  | Full Text Reviews: Bulletin for the Center... - 01/01/2017 This adaptation of Vance’s adult biography Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future offers a glimpse into the life of this driven individual, focusing primarily on his work rather than his personal life. Of course for Musk, that is an appropriate balance, as one thing that is abundantly clear about the man is that he is happiest when working, and that he expects shockingly long hours and intense commitment from his employees as well. Musk may not be as instantly recognizable to teens as Zuckerberg or Jobs, but given his work with PayPal, Tesla, and SpaceX, he should be. Vance delves into all of his work with detailed passion (understanding Musk’s work even in this younger adaptation requires more than a bit of scientific knowledge and enough curiosity to be willing to slow down during the dense instructional portions). The title mostly glosses over his divorce and remarriage, and edges around, for the most part, his run-ins with colleagues or employees that built his reputation as an irascible, ruthless guy. But again, the man’s nearly always working anyway, so it’s a fair choice on Vance’s part to hone in on that aspect most. A timeline is more impressive than helpful, offering snippets of glory or interesting moments in a two-page spread. AS - Copyright 2017 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Booklist - 12/01/2016 “I would like to die thinking that humanity has a bright future.” Elon Musk’s view on the world is unlike many others, and this version of the best-selling adult biography cites influences in Musk’s life that led to his work-centered, risk-laden, yet unparalleled success in the fields of space exploration, electric cars, and clean energy. Influences range from his mother’s father, an adventuresome pilot, to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Musk’s childhood featured plenty of reading and dreaming (and the occasional round of Dungeons & Dragons), but also its share of strife: his parents’ divorce; his father’s bullying, which often led to injuries and even hospitalization; and a personality and intellectual gift few truly understood. Today, Musk still deals with people’s skepticism, but his success supersedes his aloof personality and unprecedented ideas. As Vance reports, “It’s Elon’s world, and the rest of us live in it.” An informative and easy-to-follow biography of one of today’s top innovators for young readers. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. School Library Journal - 01/01/2017 Gr 8 Up—This biography of Musk, one of the most important figures in modern technological advancement, aims to communicate the excitement and promise of the work that he and his companies—Space X, Tesla, and Solar City—are doing in the fields of aerospace, automotive transportation, and alternative energy. The book is organized around Musk's self-proclaimed quest to "guard man's fate in the universe" by "turning humans into space colonizers" and the varied paths that he has taken to achieve this end. The bulk of the narrative is focused on Musk's work with Space X and Tesla since the 2000s, with few details on his early life in South Africa. Vance creates a "you are there" feeling as he describes the early test launches of Space X rockets and the development of the revolutionary electric cars produced by Tesla. Musk and his friends and associates cooperated with the creation of the New York Times best-selling adult \ version of this biography, and that deep access to information shines through in this edition for young readers as well. The volume's more than 250 pages are crammed with details of the inner workings of Musk's companies, and the discussions on buyouts, venture capitalism, and initial public offerings may overwhelm those drawn to the title out of a more personal interest in Musk. Still, Vance maintains a lively pace and explains the groundbreaking technology in a way that is accessible and exciting. VERDICT Highly recommended for high school and ambitious middle school readers for its insights into Musk, technology, and venture capitalism.—Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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