Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance is a new, unauthorized biography of the controversial CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX. The book has already caused quite a stir, with Musk disputing some of the facts and even calling the author "a douchebag" on Twitter.

The Good

There's no doubt that Musk is an incredible entrepreneur and visionary. He's started companies in areas as diverse as online payments, solar energy, and space exploration. He's also proven himself to be a master of marketing and self-promotion.

Vance does a good job of painting a picture of Musk's childhood and how it shaped his later successes. He was raised in South Africa and Canada by a father who was both an engineer and a (somewhat) abuse. This combination instilled in Musk a strong work ethic, determination, and resilience.

The book also offers some interesting insights into Musk's business dealings and how he operates Tesla and SpaceX. For example, Musk is very hands-on when it comes to product design and has been known to spend hours in the factory himself, working on cars. He's also not afraid to take risks, which has both paid off and backfired.

The Bad

While Vance does a good job of showing Musk's successes, he also doesn't shy away from the controversies. For example, he writes about how Musk had a reputation for being difficult to work with and how he had several fiery exchanges with Tesla's board of directors.

There are also some questionable claims in the book. For example, Vance paints a picture of Musk as a womanizer, which has caused some controversy. Musk has denied these claims and even said on Twitter that Vance is a "douchebag" for writing them.

The Bottom Line

Whether you love or hate Elon Musk, this book is a must-read. It's a detailed and engaging portrait of one of the most fascinating and controversial figures in the business world today.