The Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos
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- Create Date：2021-05-03 08:55:53
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Christian Davenport
- ISBN：1541774167
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Summary
The historic quest to rekindle the human exploration and colonization of space led by two rivals and their vast fortunes， egos， and visions of space as the next entrepreneurial frontier
The Space Barons is the story of a group of billionaire entrepreneurs who are pouring their fortunes into the epic resurrection of the American space program。 Nearly a half-century after Neil Armstrong walked on the moon， these Space Barons-most notably Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos， along with Richard Branson and Paul Allen-are using Silicon Valley-style innovation to dramatically lower the cost of space travel， and send humans even further than NASA has gone。 These entrepreneurs have founded some of the biggest brands in the world-Amazon， Microsoft， Virgin， Tesla， PayPal-and upended industry after industry。 Now they are pursuing the biggest disruption of all: space。
Based on years of reporting and exclusive interviews with all four billionaires， this authoritative account is a dramatic tale of risk and high adventure， the birth of a new Space Age， fueled by some of the world's richest men as they struggle to end governments' monopoly on the cosmos。 The Space Barons is also a story of rivalry-hard-charging startups warring with established contractors， and the personal clashes of the leaders of this new space movement， particularly Musk and Bezos， as they aim for the moon and Mars and beyond。
The Space Barons is the story of a group of billionaire entrepreneurs who are pouring their fortunes into the epic resurrection of the American space program。 Nearly a half-century after Neil Armstrong walked on the moon， these Space Barons-most notably Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos， along with Richard Branson and Paul Allen-are using Silicon Valley-style innovation to dramatically lower the cost of space travel， and send humans even further than NASA has gone。 These entrepreneurs have founded some of the biggest brands in the world-Amazon， Microsoft， Virgin， Tesla， PayPal-and upended industry after industry。 Now they are pursuing the biggest disruption of all: space。
Based on years of reporting and exclusive interviews with all four billionaires， this authoritative account is a dramatic tale of risk and high adventure， the birth of a new Space Age， fueled by some of the world's richest men as they struggle to end governments' monopoly on the cosmos。 The Space Barons is also a story of rivalry-hard-charging startups warring with established contractors， and the personal clashes of the leaders of this new space movement， particularly Musk and Bezos， as they aim for the moon and Mars and beyond。
Reviews
Hannah
，
So so so sick。 Got this as a gift from my roommates boyfriend out of the blue and that feeling of love and happiness continued throughout this read in a big way。 Incredible story of bezos， musks， and other private industry’s attempts at space travel and space tourism and their respective timelines and methodologies。 Extremely readable but super informative。 A must read。
Max D'onofrio
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Easy to tell this is a journalist who took his subject matter area and expanded on it for a book。 But they did a nice job capturing the personality of the characters。 I knew some of the stories， but there were inside takes。 Got me interested in researching more of the modern technical aspects of the private space industry。
Hayley L
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The Space Barons is about a group of billionaire entrepreneurs who are investing their fortunes into the American space program。 This book touches on points such as lowering the cost of space travel， sending humans even further than NASA has gone， and the success of SpaceX。 These entrepreneurs and businessmen have some of the BIGGEST brands in the world such as Microsoft， Tesla， Amazon， PayPal， and other major businesses。 This book mentions SpaceX a lot （which is super helpful for research proje The Space Barons is about a group of billionaire entrepreneurs who are investing their fortunes into the American space program。 This book touches on points such as lowering the cost of space travel， sending humans even further than NASA has gone， and the success of SpaceX。 These entrepreneurs and businessmen have some of the BIGGEST brands in the world such as Microsoft， Tesla， Amazon， PayPal， and other major businesses。 This book mentions SpaceX a lot （which is super helpful for research projects on Elon Musk and/or SpaceX）。 This book also focuses on how these companies are as successful as they are today。 I would recommend this book to anyone who likes business and space （especially SpaceX）。 This book is also very helpful for research projects， especially to get some background knowledge。 。。。more
Joseph Hirsch
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Is there any story more compelling than the rivalry between two colossally powerful men？ Since the age of the robber barons， Americans from the poorest shoeshine boy to presidents have followed these wars of ego and clashes of empire with the same fervor fight fans reserve for heavyweight championship matches。Author Christian Davenport gets this， and presents in "The Space Barons" the tale of Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin in their race to conquer （or at least colonize） vast swa Is there any story more compelling than the rivalry between two colossally powerful men？ Since the age of the robber barons， Americans from the poorest shoeshine boy to presidents have followed these wars of ego and clashes of empire with the same fervor fight fans reserve for heavyweight championship matches。Author Christian Davenport gets this， and presents in "The Space Barons" the tale of Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin in their race to conquer （or at least colonize） vast swaths of outer space。 There are other superrich characters putting their fortunes to work in an effort to reach the stars， but the book consists primarily in chronicling the two very different paths that Musk and Bezos are taking to achieve dreams they've nurtured since childhood。 The author even invokes the ancient parable of the tortoise and the hare to highlight his point about the different goals and personalities of Musk and Bezos， as well as the more granular details about differences in spaceship/spaceplane design。It's an entertaining， fairly fast-paced read that recapitulates humanity's very short history in space， explains the developments and setbacks that have happened （including fatal， fiery accidents） as well as the potential for what mass travel and long-term habitation of the Moon or Mars could mean for our species。 Whether or not the project is ultimately successful， this book could become a critical contemporary account used by future historians。 It might eventually be regarded as an essential chronicle of the lives of men who lay the foundation for humanity's destiny in space。 Conversely it might serve as a chronicle of a Promethean folly for which two great adventurers paid a very steep price， both in lucre and lives。 Recommended。 With photos。 。。。more
Ranjith
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A great narrative of the private space industry and the visionaries behind it。Easy to read， interesting and the epilogue really gives one hope of what can potentially be done， and how we will start thinking in terms of generations and not just single life times。
Petr Bíza
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V podstatě je to koncentrovaný příběh kosmického boomu který probíhá od začátku milénia s různými flashbacky a odkazy na zašlou slávu dřívějších kosmických závodů mezi USA a SSSR。 Kniha se střídavě zaměřuje na osudy Jeffa Bezose， Elona Muska a Richarda Bransona jako nejvýraznějších postav。 Jsou zde popsány jejich začátky touhy po dosažení kosmu， jejich rozdílné povahy i strategie。 Kniha nejde do přílišných technických podrobností， spíše je to čtivý emotivní souhrn dosavadních událostí v poli nov V podstatě je to koncentrovaný příběh kosmického boomu který probíhá od začátku milénia s různými flashbacky a odkazy na zašlou slávu dřívějších kosmických závodů mezi USA a SSSR。 Kniha se střídavě zaměřuje na osudy Jeffa Bezose， Elona Muska a Richarda Bransona jako nejvýraznějších postav。 Jsou zde popsány jejich začátky touhy po dosažení kosmu， jejich rozdílné povahy i strategie。 Kniha nejde do přílišných technických podrobností， spíše je to čtivý emotivní souhrn dosavadních událostí v poli nových vesmírných závodů s různými vhledy do zákulisí。 Řekněme takový příjemný úvod pro vtažení do problematiky， čtenář díky tomu lépe pochopí styl uvažování vesmírných baronů， jejich různé motivace a vlastně i důvod proč jsou teď tady a co chtějí dosáhnout。 Kniha popisuje události do roku cca 2017。 Starship se zde ještě nejmenuje Starship ale Big Fucking rocket。 Další příběhy teprve čekají， až budou napsány， přesněji řečeno se píší právě teď。 。。。more
vancha
，
could’ve been about half of the length without the unnecessary fluff and like many others said， the author’s fanboy obsession with musk was showing bright and clear， but a good read nonetheless。 especially interesting to read during the 2020-era of space exploration
Lukas Hagel
，
I found it really enjoyable to read these pages。 The story telling was good and I really smashed the book in 2 days。However Christian Davenport talked a lot about SpaceX and Elon Musk。 I guess the title should rather be „the space baron“， since Jeff Bezos seems to slow in his progress。 Davenport really tried to make Bezos seem as if he is better in the race with his tortoise and hare fable。 In my favor he mentioned it [the fable] a bit too often。Since I’ve read the Elon Musk biography before， th I found it really enjoyable to read these pages。 The story telling was good and I really smashed the book in 2 days。However Christian Davenport talked a lot about SpaceX and Elon Musk。 I guess the title should rather be „the space baron“， since Jeff Bezos seems to slow in his progress。 Davenport really tried to make Bezos seem as if he is better in the race with his tortoise and hare fable。 In my favor he mentioned it [the fable] a bit too often。Since I’ve read the Elon Musk biography before， there wasn’t too much new knowledge involved except more context to the general market situation。 As I would call myself a space enthusiast， the visions and backstorys often driven by the Apollo missions made the book not too much a dry factual read but rather a passionate one。 I would give it to be more precise 3，8 stars 。。。more
Kyle
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 One of my favorite books。 These kind of books motivate me to be more creative and push limits。
Chris Riley
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Not bad。 A very in depth look at the commercial space industry。 The stream of consciousness writing style made it hard to keep the numerous timelines straight。
Samantha Fox
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The author did a great job of weaving the stories of the separate billionaires together and provided the right amount of background and context for my taste that kept the content compelling and informative。
Brian Irwin
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Does what is says on the tin， talks about the people pouring money into space programs。 It feels a bit sycophantic about Musk at times， but I don't think that does him any favors。 I like that it talks a decent bit about space companies that no longer exist， as that offers some good context。 Does what is says on the tin， talks about the people pouring money into space programs。 It feels a bit sycophantic about Musk at times， but I don't think that does him any favors。 I like that it talks a decent bit about space companies that no longer exist， as that offers some good context。 。。。more
Mark A Cooper
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The privatization of space。This is more than a book about rich capitalists pursuing their interest in space。 It is a book about a dream and idea that these men have and want to fulfill。 Their passion is evident and inspiring。 The prose and the writing style is crisp and compelling。 The author makes you want to learn more about space and our future outside the bounds of earth。 I think he does a great job tying it into the NASA space program and shows how the private sector is trying to augment wh The privatization of space。This is more than a book about rich capitalists pursuing their interest in space。 It is a book about a dream and idea that these men have and want to fulfill。 Their passion is evident and inspiring。 The prose and the writing style is crisp and compelling。 The author makes you want to learn more about space and our future outside the bounds of earth。 I think he does a great job tying it into the NASA space program and shows how the private sector is trying to augment what NASA has done for the last 50 years。 The book also details how difficult space is。 I was amazed how the smallest error can result in a catastrophe when you’re talking about a spacecraft。 Everything just has to go perfectly and that is hard to do。 Thanks for writing this book I really enjoyed it。 。。。more
Jimmy Beavers
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I loved this book。 I always thought of the spaceflight pursuits of Bezos and Musk as sort of a side show in their pursuit of convincing society that they are at the cutting edge of every emerging technological innovation。 I never realized that both had such great interest in space prior to amassing their fortunes。 The author also does a great job explaining how we are not much further along in space travel despite the vast improvements in computing power。 Obviously， NASA contracting strategy had I loved this book。 I always thought of the spaceflight pursuits of Bezos and Musk as sort of a side show in their pursuit of convincing society that they are at the cutting edge of every emerging technological innovation。 I never realized that both had such great interest in space prior to amassing their fortunes。 The author also does a great job explaining how we are not much further along in space travel despite the vast improvements in computing power。 Obviously， NASA contracting strategy had a lot to do with that and I never realized the massive risks that Bezos and Musk took to develop this technology independently before it was clear how they could monetize it。 Overall， a interesting and detailed study of the future of space travel and what role these companies may play。 。。。more
Petr L
，
Jen skoda， ze preklad knihy do CZ trval 2 roky （od 2018 do 2020）。 V tomto dynamickem odvetvi se toho za dva roky udalo pomerne dost。 Navic precteno az v unoru 2021。
Rushi Patel
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Avoidable if you have followed SpaceX， Blue Origin and a bit of The Spaceship Company over the years。 Quite repetitive description。 Some insider views were nice to read
Jose Tovar
，
El libro es bueno pero hace un énfasis al trabajo de Elon Musk。 Sentí que gran parte del texto habló e hizo énfasis en SpaceX。Igualmente vale la pena leerlo sobre a todos aquellos que sueñan con el espacio。
Sherrill French
，
I read this after reading Elon Musk's biography （see separate review）。 I had already gone from knowing nothing about space exploration to dying to know more， and this book was perfect。 It covers how several billionaires have succeeded in making the commercial space program an absolutely insane success。 The book is a stand-out for so many reasons， maybe the most of which is that， at it's essence， it's a real-life adventure novel， because that's what this entire effort has been。 You don't need to I read this after reading Elon Musk's biography （see separate review）。 I had already gone from knowing nothing about space exploration to dying to know more， and this book was perfect。 It covers how several billionaires have succeeded in making the commercial space program an absolutely insane success。 The book is a stand-out for so many reasons， maybe the most of which is that， at it's essence， it's a real-life adventure novel， because that's what this entire effort has been。 You don't need to geek out about space exploration or engineering feats to appreciate this。 I've given this as gifts to several people just slightly interested in space and all have raved。 I think a much wider audience would enjoy it and should totally pick it up。 I mean， just to think that it was commonplace that only the world's most powerful governments would ever accomplish these things （and that was a maybe some of the time）， and then。。。 well， you really do just have to read。 One other note。。。 The author is a space reporter for the Washington Post。 Now that I've read his outstanding work in this area， I always look to his stories and insights on what is going on。 The book basically continues on with his ongoing journalistic work！ 。。。more
Kashaan Merchant
，
More of a 300 page newspaper article about Blue Origin and SpaceX than an in depth venture into into all of the space companies operating right now。 Very cool look into the aforementioned organizations though， so if you’re curious about them at a surface level this will more than do。
Joval
，
It does a great job framing the early commercial space scene and gave me a lot of context for today's industry。 I especially enjoyed the history of the early/ mid aughts。 It does a great job framing the early commercial space scene and gave me a lot of context for today's industry。 I especially enjoyed the history of the early/ mid aughts。 。。。more
Markes Gonzalez
，
Entertaining read。
Andrés García
，
After reading Ashlee Vance's Elon Musk Biography and the Everything Store， I can say this book does a great job of showing Spacex and Blue Origin's programs side bi side （until 2017） After reading Ashlee Vance's Elon Musk Biography and the Everything Store， I can say this book does a great job of showing Spacex and Blue Origin's programs side bi side （until 2017） 。。。more
Pavel Kanazirev
，
Вдъхновяваща и приятна за четене。
Max Patiiuk
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Didn't think there was a book out there that would tell me something new about SpaceX， but I must admit， "The Space Barons" gives a unique perspective on Elon Musk， Jeff Bezos and other space figures。 Didn't think there was a book out there that would tell me something new about SpaceX， but I must admit， "The Space Barons" gives a unique perspective on Elon Musk， Jeff Bezos and other space figures。 。。。more
Daniel Lynch
，
Excellent snapshot of the current space race and its privatization over the last few decades。 The book explains the synergy being achieved by NASA and industry- industry picking up the slack as far as the day to day grunt work of hauling satellites to orbit; and NASA pushing forward with SLS。 It reminded me how proud I am to be an American :）
Subbu Ananth
，
A lucid book on the key players in the new space race， their dreams， aspirations and the way in which they have been set on a path of competition for the amazing frontier called space ！！ I would recommend this as a must-read for any space or astrophysics buff。 you won't be disappointed A lucid book on the key players in the new space race， their dreams， aspirations and the way in which they have been set on a path of competition for the amazing frontier called space ！！ I would recommend this as a must-read for any space or astrophysics buff。 you won't be disappointed 。。。more
Ronak
，
The Space Barons is a great read for space enthusiasts。 It summarizes US's progress till date， and describes ambitions and success/ failure of emerging private companies in this space。 It provides a nice read on what different firms are trying to achieve and why space is a difficult business （albeit in very little technical details）。 Recommended read for folks who enjoy reading/ looking for a read on space advancement。 If at all， I would have liked more technical details and little less idolizat The Space Barons is a great read for space enthusiasts。 It summarizes US's progress till date， and describes ambitions and success/ failure of emerging private companies in this space。 It provides a nice read on what different firms are trying to achieve and why space is a difficult business （albeit in very little technical details）。 Recommended read for folks who enjoy reading/ looking for a read on space advancement。 If at all， I would have liked more technical details and little less idolization。 。。。more
Socrate
，
”Abia trecuse de ora 10 dimineața。 Soarele epuizase ultimele urme de răcoare ale dimineții și canicula începea să se facă simțită。 Briza se întețise și elicopterul， încărcat la limită cu cei patru pasageri， se lupta să se ridice deasupra unui canion， în apropiere de Cathedral Mountain， în aerul cald， rarefiat， de mare altitudine， din vestul Texasului。În loc să se înalțe， elicopterul începu să zboare aproape de sol， prinzând viteză。 Nu reuși să se ridice deasupra copacilor。 – La naiba， exclamă Ch ”Abia trecuse de ora 10 dimineața。 Soarele epuizase ultimele urme de răcoare ale dimineții și canicula începea să se facă simțită。 Briza se întețise și elicopterul， încărcat la limită cu cei patru pasageri， se lupta să se ridice deasupra unui canion， în apropiere de Cathedral Mountain， în aerul cald， rarefiat， de mare altitudine， din vestul Texasului。În loc să se înalțe， elicopterul începu să zboare aproape de sol， prinzând viteză。 Nu reuși să se ridice deasupra copacilor。 – La naiba， exclamă Cheater。Pe bancheta din spate， Ty Holland， cowboy-ul care servea drept ghid pentru Bezos în mijlocul necunoscutului， își ridică privirea de pe harta topografică pe care o studia。 Bezos era așezat pe scaunul din fața lui， ținându-se bine; avocata lui， Elizabeth Korrell， stătea lângă Holland， în spatele pilotului。 Cheater manevra crispat comenzile， “făcând ocoluri și eschive printre copaci”， după cum avea să-și amintească Bezos。„ 。。。more
Лени Кирилов
，
Очаквах повече， но доста от историите и фактите не ги знаех
Jonathan A。
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