Walter Isaacson and Lex Fridman Discuss the Often Alleged Cruelty of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk

Walter Isaacson is a celebrated American author and biographer, renowned for his ability to delve deep into the lives of some of history's most influential figures. With a career that spans decades, Isaacson has established himself as a master storyteller, blending meticulous research with compelling narrative to provide readers with profound insights into the minds and lives of extraordinary individuals.

Isaacson's journey as a biographer is marked by a singular focus on capturing the human essence behind public personas, offering an exploration of the complex interplay between personal and professional spheres. The author has earned the trust of some of America’s most prominent men — which says a lot about Isaacson’s own character and intentions.

The quick trip to this video exchange between Walter Isaacson and Lex Fridman on Steve Jobs and Elon Musk came from my search question: “Is Elon Musk innately cruel?”

Fridman’s podcasts cover science, technology, history, philosophy and the nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and power. The podcast host is a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT]. His focus includes AI, human-robot interaction, autonomous vehicles, and machine learning at MIT.

Isaacson makes a casual statement in the video that I’ve made here on AOC. It’s quite stunning actually and goes against a fundamental tenet of conversations in America about Western civilization. America is all-in on Aristotle, whereas Isaacson [and Anne] are far more impressed with Socrates and Plato. It’s not often than one hears a respected individual like Isaacson makes this comparison.

Walter Isaacson Briefly

Born in New Orleans in 1952, Isaacson graduated from Harvard University and later studied at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. His professional trajectory took a vibrant path as he served as the editor of Time magazine and the CEO of CNN, honing his journalistic skills and instinct for storytelling. However, it is as a biographer that Isaacson truly found his calling.

His portfolio includes celebrated biographies of iconic figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Benjamin Franklin. Each of these works is not merely a chronicle of accomplishments but an intimate exploration of the challenges, curiosities, and, above all, the humanity that defined these men.

Through his biographies, Isaacson invites readers to appreciate the intricate tapestry of genius and its enduring impact on our world. They are dense reading. We will post an entire biography on Isaacson in our new section on Modern Humanists.

It’s easy to be critical of Elon Musk — like I am furious and disgusted with him and what I perceive is his absolute callousness about other humans.

BUT, I owe it to AOC readers to do my own homework on Musk, and I will be listening to Walter Isaacson’s audiobook on Musk pronto. If anyone can persuade me to see Musk in a better light as a human being, it’s Walter Isaacson. ~ Anne

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