March 13, 20:30-22.00
Utrecht Neude Library

Historian Quinn Slobodian and writer Ben Tarnoff on Elon Musk as the ultimate symbol of our time.

Who is Elon Musk? A genius? A pest? A visionary, or a villain? Everyone has an opinion about the eccentric tech billionaire. Media often focus on his personality to understand his actions and statements. But according to historian Quinn Slobodian (Boston University) and author Ben Tarnoff, Musk is so much more than an individual. He embodies a new political and economic era, where power is increasingly concentrated in the hands of tech companies. In their new book,  Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed, they explore the forces that shaped Musk, from South Africa to Silicon Valley, Space X to DOGE. What awaits when the world’s richest man calls the shots? How will our growing reliance on Musk’s technologies change our lives and our societies?

This programme is a collaboration with the Visions for the Future research project (UU) and Utrecht Library.

The event is free of charge but registration is required: https://www.sg.uu.nl/agenda/2026/muskism-de-wereld-volgens-elon-musk