Hubris Maximus - by Faiz Siddiqui

About the Book

"An examination of Elon Musk during the most consequential period of his life, from the height of his power as the richest man on Earth to the potential beginnings of his downfall. What happened to Elon Musk? In six years, he turned Tesla into the world's most valuable automaker and cast himself as a savior of humanity, an altruist whose fortune would stop climate change and colonize Mars. How did this modern-day Edison devolve into a polarizing and perpetually distracted CEO and arguably the biggest bag-fumbler in human history? He didn't suddenly lose his mind, or morph into a tool of foreign agents. Elon Musk torched his reputation and put his entire empire at risk simply by being himself. Hubris Maximus provides a gripping, detailed portrait of the billionaire's rapid ascent and his spectacular public implosion. Washington Post reporter Faiz Siddiqui methodically deconstructs the making of the self-anointed Technoking, arguing that the warning signs were always visible to anyone willing to look. Musk's audacity and erratic behavior drove his success from the start; he spurned regulators and whistleblowers, and replaced those who dared question him with loyalists. Now he is in a unique position to sabotage it all, and there is no one left to save him from himself. This remarkable case study in the pitfalls of unyielding loyalty to one man and the fecklessness of a gridlocked government is ultimately a cautionary tale: in a world that can't turn away from its screens, competence is no match for the power of influence and sustained attention"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

The rise, fall, and revival of the Caesar of Silicon Valley.

Elon Musk has cast himself as the savior of humanity, an altruistic force whose fortune is tied to noble pursuits from halting our dependence on fossil fuels to colonizing Mars. Once frequently heralded as a modern-day Edison, Musk has taken up a new place in the public consciousness with his growing desire to disrupt not just the automotive and space industries but the policies that shape our nation, placing him at the center of America's most complex undertakings in manufacturing, politics, and defense and technology, even as his increasingly erratic personal behavior has raised questions about his stability and judgement.

Musk famously leads his companies from a bully pulpit, eroding guardrails and cutting through red tape whenever possible with little regard for the fallout as long as it serves his larger goals. Many in his orbit have seen their lives upended or their careers throttled by believing in his utopian vision. As the scale of the wagers he makes with his fortune and concerns about his credibility have grown in recent years, he alternately seems to be in complete command or on the verge of a meltdown. Yet in the long run, he has only become wealthier, and now the stakes have risen. Thanks to astute political maneuvering, Musk is no longer limited to gambling with a company's bottom line or the livelihoods of his workers; he is poised to apply his uncompromising approach to business to the foundational rules and regulations that hold our society together.

At a moment when America's tech gods are more influential than ever, Hubris Maximus is a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of lionizing magnetic leaders. Washington Post journalist Faiz Siddiqui offers a gripping, detailed portrait of a singularly messy and lucrative period in Musk's career, as well as a case study in the power of using one's platform to shape the public narrative in a world that can't turn away from its screens.

Review Quotes

"Siddiqui blends insightful reporting with prescient analysis to give an authoritative look at one of the world's most polarizing figures. He captures the ambition of Elon Musk's innovations while also holding power to account, questioning the societal and cultural impact at the heart of his transformation. In this time, when Musk's influence is tangible in everything from how information is shared to the race for space colonization, Siddiqui's work could not be more vital."
--Astead Herndon, host of the New York Times political podcast "The Run-Up"

"Siddiqui dissects the rise and psychological unraveling of one of the most influential and controversial figures of our time. Combining meticulous research with vivid storytelling, he reveals how Musk's bold vision and unchecked ambition transformed industries, reshaped public narratives, and courted chaos. From Tesla's triumphs to Twitter's disasters, this gripping book exposes the cost of power without accountability in a world that idolizes innovation."
--Bradley Hope, Pulitzer Prize finalist and coauthor of New York Times bestseller Billion Dollar Whale

"An electrifying masterpiece of investigative journalism, offering a riveting deep dive into the rise and fall of Elon Musk, and the definitive account of his transformation from inspirational entrepreneur to a dangerous and polarizing figure. With unmatched clarity and depth, Siddiqui dissects Musk's power and influence. The book is a gripping cautionary tale and a masterful cultural critique--essential reading for anyone captivated (or confounded) by the most controversial billionaire of our time."
--Taylor Lorenz, Author of Extremely Online and founder of User Magazine

"Revealing debut investigation...the meticulous reportage teases out the complex motivations--and, frequently, folly--behind the entrepreneur's high-profile power plays. Musk's critics will find plenty of fodder for their broadsides."
--Publishers Weekly

"A timely look at the mercurial billionaire now as well known in politics as in business...A revealing portrait of a man whom, though chaotic in the extreme, the author considers to be 'inevitable.'"
--Kirkus

"[Hubris Maximus] charts the rise of the world's richest man--from his relentless push to outdo competitors at Tesla to his chaotic takeover of Twitter--arriving at Musk's current venture: making huge cuts to the federal government as the unelected chief of the Department of Government Efficiency. True to its title, the book is ripe with fresh insider accounts of the arrogance of the 'technoking.'"
--Daily Beast

"[Hubris Maximus] exposes Elon Musk's appetite and legacy of reckless destruction and shatters the manufactured myth of his alleged genius."
--Wajahat Ali, author of Go Back to Where You Came From

"Very gripping...This is a very important book."
--Ralph Nader, consumer advocate and author of Unsafe at Any Speed

"A compelling look into Musk's mindset. Incredible insights."
--Ayman Mohyeldin, MSNBC anchor and host of "Ayman"

About the Author

Faiz Siddiqui is a technology journalist who writes for the Washington Post and has covered companies such as Tesla, Uber and Twitter (now X) for the Business Desk. His reporting has focused on transportation, social media and government transformation, among other issues. His work has been recognized by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing and he has earned multiple Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence and Hearst Journalism awards. His writing has also appeared in the Boston Globe and NPR.