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After meeting him, people often say, “He’s the smartest guy I’ve ever met.” Charlie Munger called Musk “a genius” and “one of the boldest men that ever came down the pike” at the 2014 Daily Journal Meeting. Whenever anyone asks how he learned to build rockets, Musk replies that he read books. He doesn’t just read them; he devours them. Here are some of the most important recommendations Musk has made throughout the years: **Science Fiction**: “In terms of sci-fi books, I think Isaac Asimov is really great. I like the [Foundation series, probably one of the all-time best](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553382578/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farnamstreet-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0553382578&linkId=972d7a02d4142007e4391700ac6c3661). Robert Heinlein, obviously. I like *[The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312863551/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farnamstreet-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0312863551&linkId=32cf3bed3c49ca71ea90bb44a7e8b643)* and I like [*Stranger in a Strange Land*](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0441788386/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farnamstreet-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0441788386&linkId=5e09d5669fc03e90506fd4df24898ac2), although it kind of goes off the rails at the end.” **Biographies**: Musk recommends *[Benjamin Franklin: An American Life](https://amzn.to/4e46M1U)* and *[Einstein: His Life and Universe](https://amzn.to/3VfAyYP)*, both by Walter Isaacson. He recently enjoyed *[Howard Hughes: His Life and Madness](https://amzn.to/4efsiRl)* by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele, calling it a “cautionary tale.” **Business and Technology**: Musk suggests *[Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future](https://amzn.to/4cb5kZO)* by Peter Thiel, his former colleague. He also tweeted about *[Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies](https://amzn.to/3VxnhMA)* by Nick Bostrom, warning that AI could be “potentially more dangerous than nukes.” **Structural Design:** “There’s a good book on structural design called [*Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down*](https://amzn.to/45gJB0A). It is really, really good if you want a primer on structural design.” He also went on at some length about [*The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy*](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345391802/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farnamstreet-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0345391802&linkId=c14a0d46f50ef0ff799d00155cf30b8d) in an [interview](http://www.freshdialogues.com/2013/02/07/transcript-of-elon-musk-interview-with-alison-van-diggelen-iron-man-growing-up-in-south-africa/) where he explained why it was a key book for him: > **Alison van Diggelen:** I understand Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, that wonderful book by Douglas Adams, that was a key book for you. What was it about that book that fired your imagination? > > **Elon Musk:** I guess when I was around 12 or 15 … I had an existential crisis, and I was reading various books on trying to figure out the meaning of life and what does it all mean? It all seemed quite meaningless and then we happened to have some books by Nietzsche and Schopenhauer in the house, which you should not read at age 14 (laughter). It is bad, it’s really negative. So then I read Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy which is quite positive I think and it highlighted an important point which is that a lot of times the question is harder than the answer. And if you can properly phrase the question, then the answer is the easy part. So, to the degree that we can better understand the universe, then we can better know what questions to ask. Then whatever the question is that most approximates: what’s the meaning of life? That’s the question we can ultimately get closer to understanding. And so I thought to the degree that we can expand the scope and scale of consciousness and knowledge, then that would be a good thing.” Finally, we get to the part about actual rocket science. “There is a good book on rocket stuff called *[Ignition](https://amzn.to/3XjQdJg)*! by John Clark that’s a really fun one.” The secret to Elon’s success isn’t simply reading books; he knows [how to read for knowledge](https://fs.blog/reading/). ***Still Curious?** Check out [Charlie Mungers Book Recommendations](https://fs.blog/charlie-munger-recommended-books/).* Read Next [Next Post:Charles Dickens to The Times — I Stand Astounded and Appalled](https://fs.blog/charles-dickens-to-the-times/) On November 13, 1849 a crowd of over 30,000 people gathered outside a prison in South London to witness the public execution of Marie and … #### Discover What You’re Missing ## Get the weekly email full of actionable ideas and insights you can use at work and home. *** As seen on:     **Articles** - [Mental Models](https://fs.blog/category/mental-models/) - [Decision Making](https://fs.blog/category/decision-making/) - [Learning](https://fs.blog/category/learning/) - [Book Recommendations](https://fs.blog/category/books/book-recommendations/) - [All Articles](https://fs.blog/blog/) **Podcast** - [Latest Episodes](https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/) - [Organized by Theme](https://fs.blog/episodes/) - [ChatBot](https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast-chat/) **Books** - [Clear Thinking](https://fs.blog/clear/) - [The Great Mental Models](https://fs.blog/tgmm/) - [All Books](https://fs.blog/books/) **Newsletter** - [Archive](https://fs.blog/brain-food/) - [Sign Up](https://fs.blog/newsletter) **About** - [About Shane](https://fs.blog/about/) - [Speaking](https://fs.blog/speaking/) - [Inquire about Sponsorship](https://fs.blog/sponsor/) ***  © 2026 Farnam Street Media Inc. 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Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, is often praised for his brilliance, bold vision, and [problem-solving approach](https://fs.blog/elon-musk-the-algorithm/). After meeting him, people often say, “He’s the smartest guy I’ve ever met.” Charlie Munger called Musk “a genius” and “one of the boldest men that ever came down the pike” at the 2014 Daily Journal Meeting. Whenever anyone asks how he learned to build rockets, Musk replies that he read books. He doesn’t just read them; he devours them. Here are some of the most important recommendations Musk has made throughout the years: **Science Fiction**: “In terms of sci-fi books, I think Isaac Asimov is really great. I like the [Foundation series, probably one of the all-time best](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553382578/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farnamstreet-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0553382578&linkId=972d7a02d4142007e4391700ac6c3661). Robert Heinlein, obviously. I like *[The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312863551/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farnamstreet-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0312863551&linkId=32cf3bed3c49ca71ea90bb44a7e8b643)* and I like [*Stranger in a Strange Land*](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0441788386/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farnamstreet-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0441788386&linkId=5e09d5669fc03e90506fd4df24898ac2), although it kind of goes off the rails at the end.” **Biographies**: Musk recommends *[Benjamin Franklin: An American Life](https://amzn.to/4e46M1U)* and *[Einstein: His Life and Universe](https://amzn.to/3VfAyYP)*, both by Walter Isaacson. He recently enjoyed *[Howard Hughes: His Life and Madness](https://amzn.to/4efsiRl)* by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele, calling it a “cautionary tale.” **Business and Technology**: Musk suggests *[Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future](https://amzn.to/4cb5kZO)* by Peter Thiel, his former colleague. He also tweeted about *[Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies](https://amzn.to/3VxnhMA)* by Nick Bostrom, warning that AI could be “potentially more dangerous than nukes.” **Structural Design:** “There’s a good book on structural design called [*Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down*](https://amzn.to/45gJB0A). It is really, really good if you want a primer on structural design.” He also went on at some length about [*The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy*](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345391802/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farnamstreet-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0345391802&linkId=c14a0d46f50ef0ff799d00155cf30b8d) in an [interview](http://www.freshdialogues.com/2013/02/07/transcript-of-elon-musk-interview-with-alison-van-diggelen-iron-man-growing-up-in-south-africa/) where he explained why it was a key book for him: > **Alison van Diggelen:** I understand Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, that wonderful book by Douglas Adams, that was a key book for you. What was it about that book that fired your imagination? > > **Elon Musk:** I guess when I was around 12 or 15 … I had an existential crisis, and I was reading various books on trying to figure out the meaning of life and what does it all mean? It all seemed quite meaningless and then we happened to have some books by Nietzsche and Schopenhauer in the house, which you should not read at age 14 (laughter). It is bad, it’s really negative. So then I read Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy which is quite positive I think and it highlighted an important point which is that a lot of times the question is harder than the answer. And if you can properly phrase the question, then the answer is the easy part. So, to the degree that we can better understand the universe, then we can better know what questions to ask. Then whatever the question is that most approximates: what’s the meaning of life? That’s the question we can ultimately get closer to understanding. And so I thought to the degree that we can expand the scope and scale of consciousness and knowledge, then that would be a good thing.” Finally, we get to the part about actual rocket science. “There is a good book on rocket stuff called *[Ignition](https://amzn.to/3XjQdJg)*! by John Clark that’s a really fun one.” The secret to Elon’s success isn’t simply reading books; he knows [how to read for knowledge](https://fs.blog/reading/). ***Still Curious?** Check out [Charlie Mungers Book Recommendations](https://fs.blog/charlie-munger-recommended-books/).*