Can celebrity override suppression ~ or does the algorithm always win?
Let’s talk about the weirdest genre in modern publishing: Books About Elon Musk.
Love him, hate him, or side-eye him from the shadows – Elon generates content just by existing.
What happens when the algorithm that controls discourse also controls the perception of books about the algorithm’s controller?
Can You Even Talk About Elon on X?
Some users report that posts about Elon –especially critical or analytical ones– seem to disappear or underperform. Others point out that even the most hyped biographies don’t stay long in the conversation unless they’re viral-adjacent. The algorithm wants memes, not manuscripts, the platforms reward attention, not information.
The Algorithm as Gatekeeper
Algorithms don’t just show us what’s popular… they shape what becomes popular.
Is this bad news for anyone trying to sell a critical book about someone like Elon Musk? You’re fighting:
• Platform self-interest (they want users to stay on-platform)
• Celebrity fatigue
• Real-time suppression of anything that might seem “critical,” “complex,” or just boring by engagement standards
Although there’s seemingly no shortage of breathless profiles and pop biographies, critical takes on Elon Musk remain surprisingly scarce. Whether that’s algorithmic favouritism, billionaire rivalry, or just reader appetite for myth making, it’s hard to say. Either way, we’ve rounded up a mix of books that cover Musk from multiple angles ~ from early SpaceX chaos to recent Twitter/X meltdowns ~ so you can read between the lines for yourself.
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Books on Musk from many angles...
Though I suspect there’s more to his story than written about in any of these books, here’s a starter pack of Elon-related reads, complete with affiliate links if you want to support indie sellers or your local dealer of weird niche biographies:
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
The “official” biography, though not uncritical. Offers insight into Musk’s upbringing, companies, and contradictions.
Buy here (affiliated)
The Elon Musk Method: Business Principles from the World’s Most Powerful Entrepreneur by Randy Kirk
Why it ranks: Practical tips dressed in Musk’s mythology. Not critical, but digestible for fans and followers.
Buy here (affiliate link)
Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX by Eric Berger
Why it’s fascinating: This one focuses on SpaceX before it was a global player — chaos, near-bankruptcy, and Elon’s gamble that paid off.
Buy here (affiliate link)
When the Heavens Went on Sale by Ashlee Vance
Not just Musk—covers the wider space-tech explosion (and yes, Musk is in the mix).
Buy here (affiliated)
Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk by Faiz Siddiqui
A highly anticipated (and possibly highly suppressed) title, out today (22/04/2025). The title says a lot on its own, but what’s more interesting is how rarely critical books about Musk break into the mainstream. Siddiqui writes for the Bezos-owned Washington Post, so you’d think he could pull some Amazon strings… but even there, the algorithm could have its own ideas. This one delves into the post-Twitter chaos and adds another sharp critique to the growing Musk canon. Let the rivalries roll on?
Buy here (affiliated)
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Final Thoughts: You’re Not Paranoid
It’s easy to feel like you’re shouting into the void when posting about books online ~ especially controversial ones. But that’s not you failing. That’s the system working as designed. All the more reason to post about more controversial books, as often as possible. (Watch this space, I’m being a tame hack rn, ideas > algorithms)
So keep shouting (strategically). Whisper in the right ears. Post a blog, then post again. The machine wants to distract you~but books are still the long game.
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Previously Discussed: A roundup of books that break down exactly how algorithms manipulate visibility, mood, and memory… including the ones the algo really doesn’t want you to read
Coming Next: List of books on the Kennedy Assassination
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n.b. Affiliate links help support small bookshops and independent creators. If you purchase through the above links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you ~ and it helps me keep my bookshop open. Many thanks for your support. You can also search anything on Amazon here and that might score me a sip of coffee 😉