Elon Musk’s Perfect Audiobook List for Anyone Fascinated by Rome

• Elon Musk posted a list of his favorite audiobooks on X.
• The self-professed history buff recommends several lengthy works including “The Story of Civilization.”
• “Admittedly, this is a list that appeals to those who think about Rome every day,” Musk wrote on X.

Elon Musk has shared a selection of recommended audiobooks, though they might not be the best choice for light summer listening.

The Tesla CEO’s top pick is “The Story of Civilization” by Will and Ariel Durant. This extensive 11-volume collection, published between 1935 and 1975, delves into the history of European and some Eastern civilizations. Notably, the 10th volume, “Rousseau and Revolution,” won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction in 1968. One Amazon reviewer described it as “extremely heavy.”

“The first one on the list will take a while to get through, but is very much worthwhile,” Musk commented on X. That may be an understatement, given that the entire series totals approximately 400 hours on Audible, translating to over 16 days of continuous listening.

Next on Musk’s list is “The Iliad” (Penguin edition), a classic ancient Greek epic poem. Audible estimates it takes around 17 hours and 49 minutes to complete.

Musk also recommends “The Road to Serfdom” by economist and philosopher Friedrich Hayek. Published in 1944, this book advocates for individualism and liberal economics.

Among Musk’s 11 recommended audiobooks is “American Caesar,” a biography of General Douglas MacArthur. Another notable mention is “Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture” by David Kushner. Released in 2003, it chronicles the story of id Software’s co-founders, John Carmack and John Romero.

“Admittedly, this is a list that appeals to those who think about Rome every day,” Musk wrote on X, alluding to the viral internet trend contemplating how often people think about the Roman Empire.

Indeed, another of his suggestions was penned by Caesar himself. “The Gallic Wars” recounts Julius Caesar’s campaigns against the Gauls from 58 to 50 BC.

Musk is well-known for his fascination with history, particularly in the realms of warfare and civilization.

The SpaceX and Tesla CEO has been vocal about the need to address population decline, warning that it poses a significant threat to the future of civilization. “For me, it is just fascinating to read about history. I mean, learn the lessons of history, such that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past,” Musk explained in a 2022 interview with Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider’s parent company, Axel Springer.

Another book on Musk’s list is “Twelve Against the Gods” by William Bolitho, a 1929 work exploring the lives of 12 adventurers, including Alexander the Great and Christopher Columbus. Additionally, he recommends “Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World” by Jack Weatherford, published in 2004.

Musk concluded his post with a call for audio versions of the 1986 work “The Encyclopedia of Military History from 3500 BC to the Present” by Richard Ernest Dupuy and Trevor Dupuy, as well as “The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World” by Edward Shepherd Creasy from 1851.

Source: Business Insider