Journalist Walter Isaacson shares insights from his two-year experience shadowing Elon Musk, including experiences with Musk's multiple personalities, his "demon mode", and his first principles problem-solving approach. Isaacson also discusses Musk's childhood and his complex relationship with his father. Despite Musk's controlling tendencies, Isaacson believes that most of his ventures have been successful.
1. Elon Musk has multiple personalities.
2. Musk is known for his hardcore engineering mode.
3. Musk can turn really dark.
4. Musk gave the author full access to his life.
5. Musk had a difficult childhood with a volatile father.
6. Musk is addicted to drama and risk.
7. Musk uses the concept of first principles to solve problems.
8. Musk is a control freak and unlikely to give up control over his companies.
9. There may be setbacks in Musk's projects, but most of them have been successful.