to drama. Some have it so bad that they’re constantly looking for anything to blow up about and they can be hellish to be around

[@susymay7831]

Great interview!!

[@christophejeunot7155]

I am not sure Elon Musk cares about what people think of him. I sense his sincerity in all his projects.

[@bruno_dias]

Then that it is even more scary!

[@wengelder9256]

Or in his numerous personal attacks on people without any reason to do so ?

[@DocBree13]

you and I have very different views of him

[@christophejeunot7155]

@@DocBree13 It is possible that I am wrong.

[@jannichi6431]

He definitely cares. See NeoLink presentations to shed light on his power. Read first authorized bio. Can't say Austin doesn't "Love Elon".

[@kryptotippytoes2088]

“Demon mode” = clinical psychotic episode

[@cecileroy557]

Just subscribed - excellent interview!!

[@loctobert9421]

Great exchange on the Demon mode topic. Thanks to Walter, for being a good friend to Elon Musk and being honest. I had worked for two bosses who got into very intense mode a lot. I didn’t endure that kind of work relationship but some of my coworkers did just fine, and they still do. I’m still friend to both people and I often appreciate my experience with them, though I still don’t like to be pushed around😅, think that’s partly my problem.

[@Feefa99]

It means you dislike dictatorship of any kind and that's good thing

[@MrGunderfly]

it means that maybe you were not as invested in the goals as those who stuck it out.

[@ericchild3363]

@@Feefa99 No one enjoys being pushed around, but sometimes it is necessary, if we are unwilling to concede quickly enough that the other person is right

[@Feefa99]

@@ericchild3363 if rich person who tell you what to do is impulse insecure a$$hole, that's actually a good case for democracy at workplace

[@ericchild3363]

@@Feefa99 I have news for you, workplaces are not democracies. If they were, they would soon not be a workplace as they would go bust and everyone would be out of a job.

[@pwn1966]

After listening to only half of this video I can honestly say that this man is the perfect biographer. Kudos to the interviewer for the great questions as well.

[@ninobach7456]

Walter Isaacson is great. I can also recommend his biography on Steve Jobs to those who haven't read it yet. Reading it felt like living through the rise of apple and all the tough situations that came with it.

[@programmer1840]

Interviewer seemed negatively biased in my opinion, asking "what's the angriest you've seen Elon get" not "what's the most surprising thing you've learned from his meetings".

[@Mranderson666]

AMAZING INTERVIEW !!

[@apaniet]

Chronic drug use will also make one temperamental

[@s.7980]

I’m here for Walter. He’s an amazingly nuanced writer who can make anything/anyone interesting.

[@deborahsnow2420]

Excellent interview! I’m 1/3 through the book; absolutely love it.

[@FadingVitals]

Stay away from people who have a demon mode!

[@fatimamebarki4599]

My ex used to have this but he also did get physical. Im sure Elon also got physical with his woman but he is probably paying them a good amount of money to shut up about it

[@nickydee569]

Stay away from people who claim to have zero personality fault

[@bukurie6861]

Thank you for beautiful interviw❤

[@atun77]

best modern biographer

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

Yup. Isaacsn does good work.

[@noahno]

Yet he appears to barely even grasp Musk. This was the most basic information

[@AL-lh2ht]

@@noahnocope hadder

[@MrAlanfalk73]

Me niether

[@GregMoylan-pn6sr]

Excellent interview. Well done.

[@kevindication]

Interesting to watch this. Book arrives in my mail today. Looking forward to reading it.

[@ziggyc3004]

Reminder this reckless man controls Starlink and is a huge national security concern.

[@L0615T1C]

unbiased interview, a pleasant change

[@fugitiveminded]

Def not unbiased. The interview focused the majority of the questions on how Elon makes ppl feel... lol. Like dude who cares!

[@Priddyboiicrls]

@@fugitivemindedclearly a lot of people care cuz it speaks to his personality and how he does things, even you wanted to just read his achievements go to his wikipedia🤷🏽‍♂️

[@hersh_yt]

Isaacson might be the most unbiased writer

[@AdamAuxier64]

"No one becomes insanely wealthy without some kind of personality defect"

[@masterq2.033]

So that's my aciliies heel , I'm just too sane !

[@skierpage]

"No one becomes insanely wealthy without starting from a family background that most people in the world would consider very privileged." Most of the billionaires in the world are the children of extremely rich people.

[@timbrooks7650]

We are a nation of entitlement ​@@skierpage

[@Godin12345]

One defect...his support of trump

[@LordMondegrene]

"Behind every great fortune lies a great crime."

[@joanmsmith5561]

I'm getting a sense of envy from folks discussing Elon Musk. I like this biographer, didn't think I would .

[@lultimone]

I'm half way through the interview and I've heard only questions around the personality, demon mode and potential bad sides of someone that is making our history. I find this annoying and a waste of time

[@donrayb]

Exactly. So much negativity. Really dislike this interviewer and the entire theme of this interview. Poorly done.

[@ProjectManagerSam]

Yeah, he’s so annoying. He’s so bought…

[@dudertino51]

The issue isn't that there aren't positives to what musk has done. The issue is that if he's successful with the good things then he gets to be extreeeeemly powerful. Now we look at his personality to go along with that power and it is extreeeeeemy troubling. It's justified to question his darkness.

[@KingMinosxxvi]

I find you a waste of time

[@termsofusepolice]

"Making our history." That is absurd. Unless by it you mean Musk, a multi-billionaire and malignant narcissist, seeks to obsessively insert himself into news stories and the public consciousness. If Musk died tomorrow the future prospects of human society would be entirely unaffected. Exactly as was the world following the death of Jobs.

[@kathleenlangenbacher4407]

This book is such an eye opener. I’m 3/4 through it and love 11:07 this author. However, I think a more complementary picture should have been used on the cover. In all the pictures I’ve seen of Elon…he has never seemed tan and actually seems to have a much higher hair line. I love Elon’s honestly about everything…even his doctor prescribed drug use. I so wish I was young enough to go to Mars, but maybe I’ll see someone else get there. Elon’s excitement and determination about Mars is so contagious! May God keep him safe to see his dreams come true! Congratulations Mr Isaacson! 👍

[@emr383]

Thank You. I also read the book. I do admire his writing skills and his humble spirit to share people's life and their lives in non- invasive ways. He has something of great value to people that he writes about..it is called unconditional respectful. He was very respectful of him; Elon Musk and his Families. Great work.♥️ proud of both! And it wasn't an easy thing. But. A Good Thing. Thank you to the interviews.

[@callimachust1474]

A very enjoyable interview where the journalist has done his homework brilliantly and Isaacson was providing thoughtful responses in such a composed way. Can’t say that I become a fan of Musk, but I do have great admiration for Isaacson.

[@GratitudeGuy]

Gratitude. Very insightful book.

[@DogHollow]

I read the book and Mr. Isaacson did a phenomenal job writing it. The whole time I was reading it I wanted out of there, and I wanted to be done with the book because it was oppressive. For an author to capture that nuance there is some exceptional talent there.

[@xual235]

Based on those words I'm going to read it. Thank you sir

[@acc4465]

You like fiction, don’t you?

[@Amuguii]

So WHO is Elon Dating? Cause you read the book

[@madhououinkyoma]

@@acc4465lmao 🤡

[@abigailandino6251]

This is what it looks like when someone gives a back handed “compliment”.

[@DocBree13]

Now he has 11 children that will grow up with their own trauma due to having a mostly absent father.

[@judyodonoghue7715]

And the vile way he treat his daughter

[@bobk4402]

Being absent might be the best thing he could do for them

[@b0tterman]

I used to do interviews like this back in the day. So I can say , with some experience to back me up, great job! Great questions.

[@julesvern-u4e]

I grew up seemingly with the exact same parents as Elon.. the father sounds exactly like mine and his mother reminds me EXACLY of mine, its like watching my own mother, its eerie. For this reason I dont for a second think that that neurotic woman didnt add to the strife in that home.

[@VisionClearly]

The homefront sounds extremely difficult to grow up as child.

[@tk_TO_2024-d3e]

Walter Isaacson is to biography what Ken Burns is to documentaries. Both are brilliant and worth any time in reading and watching their works.

[@dominiquefree5536]

Musk is clearly wounded to the point of severe personality disorders. He need help not adulation.

[@dennisnewton9384]

I’m not a biographer or mental health professional but I think Trump is like a father figure to Elon Musk Either way we are blessed to have these men care about humanity enough to invest their energy

[@larry6400]

I think the interviewer focused on the negative attributes of Elon too much, and the Author did a great job at trying to stop that being the focus of discussion. The whole thing felt like trying to make him look bad, without the balance of things that Elon does well, and has taught himself to do better. It was as if your enemy is trying to find out and share horrible things about you.

[@letsbehonest01]

I enjoyed this interview and Walter Isaacson's perspective on Elon Musk. Mr. Musk is such a complicated, yet brilliant man. I do hope that someday he can mentor children and young adults who have been abused and bullied or in foster care and help them find their way. So many young people who do not have the option to go to school or have made poor decisions in their lives get caught up in a cycle of destructive behavior. It seems from the interview and his experience with being abused, he could really relate to young people in the same situation and inspire them to achieve great things like he is. He is such an inspiration to those who struggle with mental health issues. I am reading this book!

[@shou635]

The media sure likes to focus on the negative.

[@ksc743]

Humanity loves bad news.

[@Aldo-Au]

Is the way the author is trying to capture the audience, very dishonest way try to discredit someone no telling the positive aspects

[@GregMoylan-pn6sr]

Isaacson is a top-shelf host… almost in a class of his own.

[@vishalvanjani6022]

Loved the interview,but I really feel the reporter hates elon.

[@Alonso.A.M]

His books steve jobs and elon are splendid. 100% recommended

[@johndoedoe88]

No Sh#$... I can see his narcissism 500 miles away.

[@israelquito3072]

THANKS FOR THE INFO!!👍👍👍👍

[@LuciusPercival]

"No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself." William Penn

[@abpccpba]

The best interview I have ever experienced.

[@lawrencefrost9063]

No mention of Boring Company or Neuralink? Great interview.

[@kathleencole3355]

Reading the book . Very interesting. A great insight into Elons mind and what makes him what he is to this day . Hope there will be a follow up . ❤️❤️👌

[@anthonym8345]

Just started reading the book 3 hours ago, can’t put it down

[@thandekamahlangu6027]

New too

[@elyseparker5333]

Hurt people hurt people. It sounds like he enters a disassociated state of rage. That's not a good thing. We shouldn't praise this.

[@maxe.1204]

Great interview, thank you both for doing this

[@Apophis1010]

If he could handle bad news from people, he wouldn't be in the trouble spot he's in. He did a lot of damage to his reputation

[@AngelPrissy]

Claiming "nobody else can do it" is not gonna last long

[@leonardoromero8]

Why are all the questions negative and Walter provides quality and insightful answers.

[@Michele-w4w]

When will men, and yes I mean men, realize that lack of empathy and "demon mode" are unnecessary for progression ? Now we put this guy in government? I protest!

[@jaeolsen-x1x]

I know from 1st hand experience what childhood trauma can do. At some point, however, it's up to each of us to choose whether just go with it, to let that define us, or to choose to make change. From where I sit, either no one has told him, he hasn't noticed, or he embraces it and chooses to act out at whatever age that was that he stopped maturing.

[@fordprefect.betelguese]

Demon mode is not a bad thing..... anger is an energy.... especially when the anger is constructive... it's hard for people to deal with but it educates fast..

[@lammie2282]

It depends. Anger in it self is not an issue and yes can be the catalyst for needed change so to speak but when one’s reaction to anger is to berate or belittle someone to produce something that is not positive transformation so to speak… one might reach their so called goal but it will produce fruit of the same energy. We see this throughout history.

[@fordprefect.betelguese]

@@lammie2282 good point 👍

[@joe8920]

Wonderful biographer and interview

[@davidhancock91]

Good interview. I think Elon is a kook, he is obviously also brilliant in many ways. He fascinates me. I will buy the book

[@ericchild3363]

Generally a good interview, but maybe skewed too much towards Elon's shortcomings vs his achievements. I suspect he will not get the credit he deserves until long after he is dead, which is sad

[@sherrieludwig508]

Well, true. Some of the people modern life owes a debt were dreadful humans (Edison comes to mind).

[@ericchild3363]

@@sherrieludwig508 Leading people into a different way of living requires a leader who is prepared to break a few eggs to produce the omelette

[@thisgirlchris]

Proves we're not one without the other

[@Aran_chini]

Brilliant interview.

[@108u9]

The end card with Errol Musk’s reply says it all. Elon as characterised by WI and other accounts IMO is almost a prototypical Gen Xer, and Errol-Elon as a publicly visible instance of intergenerational trauma. Hope many of the Millennial, Gen Z generation will choose in themselves to begin to break up this cycle and not continue passing on this terrible legacy and debt previous generations have failed to address.