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Elon Musk
COZY READS -GENERAL
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Elon Musk : Inventing the Future... Jaya Gorab Indrani
Thank you for the reccos Phani will surely give them a try.
Indrani wrote: "ᒎᗩᎩᗩ wrote: "Done with the space programme bit. Will be taking a break from this book (i wonder if il ever develop a taste for auto/biographies)"
maybe it's because of the highly technical nature..."
Yes too science-y n techy for me...
And those musician ones, heehehe those surely are interesting till the drugs n rehab start appearing. On a serious note Bruce Sprinsteen's autobiography is on my immediate tbr list. Acquired the audiobook, best thing it is read by "Boss" himself.
All this kahani was to tempt you to join if it piques your fancy
Ankit wrote: "Gorab wrote: "Interesting Ankit. Thanks for sharing. Hope you'll help us in more technical stuff... By the way, this looks like your kind of book. High on science and tech."Before I saw this disc..."
I think rather than technical details, it's more to do with the lack of experience of author in technical stuff which makes you feel that there are lot more technical details than there are.
@Ankit If you like to read technical stuff, i would highly recommend you "What do you care what other people think". The second part of book is about the investigation regarding the Apollo spaceship disaster.
Phani wrote: "Ankit wrote: "Gorab wrote: "Interesting Ankit. Thanks for sharing. Hope you'll help us in more technical stuff... By the way, this looks like your kind of book. High on science and tech."Before I..."
Thanks. I will surely look it up.
One minor correction, however. The book description says that it has an investigation into Challenger Space Shuttle disaster.
Ankit wrote: "Phani wrote: "Ankit wrote: "Gorab wrote: "Interesting Ankit. Thanks for sharing. Hope you'll help us in more technical stuff... By the way, this looks like your kind of book. High on science and te..."My bad.
ᒎᗩᎩᗩ wrote: "Indrani wrote: "ᒎᗩᎩᗩ wrote: "Done with the space programme bit. Will be taking a break from this book (i wonder if il ever develop a taste for auto/biographies)"
maybe it's because of the highly ..."
I am always up for autobiography reads
Mod
One employee missed an event to witness the birth of his child. Musk fired off an e-mail saying, “That is no excuse. I am extremely disappointed. You need to figure out where your priorities are. We’re changing the world and changing history, and you either commit or you don’t.”
I hate such people! Is it quintessential to sacrifice the mundane pleasures of life for the sake of doing something big?
Can't they go hand in hand?
On one hand, it feels great to see such innovative products taking shape in unreal timelines ..... but on the other hand I feel so very sad to hear of such undue hardships :(
Mod
Can't agree more! Particularly planning to read bios from cricket and bollywood.
Gorab wrote: "Indrani wrote: "But I have to say I like sportspersons/actors lives more interesting then businessmen in general. :)"Can't agree more! Particularly planning to read bios from cricket and bollywood."
Interested in Open by Andre Agassi?
Mod
Will ping you whenever I plan to start, and we'll see whether we can read it together.
Gorab wrote: "Indrani wrote: "But I have to say I like sportspersons/actors lives more interesting then businessmen in general. :)"Can't agree more! Particularly planning to read bios from cricket and bollywood."
Do let me know which ones you pick
Phani wrote: "Gorab wrote: "Indrani wrote: "But I have to say I like sportspersons/actors lives more interesting then businessmen in general. :)"Can't agree more! Particularly planning to read bios from cricke..."
It's a superb book. I have already read, so will take a raincheck this time.
Gorab wrote: "Yes. Open is highly recommended too. But won't be able to pick it before June :(Will ping you whenever I plan to start, and we'll see whether we can read it together."
Sure. Also ping me if you want to read any other non fiction.
Mod
After the electric car chapter, I realise my folly :D At least Tesla was not a money minting machine... quite the opposite!
Mod
Gorab wrote: "Sure thing. Will ping you Inny for bollywood/cricket... and you Phani for non-fics other than biographies. In fact I'm planning to take on When Breath Becomes Air this year going by your review and..."I really loved that book. Will write review today.
When I said non fiction, i meant biographies also.
how far have you reached J and G?I am at the liftoff chapter. it talks more about musk's management style and what his employees think about him. interesting stuff. people seem to fear and admire him equally.
Mod
Regarding the decision where he could financially support only one of SpaceX and Tesla, its like deciding which one of your child you would kill!
Very stressful! I'm relating to that sentence you (Inny) wrote in message 95 :
Musk apparently can withstand an unparalleled level of stress.. I think in that one sentence perhaps is the key to all kind of success a human can achieve..
Mod
May be Musk isn't that expressive emotionally.... So we don't know details of his side of the story....
Gorab wrote: "And going by the public statements they both made, I could relate more with Justine's case.... What all she would have had to tolerate.May be Musk isn't that expressive emotionally.... So we don't..."
From Justine's interviews and that quora post of hers, I think she still likes Musk.. also I dont think he would be very different in personal life.. there are so many times Justine says "I am not your employee, I am your wife".. combine that to the insane work hours of Musk, it's not a stretch to imagine that Musk was more to blame...
But I really disliked that post divorce negotiations part.. I strongly felt Musk should have been nicer.. They did stay together for a long while, and they have children together.. but then no one can judge a marriage from outside..
Gorab wrote: "I'm somewhere in the middle of pain, suffering and survival part. Currently reading their divorce story. Regarding the decision where he could financially support only one of SpaceX and Tesla, its..."
Yeah.. very very scary it was... later there is an indication about which company is more close to his heart..
Mod
Not sure if his heart favoured more for Tesla... will find out.
Ok, request you to give out the spoiler pleeze :D
Mod
During their trip, when Justine told Musk to introduce her properly and not just as his wife - ‘Justine wants me to tell you that she’s written novels,’
You think that was funny? I found it extremely rude!
Later... - "Either we fix [the marriage] today, or I will divorce you tomorrow.”
I can only think about the first line of the book - "DO YOU THINK I’M INSANE?”"
there is a mention that if Musk asks you to do something and you say it is impossible, he will then say "okay, you are fired, I will do your job and be the CEO of 2 companies". And apparently, he has many times pulled this off for any position at all in SpaceX. That's beyond superhuman, right? The tasks involved in making and launching rockets must be incredibly complex. How can someone just step in and do it well? No doubt that if one can do this, no one ever would question that person's credibility/capability.
Mod
On another note, people often advice that you should keep your personal and professional lives isolated from each other.... But its difficult to believe.,... I feel the way you tackle matters professionally somehow seeps in your personal life... and vice versa....
So may be those negotiations were reflections of his other negotiations of cost cutting and how could we make this more affordable?
Gorab wrote: "Post divorce negotiation - I think he was crumbling into bankruptcy and hence that kind of behavior.On another note, people often advice that you should keep your personal and professional lives ..."
Agree that he must have been financially in a bad position then. That makes sense. But I think he did a postnup (opposite of prenup?) just after his marriage which later haunted Justine.. I vaguely remember this being mentioned somewhere in the initial chapters.. if I remember correctly, then this was a little premeditated at least..
On the second part, I completely agree.. we all have one core/basic nature that would be reflected everywhere.. but lesser mortals like us who are not so confident may display a modified persona at work.. then the personal life and worklife personality may differ a lot.. but I dont think it would be so for confident folks..
I think keeping personal and professional life has a lot of merit, in terms of being more peaceful.. but then having folks at work who you can trust without doubts is a rare support too..
Mod
And apparently, he..."
Seriously that guy is exceptional to pull such things.
Mod
Yes he mentioned a postnup following advice of close friends, to ascertain Justine is marrying out of love and not for money. Justine also wrote about it in her blog titled "gold digger"
While writing this comment, I did dig up her blog, and found some stuff during the divorce times.... Mostly captured in this book.
From her blog (dated Jul. 24th, 2014) sharing this interesting answer from her on being asked about Elon
Q : "I am surprised by the contrast of Elon Musk's brainpower and his lack of knowledge in psychology or even emotional intelligence.
Perhaps this reflects how he is focused in his work and expertise.
.
.
I also imagine for such a big figure I would try not to be in a personal relationship for wanting to be independent and not be swept off in his name as a celebrity's someone.
Do you think such men should only work for humanity having only work work balance? But everyone has a wanting to be loved or don't they?"
Justine's answer :
I never had any issues with his brainpower or his focus or his work schedule.
I think "such men" should treat their wives with kindness, warmth, love + respect, otherwise it is better to know + admire them from a distance. Lack of empathy in a partner is a difficult thing to live with, and frankly I don't recommend it.
Just to add: if we could go back in time I'm sure there are things we would both do quite differently. We met young, grew up into adulthood together, and had a lot to learn. (Still do.)
Super interesting discussion guys(Iv put the book on hold for the time being, not able to concentrate with all the travelling and visits)
Mod
Haahaha how I wish, sticking to east (this time ;))
Gorab wrote: "Wild guess.... Space X should be more closer... it was his brainchild.... while he joined in Tesla as an investor initially...Not sure if his heart favoured more for Tesla... will find out.
Ok, re..."
ha ha.. yes.. SpaceX it is.. he says it's a manifestation of himself..
Gorab wrote: "Divorce - During their trip, when Justine told Musk to introduce her properly and not just as his wife - ‘Justine wants me to tell you that she’s written novels,’
You think that was funny? I fou..."
He IS a bit insane.. or a lot....
the introduction thing was very nasty.. for a normal person, you can take this as petty revenge in the aftermath of a bitter fight.. but Musk seems to do this all the time..
I think he is used to running people or firing them.. he was struggling with a relationship where he couldn't fire for "insubordination". Also Musk does show a vindictive streak.
did you notice the fistfights he used to have with his brother Kimbal? and from tesla/spacex onwards Kimbal seems to have disappeared.. so he also must have had it musk and moved out.. or taken a relatively low stress minor position somewhere..
But after all is said and done, we still can't stop liking the guy, can we? also some day we may have to live in Mars after all.
Gorab wrote: "he did a postnup (opposite of prenup?) just after his marriage which later haunted Justine.. I vaguely remember this being mentioned somewhere in the initial chapters.. if I remember correctly, the..."Interesting!
Justine does come across as the nicer and more mature partner..
Mod
All of his kids potentially have the same environment.... Ample money to afford any kind of tech whenever needed, big-daddy stories about their ancestors, emotional trauma bcause of separated parents... and top it off with the same genes ;)
Mod
Mod
Gorab wrote: "Oh yeah Kimbal... didn't think about him.All of his kids potentially have the same environment.... Ample money to afford any kind of tech whenever needed, big-daddy stories about their ancestors, ..."
Yes.. the children.. there will be some fireworks there for sure..
Gorab wrote: "I just finished the Liftoff chapter.... and I'm gaping in awe... difficult to force my mouth shut!"Yes.. isn't it?.. what a guy!
Mod
On to the last chapter - unified theory of musk.
Wondering what happened to his second wife and multiple divorces?
His relation with kids?
Parts of his life other than these companies? (Though minor)
More insight into his thinking, reasoning behind what he did and why, regrets in life.... Or any aspects focusing more on him?
All we get is only companies... Who was hired when... Small bio of all important people in these companies....
Not complaining.... Enjoyed thoroughly all that I've read so far..... But the "biography" tag looks incomplete without all this and more...
Gorab wrote: "Have finished revenge of the electric car.... This was also mind blowing....On to the last chapter - unified theory of musk.
Wondering what happened to his second wife and multiple divorces?
His ..."
There is more on his thinking pattern in unified theory chapter.. Also some more thoughts from his partners, employees.. I think he remarried his second wife.. absolute silence on his children, but I suppose that makes sense.. Musk must have made their privacy a condition for his cooperation.
I am in the middle of this unified theory chapter.. should be able to finish today.. It has been lovely reading this book.
Mod
Good to know there are personal insights in the final chapter.... that would be apt wrap up :)
By the pace Musk is going, we can expect more biographies by him ;)
I recommend watching the documentary :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTJt5...It predates the book and most of the things are repeated, but I still feel it is worth the time to watch.
Mod
Gorab wrote: "How I wish one day I'll be able to see all the recommended Youtube videos by Phani. Will bookmark this thread for future use. Thanks Phani.":)
At least do watch the Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot video.
I am going to save the videos in my "watch later" playlist in youtube,.. thanks Phani..
I am practically finished with the book. Finished last chapter. For once read all appendices. Now only a few pages of footnotes remaining. I hardly ever read footnotes and this time also I didnt click them, but reading most of them anyway now as they are making sense.So again, what a man!!
Let's do a summing up discussion once you are done Gorab.
Mod
I'm in the middle of Solar City chapter... and have been thinking about his unified theory ever since Tesla cars started making use of SpaceX propulsion technology.
There were quite a few standing ovation applause moments in the Tesla chapter.
1. When he announced the batteries could be replaced within a couple of minutes instead of charging for 20 minutes.
Question : AFAIK, any battery keeps losing its retention power and efficiency with usage. Would be intersting to know how Tesla handles the replacing battery across cars model! Easy peasy guess is they will give a lifetime battery service for free....
2. When he discussed the braking mechanism of Tesla cars.... instead of using friction to kill speed, they use inverse propulsion mechanism... and the electricity generated during this process is passed back to the batteries! Talk of efficiency! Sheer awesomeness!
Gorab wrote: "I mostly read footnotes.... and have read all of them in this book as and when they appeared. Most of the times, felt they should have been included as main text instead of a footnote...I'm in th..."
Agree so much. Especially so on the braking thing.
Before I saw this discussion, I didn't know it had much of technical details. Going through the thread, it seems this book will be a delight!