Elon Musk Unmasked: Creating the Genius Myth (Part 2)

Elon Musk is man, but he’s also a character that he crafted and which the media blew up to unimaginable scale. Without the media, Musk would not be the man he is today because that myth — and the way it exaggerated some of his traits and virtually hid others — was essential to his success. This is episode 2 of Elon Musk Unmasked, a special four-part series from Tech Won’t Save Us.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.

Also mentioned in this episode:

• Science fiction author Annalee Newitz, CNBC.com journalist Lora Kolodny, Ludicrous • author Edward Niedermeyer, freelance journalist Karl Bode, and Insider • senior correspondent Linette Lopez were interviewed for this episode. Elon Musk • by Ashlee Vance, Elon Musk • by Walter Isaacson, The Founders • by Jimmy Soni, and The PayPal Wars • by Eric Jackson were the books cited. • A full transcript can be found on the show's official website • .

Support the show