Book Review: ‘Hubris Maximus’ by Faiz Siddiqui

Book Title: Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk
Author: Faiz Siddiqui
Publisher: BLINK Publishing
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-1785127441
Date Published: May 10, 2025
Price: INR 438

Book Review

Faiz Siddiqui’s “Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk” delivers a riveting and unflinching portrait of one of the most polarizing figures of our era. Siddiqui, a seasoned Washington Post journalist, investigates Musk’s meteoric rise, the chaos that has defined his empire, and the spectacular implosion that has left both admirers and critics reeling. The book is not just a biography-it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of lionizing charismatic leaders, especially when their personal ambitions and eccentricities begin to eclipse the institutions they lead and the societies they influence.

Faiz Siddiqui’s reporting is meticulous and unsparing. He recounts Musk’s infamous 2018 tweet about taking Tesla private, which led to a Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit and Musk’s forced resignation as chairman. The narrative is peppered with episodes that highlight Musk’s penchant for overpromising and underdelivering-from the ill-fated “kid-size submarine” during the Thai cave rescue to the broken promise of manufacturing ventilators during the pandemic. Siddiqui also scrutinizes Musk’s tumultuous Twitter takeover, detailing how the deal’s fallout reverberated through Tesla’s stock price and Musk’s own credibility.

What elevates “Hubris Maximus” beyond standard business reporting is its exploration of Musk’s psychology and the broader cultural moment he inhabits. Siddiqui draws parallels between Musk’s self-image as a world-saving visionary and the Ayn Randian archetype-driven, uncompromising, and often heedless of collateral damage. The book captures the tension between Musk’s utopian rhetoric and the real-world consequences of his actions, including the human costs of his relentless drive for technological disruption and his growing entanglement in American politics.

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While Siddiqui’s account may lack the narrative flair of some recent tech biographies, it compensates with depth and clarity. “Hubris Maximus” is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand not just Elon Musk, but the era of tech titans who wield unprecedented influence over business, policy, and culture. It is a gripping study of ambition, fallout, and the perils of unchecked hubris in the 21st century.

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