Posted 9/17/2023, 7:24:04 AM

Musk Biography Launch Marred by Controversy and Mixed Reviews

Book rollout carefully controlled yet chaotic - Elon Musk biography shot to #1 on Amazon before release
Excerpts strategically released to media ahead of embargo
Musk disputed one excerpt, author agreed contradiction
Reviews mixed - critiquing "great man" approach
Isaacson event only LA appearance to discuss book
Other notable books covered - Goldberg, Duggar, Dalila Harris
Book awards season beginning - Pulitzer opening to non-citizens
National Book Award nominees announced
Local LA book talks previewed - climate change, feminist horror

latimes.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/23/2023

Elon Musk Agrees With Doge Designer's Comparison Of Mainstream Media And Jim Cramer: 'If They Write Anything Bad About X...' - Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), Kohl's (NYSE:KSS), Hewlett Packard (NYSE:HPE), Qorvo (NASDAQ:QRVO)

Elon Musk has agreed with a graphic designer's analogy between mainstream media critiques and Jim Cramer's erratic stock predictions, highlighting the need for independent sources of information.

9/9/2023

Elon Musk: The Brilliant yet Tortured Genius Whose Companies are Pushing Humanity Forward While His Own Demons Hold Him Back

A new biography of Elon Musk portrays him as a brilliant but tortured figure, struggling to connect with others and facing personal and professional challenges.

9/10/2023

Elon Musk: The Complex Genius Who Changed the World But Can't Escape His Demons

Elon Musk is described as volatile and multi-faceted by biographer Walter Isaacson, who believes that Musk's childhood traumas and drives shaped his adventurous and dramatic personality, along with his urgency to make humans a multi-planetary species.

9/11/2023

Tesla Troubles Overlooked in Flattering Musk Biography

The biography "Elon Musk" by Walter Isaacson explores the life and achievements of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, but fails to address controversial aspects such as his experiences with apartheid and allegations of discrimination, resulting in a one-sided portrayal of Musk as a visionary hero.

9/12/2023

Musk Exploded at Gates Over Tesla Short Position, New Book Reveals

Walter Isaacson's book "Elon Musk" reveals a heated exchange between Elon Musk and Bill Gates, with Musk expressing his frustration over people shorting Tesla stock.

9/15/2023

Elon Musk: The Complex Legacy of an Innovator and Provocateur

Elon Musk is known for his disruptive innovation in the electric vehicle industry, space exploration, and his controversial use of Twitter, but his historical significance and impact on social media may not be seen as a net force for good in the long run.

9/15/2023

Isaacson's Elon Musk Biography Selling Well But Drawing Mixed Reviews

Walter Isaacson's new biography of Elon Musk has sparked controversy, receiving mixed reviews for lacking analysis and idolizing Musk, while including intriguing anecdotes involving Ari Emanuel proposing to run Twitter for $100 million and Larry David questioning Musk about gun violence at a wedding.

9/17/2023

Elon Musk's Intense Management Style Drives SpaceX Engineers to the Brink

Elon Musk's intense management style, which prioritizes total commitment and high expectations from employees, has been revealed in Walter Isaacson's new biography, prompting some former SpaceX staff members to share stories about the pressure they faced in meeting Musk's demands.

9/17/2023

New Musk Biography Examines His Complex Relationship with Government

Elon Musk's ambiguous relationship with receiving help from the US government, given its involvement with some of his ventures, is discussed by author Walter Isaacson.

9/18/2023

Isaacson's New Biography on Elon Musk Divides Reviewers on Whether It Properly Captures the Contradictory, Powerful Tech Mogul

The book party for Walter Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk brought together a group of influential guests who praised the book but expressed concerns about Musk's power and the ethical implications of his actions.