Listen free for 30 days

  • Elon Musk

  • Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
  • Written by: Ashlee Vance
  • Narrated by: Fred Sanders
  • Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,824 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Elon Musk cover art

Elon Musk

Written by: Ashlee Vance
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $45.74

Buy Now for $45.74

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

In the spirit of Steve Jobs and Moneyball, Elon Musk is both an illuminating and authorized look at the extraordinary life of one of Silicon Valley's most exciting, unpredictable, and ambitious entrepreneurs - a real-life Tony Stark - and a fascinating exploration of the renewal of American invention and its new makers.

Elon Musk spotlights the technology and vision of Elon Musk, the renowned entrepreneur and innovator behind SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity, who sold one of his Internet companies, PayPal, for $1.5 billion. Ashlee Vance captures the full spectacle and arc of the genius' life and work, from his tumultuous upbringing in South Africa and flight to the United States to his dramatic technical innovations and entrepreneurial pursuits.

Vance uses Musk's story to explore one of the pressing questions of our age: Can the nation of inventors and creators who led the modern world for a century still compete in an age of fierce global competition? He argues that Musk - one of the most unusual and striking figures in American business history - is a contemporary, visionary amalgam of legendary inventors and industrialists, including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes, and Steve Jobs. More than any other entrepreneur today, Musk has dedicated his energies and his own vast fortune to inventing a future that is as rich and far reaching as the visionaries of the golden age of science-fiction fantasy.

©2015 Ashlee Vance (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

What the critics say

"Fred Sanders narrates this smartly written biography with the right balance of gravitas and entertainment value, providing accents for some of the major characters including a convincing South African accent for the story's star.... The combination of great narration, well-written and well-researched content, and a bigger-than-life subject propels this nuanced work into the upper atmosphere of audiobook biographies." (AudioFile)

Editorial Review

Has there ever been a visionary quite like Elon Musk? Go beyond the name to uncover what makes this entrepreneurial billionaire tick and his visions for the future.

Any technology enthusiast, entrepreneur, business person or visionary knows Elon Musk. Musk burst onto the tech and innovation scene and is probably best known as being the CEO of Tesla. He is also the co-founder and chief engineer of SpaceX and co-founder of several other billion-dollar companies. Thought to be the wealthiest man globally, this engaging and informative Elon Musk audiobook by Ashlee Vance addresses all aspects of this truly fascinating person.

From his rocky upbringing and past in South Africa to his American dream entrepreneurial pursuits in the United States, Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance is one of the best books out there about the billionaire entrepreneur. She unpacks Musk’s story and all the moves, motivations, and goals that drove him to such success. It also details his various roles and connections, from the board of directors positions to his work at Tesla Inc. and the impact he and his businesses have had on Silicon Valley and Wall Street alike. He has often been hailed as a visionary and real-life genius at the forefront of such futuristic concepts as electric cars, space travel, scientific innovations, and finding inventions to expand humankind’s reach on his quest for a fantastic future.

This bestseller audiobook adaptation of Elon Musk is narrated by Fred Sanders, who has lent his voice to several other biographies and nonfiction works. His clear, steady tone delivers the narrative with ease, allowing you to get an even deeper view of the visionary that is Elon Musk and his life story from startups to industrialist titan and real-life Tony Stark that is worth reading.

What listeners say about Elon Musk

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,420
  • 4 Stars
    326
  • 3 Stars
    59
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    7
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,130
  • 4 Stars
    278
  • 3 Stars
    52
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,160
  • 4 Stars
    247
  • 3 Stars
    54
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hey Elon, you hiring?

Media portrayals certainly don't give you a great insight into one of the most important minds of our generation. But the book did. We learn he's still just a guy...a complicated, misunderstood, passionate, and an incredibly and uniquely intelligent guy...who built a f*$#&!g space ship company. Wild.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The man, The Legend

Elon's story is worth the listen.. He is a genius of the likes we haven't seen in a very long time. I'm not sure I'd be able to work for him but I respect his amazing mind. As a Tesla owner, I can attest to the genius of his technology.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Co-written by Elon Musk

Feels like marketing material for Musk brand.
Full of great information but I can’t say that it feels genuine. Still, I’m a big fan of everything he does.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mind blowing!

With subtle narrative, the author captivates with fine details the rise of Elon along with al its shenanigans.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting window on Elon

Very nice to better know the mind and the struggle behind Tesla and Space X.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

surprised I enjoyed as much as I did

I downloaded on the advice of a friend, not e expecting too much, but thoroughly enjoyed the story and narration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing story!!!

I now have a whole lot more respect for Tesla, Space X , solar city and everything Elon's stand for.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Elon Musk

Cant wait to get a more up to date biography as a lot has changed since this was written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very inspirational!

Great story and a very inspiring story. Looking forward to see what he will do next.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Could not stop listening!

I already had an immense appreciation for Elon’s work before listening to this book both as an entrepreneur and a Tesla car owner, however after hearing the incredible stories and detail of his drive and perseverance I am so motivated to accomplish so much more in my life. Very well written and narrated.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful