People Archives

Sam Harris on Determinism: Every Event Is Caused by Other Events

What’s determinism? Why does Sam Harris adopt this philosophy? Does it necessarily imply fatalism? According to Sam Harris, determinism is the way the world works: We don’t (and can’t) have free will. Like other determinists, he believes that what we feel about our agency misleads us; what we experience when we’re thinking about a decision doesn’t indicate the true causes of our thoughts and actions. Read more for Harris’s explanation of the determinist perspective in the debate over free will.

Elon Musk’s Early Career: How He Made His First Fortune

What did Elon Musk study in college? Why didn’t he get an advanced degree? How did he become a millionaire? From the start, Elon Musk intuited a path that would align his skills and interests with his later successes in life. He used a solid educational grounding to create not one, but two successful software companies that propelled him to millionaire status. Read more to learn about Elon Musk’s early career.

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson: Book Overview & Takeaways

What was Elon Musk’s childhood like? How did he start his career? What’s his management style? Walter Isaacson followed Elon Musk around for two years, gaining intimate access to his thoughts and activities. He interviewed those closest to him, including people now cut off from Musk’s circle. Musk exerted no editorial control, letting Isaacson draw his own conclusions. Continue reading for an overview of Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson.

Elon Musk and Tesla: Steps Toward an Energy-Efficient Future

Why did Elon Musk start Tesla? Why did he sometimes sleep on the factory floor? Renowned biographer Walter Isaacson covers the story of Elon Musk and Tesla in his book Elon Musk. Isaacson details how Musk entered the automotive industry with Tesla, based all of its production inside the US, and pushed its technology in the direction of fully automated, self-driving cars. Keep reading to learn about Elon Musk and Tesla.

Elon Musk and SpaceX: The Quest for Humanity’s Survival

Why did Elon Musk start SpaceX? How has SpaceX advanced toward its ultimate goal? After selling PayPal in 2002, Elon Musk turned his thoughts to putting his fortune to the eventual goal of colonizing Mars. The idea was that humanity’s chances of survival would be increased by spreading out to other worlds. Keep reading to learn the story of Elon Musk and SpaceX, according to biographer Walter Isaacson.

The Children of Elon Musk: From Estranged to Inseparable

How many children does Elon Musk have? Why is he motivated to have so many? Renowned biographer Walter Isaacson shadowed Elon Musk for two years, gaining access to his thoughts and those of the people closest to him. Isaacson found that one child is nearly inseparable from Musk while another wants nothing to do with him. Read more to learn about the children of Elon Musk.

Elon Musk’s Personal Life: A Profile in Intensity and Chaos

How many times has Elon Musk been married? With whom has he fathered children? In business, Elon Musk seeks out intensity and chaos. Biographer Walter Isaacson says that the same is true in his personal life. In his book Elon Musk, Isaacson discusses Musk’s family life and its messy atmosphere. Keep reading to learn about Elon Musk’s personal life, according to Isaacson.

Ray Kurzweil: AI Hurtles Toward Human-Level Capabilities

What’s “strong AI”? How close are we getting to that capability? What’s the danger associated with it? According to computer scientist Ray Kurzweil, AI capabilities at the human level are just a matter of time. He says that the potentially most transformative technological development, toward which we are already well underway, will be when we create “strong artificial intelligence” in particular. Read more to learn about Kurzweil’s AI predictions and how close they are to becoming realities.

Elon Musk’s Twitter Purchase: Details of the Turbulent Tale

Why did Elon Musk purchase Twitter? Why wasn’t he content to just serve on the board? What made him almost pull out of the deal? Elon Musk believed he could accomplish a virtuous mission by owning Twitter, and there’s something about the platform’s dramatic, chaotic atmosphere that attracted him. The process to purchase Twitter became its own wild saga. Walter Isaacson tells the turbulent tale in his biography Elon Musk. Continue reading to learn the details of Elon Musk’s Twitter purchase.

Upgrading Humanity: Ray Kurzweil’s Predictions for Digital Life

Can you imagine searching the web from your mind? Will you be an early adopter when it comes to nanotech-enhanced bodies? In his thought-provoking book The Singularity Is Near, computer scientist Ray Kurzweil writes about the technological Singularity and what might come after it. He tries to envision a world beyond our experience and understanding—and perhaps even beyond our imagination. Keep reading to learn some of Ray Kurzweil’s predictions for the next stage in human evolution.