The Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos

About the book

Published in 2018, the book traces the new commercial space race, with particular attention to the rivalry between SpaceX and Blue Origin, the founders' different strategies, engineering setbacks, government relationships, and ambitions beyond Earth.

Why read it

Best if you want David's favored comparison of Musk, Bezos, SpaceX, and Blue Origin as competing approaches to private spaceflight

Evidence and original sources

David explicitly recommends listeners buy the book and praises Davenport as an author.

• The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time — David explains that Founders #38 covered The Space Barons, whose discussion of private-space entrepreneur Andy Beal led him toward this episode's book.
• Charles Schulz (Charlie Brown) — David identifies The Space Barons and its comparison of Musk's and Bezos's strategies.
• Robert Goddard (Rocket Man) — David connects this episode to his earlier Founders episode on The Space Barons, noting Bezos's admiration for Goddard.
• Elon Musk (Early Days of SpaceX) — David says he covered The Space Barons in an earlier episode, roughly in the 30s.
• Jeff Bezos — David identifies Founders #38 and the book about Musk and Bezos building rocket companies.
• Working with Jeff Bezos — David references his prior Founders episode 38 on Space Barons.