Mentioned in Podcasts

Person

Every book Kimbal Musk recommended on podcasts

Key facts

  • Kimbal Musk has recommended or discussed 2 books on podcasts, as of March 10, 2024.
  • Kimbal Musk has talked about books on 1 podcast, as of March 10, 2024.
  • Those books came up in 1 episode, as of March 10, 2024.
  • The 2 books Kimbal Musk has mentioned in the most episodes, as of March 10, 2024: Kitchen Confidential and Liar's Poker.
  • The latest episode with a book mention from Kimbal Musk aired on March 10, 2024.

Updated

Guest on Lex Fridman Podcast · 2 books · 1 episode across 1 podcast

Kimbal Musk appears on the Lex Fridman Podcast as an entrepreneur, restaurateur, and innovator with deep roots in the culinary world, technology, and early startup culture. Reflecting on his formative years and career path, Musk discusses several influential books that captured his imagination during his youth and education. He fondly remembers Anthony Bourdain's classic memoir, Kitchen Confidential, explaining how it was published during the 1990s while he was attending cooking school. Musk notes that Bourdain's writing brilliantly and romantically captured the intense reality of restaurant kitchens, serving as a major inspiration during his culinary training. In addition to his passion for cooking, Musk reflects on his fascination with high finance and Wall Street during his high school years in the late 1980s. During this period, he read Michael Lewis's bestselling exposé Liar's Poker, along with other similar books of the era, admitting that they made the fast-paced world of finance appear remarkably exciting and alluring. Through these reflections, Musk illustrates how powerful narratives from the restaurant industry and the financial sector left a lasting impression on his early ambitions and entrepreneurial journey.

Books recommended by Kimbal Musk

Who said what is determined automatically. In hand-checked samples, at least 6% of mentions were credited to the wrong speaker — sometimes an interviewer’s line recorded as the guest’s, sometimes the reverse. Every entry below quotes the words and links to the episode, so you can check it.

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  1. Kitchen Confidential

    Anthony Bourdain · Discussed · 1 episode

    Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain is a candid, bestselling memoir that exposes the gritty, high-pressure underbelly of professional restaurant kitchens while romanticizing the culinary arts.

    Discussed
    “Yeah, he wrote a book called "Kitchen Confidential", in the 90s. I was in cooking school at the time. It was so... He romanticized cooking in the restaurant so well.”
    Lex Fridman Podcast #417 – Kimbal Musk: The Art of Cooking, Tesla, SpaceX, Zip2, and Famil… 2024-03-10 Listen at 43:23
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  2. Liar's Poker

    Michael Lewis · Discussed · 1 episode

    Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis is a semi-autobiographical financial book detailing the author's chaotic experiences as a bond salesman at Salomon Brothers during the explosive Wall Street culture of the 1980s.

    Discussed
    “This is in late 80s, I'm in high school, and there was a lot of these books, "Liar's Poker", and others that came out. And I was like, "Ah, man, this is awesome. These people must be amazing."”
    Lex Fridman Podcast #417 – Kimbal Musk: The Art of Cooking, Tesla, SpaceX, Zip2, and Famil… 2024-03-10 Listen at 1:20:25
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
#417 – Kimbal Musk: The Art of Cooking, Tesla, SpaceX, Zip2, and FamilyLex Fridman Podcast2024-03-103