First Names: Elon Musk

A second biography describes the life of Elon Musk; entrepreneur, engineer, inventor and billionaire. It tells of a gifted child born into an adventurous family, thirsty for knowledge and success. Fascinated with computers, he taught himself coding in three nights at the age of 12. Early experiments with computer games later led to the creation of an internet database and the online payment system which became PayPal. Not content with success in the virtual world, he was also interested in transport; fast cars and rockets. His own early experiments with rocket building led to the creation of the first private rocket successfully setting off into space and actually making deliveries to the International Space Station. A business man with an environmental conscience, his interest in promoting solar energy and electric cars is described. Solving traffic problems is also a passion and he is working on a big idea – creating a high speed ‘Hyperloop’ connecting cities with a network of tubes and driverless capsules.  Another long term plan aims to solve the problem of what to do if the earth becomes no longer sustainable for humanity, by creating a colony on Mars.

Elon Musk is definitely a big thinker and problem solver who has made an impact in a number of ways. His story may be an inspiration to young inventors with similarly big ideas. The narrative describing his personal life and achievements is interjected with amusing cartoon illustrations and explanations from Elon, about key topics such as solar energy and Silicon Valley. There is timeline of his life so far and a useful glossary at the back of the book.