Some useful semi-related context: The Great Man theory of history[1] argues that history is shaped by the actions of a small number of "great men," people like

Some useful semi-related context: The Great Man theory of history[1] argues that history is shaped by the actions of a small number of "great men," people like Genghis Khan, Otto von Bismarck, Julius Caesar, Adolf Hitler, FDR, etc. More recently, this theory has come under fire because it erases a lot of the less easily tractable emergent phenomena (e.g.: Hitler was a product of and an amplifier of nationalism in Europe. He didn't invent anti-semitism, or fascism, or German discontent post-WW1. He only got to where he did because of the circumstances, people, and society around him. The Great Man theory erases all of that.) Similarly, Musk did not invent Silicon Valley VC culture, or green economics, or anti-union tactics, or wealth hyper-accumulation. He is a very influential person, and understanding his life helps people understand the times he lives in, but focusing on him as a Great Man erases a lot of the people and factors that allow him to live the kind of life he has lived, and justifies a lot of behavior that is otherwise unjustifiable. More on topic: I think the article's author is upset because he wanted "The Power Broker[2]" and got a propaganda piece instead. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_man_theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_man_theory [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_Broker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_Broker