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Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century
Power Play is the riveting inside story of Elon Musk and Tesla's bid to build the world's greatest car--from award-winning Wall Street Journal tech and auto reporter Tim Higgins
Tesla is the envy of the automotive world. The first car company to be valued at $1 trillion, its electric vehicles can be found across the globe, coveted symbols of both wealth and virtue. The company's rise has elevated its CEO, the mercurial and charismatic Elon Musk, into a celebrity--not to mention making him the richest man in the world.
But Tesla's success was far from guaranteed. Founded in the 2000s, the company was born from a simple but audacious vision: to create an electric car that could best any gas-guzzling competitor. Tesla wasn't the first company to try: Electric cars had been trotted out--and thrown on the scrap heap--by carmakers for more than a century. But where onlookers saw a history of failure, Musk and a small band of Silicon Valley engineers and entrepreneurs saw only opportunity. The car, they decided, was in need of disruption. So Tesla pitted itself against the biggest, fiercest business businesses in the world, setting out to make a car that was quicker, sexier, smoother, and cleaner than any on the road.
But as the saying goes, to make a small fortune in cars, start with a big fortune. Tesla would undergo a hellish fifteen years, beset by rivals, pressured by investors, hobbled by whistleblowers, buoyed by loyal supporters. Time and time again, Musk would find himself in the public crosshairs, threatening to bring the company he had initially funded largely with his own money to the brink of collapse.
Wall Street Journal tech and auto reporter Tim Higgins had a front-row seat for the drama: the pileups, wrestling for control, breakdowns, and, the unlikeliest outcome of all, success. A story of impossible wagers and unlikely triumphs, Power Play is an exhilarating look at how a team of eccentrics and innovators beat the odds--and changed the future.
Tesla is the envy of the automotive world. The first car company to be valued at $1 trillion, its electric vehicles can be found across the globe, coveted symbols of both wealth and virtue. The company's rise has elevated its CEO, the mercurial and charismatic Elon Musk, into a celebrity--not to mention making him the richest man in the world.
But Tesla's success was far from guaranteed. Founded in the 2000s, the company was born from a simple but audacious vision: to create an electric car that could best any gas-guzzling competitor. Tesla wasn't the first company to try: Electric cars had been trotted out--and thrown on the scrap heap--by carmakers for more than a century. But where onlookers saw a history of failure, Musk and a small band of Silicon Valley engineers and entrepreneurs saw only opportunity. The car, they decided, was in need of disruption. So Tesla pitted itself against the biggest, fiercest business businesses in the world, setting out to make a car that was quicker, sexier, smoother, and cleaner than any on the road.
But as the saying goes, to make a small fortune in cars, start with a big fortune. Tesla would undergo a hellish fifteen years, beset by rivals, pressured by investors, hobbled by whistleblowers, buoyed by loyal supporters. Time and time again, Musk would find himself in the public crosshairs, threatening to bring the company he had initially funded largely with his own money to the brink of collapse.
Wall Street Journal tech and auto reporter Tim Higgins had a front-row seat for the drama: the pileups, wrestling for control, breakdowns, and, the unlikeliest outcome of all, success. A story of impossible wagers and unlikely triumphs, Power Play is an exhilarating look at how a team of eccentrics and innovators beat the odds--and changed the future.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 3, 2021
304 people are currently reading
4039 people want to read
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September 22, 2023
2023.09.23, Update 3. (Final update.)
Just read "Elon Musk" by Walter Isaacson (680 pages, Sept. 12, 2023).
5/5 stars!
For the real up close and personal lowdown on the Twitter takeover, jump to Chapter 72 and onwards.
"...For two years, Isaacson shadowed Musk, attended his meetings, walked his factories with him, and spent hours interviewing him, his family, friends, coworkers, and adversaries..."
Quite simply, a must-read!
------
2022.05.17, Update 1.
For a much better book to understand what makes Elon Musk tick, read "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future" by Ashlee Vance.
From his origins in South Africa to Canada to the USA, warts and all, far from complimentary, but compelling, enriching and penned by an author who actually met and extensively interviewed Musk and colleagues.
Update 2.
. "Dealing with his life is like trying to take notes while drinking from a fire hose." - Biographer Walter Isaacson in a recent interview with the NYT.
Isaacson is currently working on a book about Elon Musk which may or may not touch on the thinking behind his recent $44 billion dollar (pending) acquisition of Twitter.
End of updates.
----------
Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century
by Tim Higgins
2.0 Stars.
Rather disingenuous and utterly dishonest of the author to disclose this statement only at the very end of this apparently unauthorized book.
Musk's statement should have been disclosed in the book description, or, at the very least, in the prologue section of the book, and have readers decide for themselves whether or not they'd bother to read a journalist's account.
Higgins, as is the case with many "journalists" nowadays, would seem to have taken literary license, a euphemism for making stories up and twisting facts, and concocted much of Musk's inner thoughts, and the corporate strategies, internal interactions and other confidential information of Musk and company to which he, Higgins, had no access, particularly in those sections in private spaces and those where he puts words spoken in private to mouths.
Apprised of that final disclosure in advance, I wouldn't have bothered to open this book.
Just read "Elon Musk" by Walter Isaacson (680 pages, Sept. 12, 2023).
5/5 stars!
For the real up close and personal lowdown on the Twitter takeover, jump to Chapter 72 and onwards.
"...For two years, Isaacson shadowed Musk, attended his meetings, walked his factories with him, and spent hours interviewing him, his family, friends, coworkers, and adversaries..."
Quite simply, a must-read!
------
2022.05.17, Update 1.
For a much better book to understand what makes Elon Musk tick, read "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future" by Ashlee Vance.
From his origins in South Africa to Canada to the USA, warts and all, far from complimentary, but compelling, enriching and penned by an author who actually met and extensively interviewed Musk and colleagues.
Update 2.
. "Dealing with his life is like trying to take notes while drinking from a fire hose." - Biographer Walter Isaacson in a recent interview with the NYT.
Isaacson is currently working on a book about Elon Musk which may or may not touch on the thinking behind his recent $44 billion dollar (pending) acquisition of Twitter.
End of updates.
----------
Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century
by Tim Higgins
2.0 Stars.
"Most, if not all, of what you read in this book, is nonsense." - Elon Musk
Rather disingenuous and utterly dishonest of the author to disclose this statement only at the very end of this apparently unauthorized book.
Musk's statement should have been disclosed in the book description, or, at the very least, in the prologue section of the book, and have readers decide for themselves whether or not they'd bother to read a journalist's account.
Higgins, as is the case with many "journalists" nowadays, would seem to have taken literary license, a euphemism for making stories up and twisting facts, and concocted much of Musk's inner thoughts, and the corporate strategies, internal interactions and other confidential information of Musk and company to which he, Higgins, had no access, particularly in those sections in private spaces and those where he puts words spoken in private to mouths.
Apprised of that final disclosure in advance, I wouldn't have bothered to open this book.
January 9, 2022
I guess we will wait for Walter issacsons’ version
August 1, 2021
I'm reviewing this for The American Prospect so I won't give much away here. I'll just say that there's a world where this book is essentially Carreyrou's book about Theranos. And it's not all that different a world.
September 5, 2022
A remarkable account of the rise of Tesla from a half-baked idea to the most valuable auto company in the world. Walter Isaacson's NY Times review was the one that led me to read the book, and that's where you should start:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/23/bo...
Elon Musk's entire reaction to a pre-publication copy of the book from the author: "Most, but not all, of what you read in this book is nonsense." Huh.
My reaction to the book: it's an easy, fast read, verging on TMI at times, especially at the start. I had a hard time keeping track of the cast of characters, aside from Musk, as the turnover was high. Musk struck me as the Boss from Hell. He was his own worst enemy, micro-managing and always pushing to move production faster than seemed humanly possible. But there's no question that the man got things done, and the company wouldn't have succeeded without him. 3.5+ stars, recommended reading, especially for those interested in cars and/or Elon Musk.
My wife recently received a Tesla car as a gift from her son. We haven't had it for long enough to get a good feel for how it will work out, but our first impressions are: nice car, steep learning curve at the start but pretty easy to learn, lots of nice touches. She likes it and so do I. An extravagant gift!
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/23/bo...
Elon Musk's entire reaction to a pre-publication copy of the book from the author: "Most, but not all, of what you read in this book is nonsense." Huh.
My reaction to the book: it's an easy, fast read, verging on TMI at times, especially at the start. I had a hard time keeping track of the cast of characters, aside from Musk, as the turnover was high. Musk struck me as the Boss from Hell. He was his own worst enemy, micro-managing and always pushing to move production faster than seemed humanly possible. But there's no question that the man got things done, and the company wouldn't have succeeded without him. 3.5+ stars, recommended reading, especially for those interested in cars and/or Elon Musk.
My wife recently received a Tesla car as a gift from her son. We haven't had it for long enough to get a good feel for how it will work out, but our first impressions are: nice car, steep learning curve at the start but pretty easy to learn, lots of nice touches. She likes it and so do I. An extravagant gift!
August 17, 2021
A lot has happened since Ludicrous was published a couple of years ago. This book covers all of the same ground, from a more neutral perspective, with 40 pages at the end of more current events.
The author doesn't mythologize Musk but isn't harsh at all. The whole Tim Cook bit takes up half a page and might be missed without Musk's loud rebuttal to draw attention to it.
It's fine. A good read that seems balanced and as neutral as can be expected given Musk's persona.
It won't change your opinion of the man or the company, no matter what your current opinion is.
The author doesn't mythologize Musk but isn't harsh at all. The whole Tim Cook bit takes up half a page and might be missed without Musk's loud rebuttal to draw attention to it.
It's fine. A good read that seems balanced and as neutral as can be expected given Musk's persona.
It won't change your opinion of the man or the company, no matter what your current opinion is.
September 4, 2021
I enjoyed this.
I learned a lot about Tesla and Elon Musk that I didn't know before.
Side note about the book cover.
I thought it looked like this, and I can't unsee this:
Yeah, strange cover.
Very good inside look at the business strategies and leadership of Musk and what led him to be one of the world's elites.
I felt this was well researched.
Not as good or well researched as Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire, but I found it about as good as An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination.
I'm enjoying my recent tech mogul biographies!
4.1/5
I learned a lot about Tesla and Elon Musk that I didn't know before.
Side note about the book cover.
I thought it looked like this, and I can't unsee this:
Yeah, strange cover.
Very good inside look at the business strategies and leadership of Musk and what led him to be one of the world's elites.
I felt this was well researched.
Not as good or well researched as Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire, but I found it about as good as An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination.
I'm enjoying my recent tech mogul biographies!
4.1/5
September 13, 2021
I’ll save you time. In summary, Tesla almost ran out of money, then raised money, then almost ran out of money, then raised money. Rinse and repeat. And throw in a few new model releases that almost never made it off the ground. Batteries are hard to make. Cars are hard to design. Cars are hard to assemble. Oh and they needed to scale up because did I mention they were running out of money?
It was interesting for me because of my job, and is interesting in the context of the technological disruption and market shift from conventional vehicles to electric vehicles. But otherwise, not a best seller.
It was interesting for me because of my job, and is interesting in the context of the technological disruption and market shift from conventional vehicles to electric vehicles. But otherwise, not a best seller.
October 27, 2021
When asked for comment on this book, Elon Musk replied only that it was mostly nonsense. But on balance, I think Musk comes out better than I might have expected. While he's an arrogant, egotistical CEO, he is also a visionary, he can execute, and he can build a team. Without Musk's level of passion, Tesla wouldn't have succeeded in challenging the legacy automakers and making all-electric vehicles not only an acceptable alternative to the combustion engine, but the future of personal transportation. In other words: while Musk may be an attention-seeking self-promoter, he's no Elizabeth Holmes. Plus, to give credit where it’s due: he did put a lot of his skin in the game (a large portion of his wealth from the PayPal exit).
All that said, Musk is often a terrible operational leader and many of Tesla's product, reputational, and financial missteps are Musk's alone. He likes to preside over an autocratic culture rooted in fear and blame, so that nobody wants to tell him "no" or that his wild dreams are not possible, because he fires people on a whim. It's like The Apprentice Motor Company — hardly a great approach for building a superb company. Think of how much better Tesla would have been if it hadn't suffered from such self-inflicted injuries as Musk firing the head of production right as the Model S was being launched, for example.
Power Play is a well-reported, straightforward read for anyone looking to understand Tesla's meteoric rise, the individuals (besides Musk) who made it a success, as well as the financial & product brinksmanship that have fueled that success.
All that said, Musk is often a terrible operational leader and many of Tesla's product, reputational, and financial missteps are Musk's alone. He likes to preside over an autocratic culture rooted in fear and blame, so that nobody wants to tell him "no" or that his wild dreams are not possible, because he fires people on a whim. It's like The Apprentice Motor Company — hardly a great approach for building a superb company. Think of how much better Tesla would have been if it hadn't suffered from such self-inflicted injuries as Musk firing the head of production right as the Model S was being launched, for example.
Power Play is a well-reported, straightforward read for anyone looking to understand Tesla's meteoric rise, the individuals (besides Musk) who made it a success, as well as the financial & product brinksmanship that have fueled that success.
January 7, 2023
A vaguely interesting account of Tesla's early days. Nothing special, except for the sick glee I found in comparing this to the book about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, Bad Blood, which I happened to have read just last week. In a lot of ways, Tesla and Theranos had a lot in common in their early days. Like: an overbearing, unrealistic founder who demanded things their employees couldn't possible provide, and who just generally showed zero regard for the humanity of their employees. And who refused to hear the word "no." Like: overpromising and underdelivering to investors and the public, practically to the point of fraud. Pushing deadlines back further and further to try to cover their asses.
Fortunately for the ever-annoying Elon Musk, his company was eventually able to get its shit together and produce a viable product. And yes, we did get electric cars into the mainstream, so yay for that anyway. Whatever, at least he's failed miserably at Twitter.
Fortunately for the ever-annoying Elon Musk, his company was eventually able to get its shit together and produce a viable product. And yes, we did get electric cars into the mainstream, so yay for that anyway. Whatever, at least he's failed miserably at Twitter.
September 26, 2021
قد لا تكون السيارات الكهربائية بديلاً أكثر رفقاً بالبيئة، لكن من منظور الفيزياء والسوق، ظل إنتاج سيارة كهربائية منافسة لمركبات الاحتراق الداخلي بمثابة الحلم.
يحكي هذا الكتاب كيف تحقق الحلم بواسطة شركة تسلا، ومؤسسيها المغامرين وعلى رأسهم الملياردير غريب الأطوار إيلون مسك.
لوهلة، تبدو قصة نجاح تسلا في مجملها كسلسلة من مواقف النجاة من الكارثة. لكن الواقع أن تسلا نجحت إلى الآن وبشكل باهر في أن تنافس، بل وتتربع، على قمة هرم منتجي السيارات الأميركيين.
كيف تفوقت هذه المغامرة الكهربائية على اللاعبين الكبار من صناع السيارات؟ ومن هم مؤسسوها؟ وما الدور الكارزماتي الذي لعبه مسك لينقذها -أو يورطها- مراراً وتكراراً قبل أن تتحول إلى علامة تجارية راسخة في السوق؟
هذا الكتاب يروي القصة.
يحكي هذا الكتاب كيف تحقق الحلم بواسطة شركة تسلا، ومؤسسيها المغامرين وعلى رأسهم الملياردير غريب الأطوار إيلون مسك.
لوهلة، تبدو قصة نجاح تسلا في مجملها كسلسلة من مواقف النجاة من الكارثة. لكن الواقع أن تسلا نجحت إلى الآن وبشكل باهر في أن تنافس، بل وتتربع، على قمة هرم منتجي السيارات الأميركيين.
كيف تفوقت هذه المغامرة الكهربائية على اللاعبين الكبار من صناع السيارات؟ ومن هم مؤسسوها؟ وما الدور الكارزماتي الذي لعبه مسك لينقذها -أو يورطها- مراراً وتكراراً قبل أن تتحول إلى علامة تجارية راسخة في السوق؟
هذا الكتاب يروي القصة.
February 28, 2022
Readable, but left me wanting more. Feels like Tesla story is still in the making. Mainly I wonder how someone like Musk can get away with being such an asshole, repeatedly firing his best people on a whim or in a burst of rage, treating them like shit, and still hire more and more talented people to replace them! I guess the vision is seductive, but jeez. I firmly believe you don’t have to behave like a raging asshole to achieve greatness. And this is kind of a man thing
March 3, 2023
Power Play is a pretty comprehensive history of the birth of Tesla as a corporate powerhouse. I especially liked the first third of the book, which is actually pretty minimal on Musk, and more focused on the actual automotive industry. As somebody working within this general space, I wasn't too surprised at some of the challenges, but dang! Tesla sure had a lot of them. This also has the honor of being the first book I've ever read where I know people mentioned. I'm very curious to ask them what they think of Higgins' story and research.
July 30, 2021
Thought the book was decent until now I’m learning that most of the book is BS and the people in it have denied most of it even happened
March 13, 2022
Despite clocking in at 330+ pages, this "history" of Tesla's first 18-ish years in business moves at an absolutely breakneck pace, reading much more like a long-form WSJ research piece than a traditional piece of non-fiction. Some of that is undoubtedly driven by Tim Higgins' vocation in exactly that line of work, but it's also a product of the incredibly recent unfolding of many of the events he's documenting. A large chunk of the story happens c. 2016 - 2020, which for most readers, I would imagine - certainly for me - feels more like yesterday than it does two to six years ago.
A controversial but believable portrait of Musk is painted (though it sounds like it's been largely dismissed by Elon himself), but the book focuses much of the time on the surrounding cast of characters. There's no doubt that the Tesla story has become Elon's story, but while he may be the lead actor in this drama, it's a very large ensemble cast, a significant number of whose members without which Tesla itself likely would not exist today.
In short, if you're a car guy (or gal), a Tesla fan, an Elon fan, or just a fan of well-written corporate reporting, you'll likely find this a worthwhile read. I found it tough to put down.
A controversial but believable portrait of Musk is painted (though it sounds like it's been largely dismissed by Elon himself), but the book focuses much of the time on the surrounding cast of characters. There's no doubt that the Tesla story has become Elon's story, but while he may be the lead actor in this drama, it's a very large ensemble cast, a significant number of whose members without which Tesla itself likely would not exist today.
In short, if you're a car guy (or gal), a Tesla fan, an Elon fan, or just a fan of well-written corporate reporting, you'll likely find this a worthwhile read. I found it tough to put down.
September 10, 2021
Musk deem the book non-sense,
acting vain, who builds robust.
I refrain, of a book I trust,
from the other extreme to a defense.
Ones bias to villain or hero, the whole story runs just;
A pious goal to save the Earth, or mission lust?
Book's worth, a reading engine's ignition to combust:
events, crack memory crust;
sentiments, look back, opinions discussed.
Shook the world, Tesla thrust.
Even if it went bust,
its journey recorded won't turn to dust.
acting vain, who builds robust.
I refrain, of a book I trust,
from the other extreme to a defense.
Ones bias to villain or hero, the whole story runs just;
A pious goal to save the Earth, or mission lust?
Book's worth, a reading engine's ignition to combust:
events, crack memory crust;
sentiments, look back, opinions discussed.
Shook the world, Tesla thrust.
Even if it went bust,
its journey recorded won't turn to dust.
December 18, 2022
I love reading books like this and was excited to receive a copy, especially given recent events with Musk and Twitter. This covers Elon up through his Tesla days but the insights into his personality help some of it all make sense. He is definitely an interesting individual that does not like criticism and has a hard time keeping his temper at bay, and this is an interesting perspective on whether he did good or harm to Tesla in its journey to where it is today. I do not think one person did this all on his own, so he deserves some of the credit but not all. I also did not know how many times he took Tesla to the brink of going under only to be saved by someone else with a lot of money which was kind of wild. To me the audio is the way to go on these types of books, so I recommend reading it this way, it is a fairly quick read and got through it in one sitting.
Thank you to @DoubleDayBooks for the #gifted copy to review.
Thank you to @DoubleDayBooks for the #gifted copy to review.
August 15, 2021
Fantastic and balanced portrayal of a true genius but emotionally unstable man. Great reporting on the challenges that Tesla has faced, many of which are self-inflicted wounds.
August 28, 2021
Man labai patiko. Verta atkreipti dėmesį, kad Elonas Muskas niekina šią knygą ir knygos pabaigoje teigiama, jog jis sako, kad daug kas yra neteisybė. Šiaip neatrodo, kad autorius rodytų Muską kaip neigiamą herojų ar atskleistų labai jau negirdėtus dalykus apie jo gyvenimą. Bet kokiu atveju, labai išsami istorija nuo pat Teslos atsiradimo ir kiek buvo situacijų, kada kompanija nežlugo: labai įtraukianti ir įdomiai surašyta knyga.
May 20, 2022
An inside story of how Tesla was built
Great book that gives details on the real story behind the Tesla journey. From conference room fights to personal stories from Musk's life, it really talks about how Elon Musk has been able to change the world of passenger car transport and EVs single handedly. Despite following news about Tesla I found so many inside details about hiring and firing and board meetings at Tesla that were not publicly available.
Great book that gives details on the real story behind the Tesla journey. From conference room fights to personal stories from Musk's life, it really talks about how Elon Musk has been able to change the world of passenger car transport and EVs single handedly. Despite following news about Tesla I found so many inside details about hiring and firing and board meetings at Tesla that were not publicly available.
September 5, 2021
While the author spent a lot of time talking to insiders, one is left wondering if he did not go into this venture with a bias against Musk. By the end of it, there’s the sense that the author feels that Tesla has succeeded despite Musk rather than because of him, which is a rather fantastic position to be have. The credibility given to Musk’s detractors is hardly balanced by equal credence given to his defenders. The book shows that Musk is no saint and that he’s made many mistakes, some of them very avoidable, but what Musk has built with Tesla, with the help of many others, has been against all odds and truly unbelievable, especially considering that Spacex was consuming quite a bit of his time. To write such a negative book about such a success story, however you want to measure that success, is quite a feat…
September 20, 2021
Wow, hardly a management style I’d recommend even under the most dire circumstances. I understand that breaking into a capital intensive industry with a new technology is extremely difficult but rational behavior would seem, in certain instances, to offer a better chance for success. On the other hand, Steve Jobs employed some of the same tactics and who can argue with Apples success.
I wish the book had explored in greater detail the marketing side of the business including the initiative to develop the national system of Superchargers. Without them, he might have ended up with a nice little California car suitable also for Beijing.
I wish the book had explored in greater detail the marketing side of the business including the initiative to develop the national system of Superchargers. Without them, he might have ended up with a nice little California car suitable also for Beijing.
October 17, 2021
This is a very good chronological history of Tesla. I am still shocked by how much Tesla has eaten Toyota, Ford, and GMC’s lunch and how woefully behind they are. Why those companies still do not have a viable electric car on the market after 10 years of Tesla is an embarrassment and should lead to the ouster of all of their CEOs. It is also time for regulation to catch up to the internal combustion engine and for a gas tax to fund research into batteries.
September 21, 2021
Closer to 2.5. This provides a brief history of Tesla, but not much more than that. It reads like a history textbook and lacks any sort of engaging narrative, but effectively condenses the road to becoming the world’s most successful automaker.
January 9, 2022
The first thing I want to acknowledge about this book is the sheer level of detail included from the beginning stages of the idea of Tesla, all the way through present day and beyond. Higgins notes that the story is derived from hundreds of interviews with Tesla insiders, people who reported on Tesla throughout its nearly two decade life, etc. The last note from Higgins is that while Elon Musk was given the opportunity to comment on accuracy of what was written, his only comment was “Most, but not all, of what you read in this book is nonsense.”
Musk is probably right, as telling a story from multiple points of view and various biases is destined to be somewhat construed and heavily dramatized, but the story of Tesla is a once-in-a-generation story that in my opinion is best told dramatized.
Many reviews criticize this book as reading like a textbook, and at times I would agree that it did. However, I would say 95% of this book read like a really engaging story, and even the 5% that read more like academic literature was still relatively fascinating. The only complaint (if I can even call it a complaint) is that there are so many people involved in the story of Tesla, that at times it was hard to keep who was who in line. I found myself having to stop reading frequently when a name was brought up to look up their role in the company. Doing so sent me down several rabbit holes of a “where are they now?” nature, which was honestly interesting (such as finding out that Peter Rawlinson, former head engineer of Tesla, is now CEO and chief technology officer of one of Tesla’s main competitors in the EV space, Lucid Motors).
If you are looking for a book that highlights capitalism in its finest details, or are curious as to how Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world, this book is definitely one I would recommend picking up and reading. It’s moderately long, but reads fast when you start getting into the weeds of the world of Tesla. 4/5 stars
Musk is probably right, as telling a story from multiple points of view and various biases is destined to be somewhat construed and heavily dramatized, but the story of Tesla is a once-in-a-generation story that in my opinion is best told dramatized.
Many reviews criticize this book as reading like a textbook, and at times I would agree that it did. However, I would say 95% of this book read like a really engaging story, and even the 5% that read more like academic literature was still relatively fascinating. The only complaint (if I can even call it a complaint) is that there are so many people involved in the story of Tesla, that at times it was hard to keep who was who in line. I found myself having to stop reading frequently when a name was brought up to look up their role in the company. Doing so sent me down several rabbit holes of a “where are they now?” nature, which was honestly interesting (such as finding out that Peter Rawlinson, former head engineer of Tesla, is now CEO and chief technology officer of one of Tesla’s main competitors in the EV space, Lucid Motors).
If you are looking for a book that highlights capitalism in its finest details, or are curious as to how Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world, this book is definitely one I would recommend picking up and reading. It’s moderately long, but reads fast when you start getting into the weeds of the world of Tesla. 4/5 stars
September 27, 2021
Higgins does his best to pen an informative and even-handed history of Tesla, in the same way a student tries their best to pen a thoughtful essay from a handful of wikipedia articles - most of the pertinent info in the book is very publicly known. The reader leaves Power Play feeling like they have facts, but not insight.
It doesn't feel like Higgins got close enough to the source. Musk is defined by his most public stunts, some whispers from disgruntled workers, his failed affairs. He comes across as a wildcard in the book, (which he likely is irl), but this feels more the result of Higgins' lack of access than anything else.
Earnestly clutching his curated basket of delivery reports and WSJ articles, Higgins isn't able to nail what makes Tesla different than other car companies, besides the usual bullet points - it's a tech company, not a car company, it has a start up mindset, it fails quick and dirty and pivots accordingly, and so on.
In some cases, Higgins drums up drama for a few paragraphs with conjecture over what might have been going on inside the company, before correcting the record (and deflating the tension) by offering tangible facts which betray the picture he was just painting. Higgins wants to write a sexy tell all, but he doesn't have piping hot tea to serve - and he isn't ballsy enough to make stuff up.
It doesn't feel like Higgins got close enough to the source. Musk is defined by his most public stunts, some whispers from disgruntled workers, his failed affairs. He comes across as a wildcard in the book, (which he likely is irl), but this feels more the result of Higgins' lack of access than anything else.
Earnestly clutching his curated basket of delivery reports and WSJ articles, Higgins isn't able to nail what makes Tesla different than other car companies, besides the usual bullet points - it's a tech company, not a car company, it has a start up mindset, it fails quick and dirty and pivots accordingly, and so on.
In some cases, Higgins drums up drama for a few paragraphs with conjecture over what might have been going on inside the company, before correcting the record (and deflating the tension) by offering tangible facts which betray the picture he was just painting. Higgins wants to write a sexy tell all, but he doesn't have piping hot tea to serve - and he isn't ballsy enough to make stuff up.
December 27, 2022
Entertaining book - there was a “skeleton” of facts (i.e. stock prices, release dates, production issues, tesla employee names) throughout the book, but it felt like fiction. I doubt many of the conversations in the book happened (especially the ones with quotes…) and instead serve Tim’s agenda for painting Elon in a certain light. It also felt there was many random side stories mentioned, and could’ve been left out without losing information. Elon advised, “Most, but not all, of what you read in this book is nonsense”. Who knows… can’t wait for Walter Isaacson’s book on Musk!
April 6, 2022
From 2003, it is a long journey for Tesla and electric vehicles to be known for the public.
There are so many moments when Tesla is on the edge of running out of cash. It is quite interesting to know how Tesla survived the 2008 and 2013 almost bankruptcy experience.
For all carmakers, Tesla is a respectful competitor not only for its vision but also the achievement that leads us to that envisioned sustainable future.
There are so many moments when Tesla is on the edge of running out of cash. It is quite interesting to know how Tesla survived the 2008 and 2013 almost bankruptcy experience.
For all carmakers, Tesla is a respectful competitor not only for its vision but also the achievement that leads us to that envisioned sustainable future.
September 26, 2021
Power Play is a compelling and well-reported narrative of how Tesla went from a small startup to the most valuable car company in the world.
This kind of rise doesn't come without huge risks and the painful implications of fast growth. The background actions of Tesla and the close calls that were navigated through on this journey were fascinating. I also enjoyed reading about the other personalities in the Tesla story. From the boldness of the founders Eberhard and Tarpenning to the work of Straubel and other engineers/managers, there were a number of people who helped create and grow Tesla.
Of course, the driving force behind the growth of Tesla was Musk. I've always been a fan of Elon Musk and I feel his actions are often understandable given his position and the nature of his undertakings. I also think the personality and intelligence required to pull off this kind of growth comes hand in hand with a disparate view on reality. It's a unique mindset that can believe in, push toward and realize an almost impossible future. Unfortunately, it often can result in a lack of empathy and huge expectations on people that don't share the same perspectives...
The achievements of Musk, Tesla, and the team are truly impressive, and Higgins has done a decent job of telling the story. As to the accuracy of the stories in the book, it's always difficult to know for sure. Given the nature of Tesla's growth and precarious situation throughout its development, the actions and feelings of the characters presented in the story seem reasonable. Higgins has a disclaimer that the motivations and memories of Tesla insiders and first-hand witnesses can be fallible and that's true of all of us. No narrative is always perfectly retold...
Altogether Power Play is a very respectable example of business journalism and provides insight into Musk and the incredible company of Tesla, 4 stars.
This kind of rise doesn't come without huge risks and the painful implications of fast growth. The background actions of Tesla and the close calls that were navigated through on this journey were fascinating. I also enjoyed reading about the other personalities in the Tesla story. From the boldness of the founders Eberhard and Tarpenning to the work of Straubel and other engineers/managers, there were a number of people who helped create and grow Tesla.
Of course, the driving force behind the growth of Tesla was Musk. I've always been a fan of Elon Musk and I feel his actions are often understandable given his position and the nature of his undertakings. I also think the personality and intelligence required to pull off this kind of growth comes hand in hand with a disparate view on reality. It's a unique mindset that can believe in, push toward and realize an almost impossible future. Unfortunately, it often can result in a lack of empathy and huge expectations on people that don't share the same perspectives...
The achievements of Musk, Tesla, and the team are truly impressive, and Higgins has done a decent job of telling the story. As to the accuracy of the stories in the book, it's always difficult to know for sure. Given the nature of Tesla's growth and precarious situation throughout its development, the actions and feelings of the characters presented in the story seem reasonable. Higgins has a disclaimer that the motivations and memories of Tesla insiders and first-hand witnesses can be fallible and that's true of all of us. No narrative is always perfectly retold...
Altogether Power Play is a very respectable example of business journalism and provides insight into Musk and the incredible company of Tesla, 4 stars.
July 2, 2022
Excellent insight into how Elon Musk grew Tesla from a niche automobile startup to become the most valuable automobile company in the world, and how Musk became the world’s richest man in the process.
Musk comes across as both a genius and a petulant bully but, love him or hate him, one can’t deny the transformative effect he has had on not only the auto industry but also the space industry.
It will be very interesting to see where Musk and Tesla go in the future. It’s sure to be a rollercoaster ride.
Musk comes across as both a genius and a petulant bully but, love him or hate him, one can’t deny the transformative effect he has had on not only the auto industry but also the space industry.
It will be very interesting to see where Musk and Tesla go in the future. It’s sure to be a rollercoaster ride.
August 8, 2021
It’s written in the same vain as the Wework, Twitter and other company history books. It’s straightforward and easy to follow although it seems some parts of the history are glossed over a little quick which is understandable. I was hoping for a little more depth surrounding Elon’s back play with the government in gaining subsidies and really just how much work he has actually done in the getting the cars to market but it’s still a solid read.
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