Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter by Kate Conger and Ryan Mac (Rview

**One of the best-researched and well-written business books I have read, *Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter* by Kate Conger and Ryan Mac is a compelling exploration of Elon Musk’s controversial purchase of Twitter. The book offers a rich narrative populated by a cast of hundreds of Twitter employees and executives, each bringing a unique perspective. Readers may find heroes and villains among them, all presented in vivid, humanizing detail. With a length far exceeding a tweet at 436 pages, it still keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

At the heart of the book is Elon Musk, whose reputation as a visionary, eccentric, and often self-centered figure is fully displayed here. Musk is depicted as the center of Twitter’s universe, around which all other stories orbit. His personality and decisions drive the narrative, illustrating his complex and, at times, erratic leadership style.

As a reader, I found myself feeling sympathetic for the executives and employees who had to work with Musk. Many were caught in a difficult position, needing their jobs to support themselves and their families. Musk, however, was a challenging boss, setting impossible deadlines, frequently changing his mind, and often requiring flattery before he would listen to advice. This environment, as described in the book, made for a grueling workplace experience.

The book also draws comparisons between Musk and Donald Trump, noting both men’s tendencies to act impulsively, seeking adulation and approval without considering the full consequences of their decisions. This parallel underscores the irony that Musk, who initially sought to reduce misinformation on Twitter, ended up frequently sharing and amplifying misinformation himself.

After reading this book, I would not want to work with Elon Musk. The book notes that there has been speculation Musk could take on efficiency reforms in the federal government by cutting expenses and staff. However, his approach at Twitter—firing over half the staff without a clear strategy—highlights the dangers of indiscriminately cutting headcount without considering the broader ramifications.

Insights and Musings

A bill is under debate in Congress and nationwide concerning TikTok, with the House voting overwhelmingly to compel its separation from the Chinese Communist Party due to concerns about its influence on American youth and promotion of Chinese ideology. Whether TikTok should be regulated or removed is still uncertain to me. However, if we are addressing negative social media influences, Congress should consider Fox News, which has had a more detrimental impact on our nation than TikTok for its misinformation and lies.

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In World War II, young American soldiers, some as young as 18, could brush off Axis Sally and Tokyo Rose propaganda in a foxhole or ship preparing for battle. Today we have a generation of younger people who are judged not to have the same discernment to understand when they are being scammed or mislead while reading, watching or listening to certain social media from their living room couches.

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I am not excluding my baby boomer generation from criticism about being easily manipulated and fooled by misinformation and propaganda.

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I’m happy to see that there can be discussions about the amount of realtors’ commissions starting in July. I think commissions should be negotiable. I think that the realtor who sold my house did deserve a 6% commission. She worked very hard for us and put in a lot of time and effort. If she did not work hard, we very likely would not have sold our home or moved. My concern is that someone like her, with an excellent work ethic, may not be able to survive financially under the new guidelines agreed by the realtor industry.

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More Thoughts on the Fly

The Republican who performed brave and honorable actions, risking his life and that of his family on January 6, 2021, withdrew his name from the 2024 Presidential nomination due to lack of support. Frankly, I largely viewed Mike Pence as a toady during his vice presidency, but I find him a more suitable option compared to the individual who sought to overturn a fair election process and currently faces 91 civil and criminal indictment counts.
While I remain concerned about Trump, my greater worry lies in the significant number of supporters he commands and the influence he wields. This speaks volumes about the state of our country, indicating that Trumpism could endure without Donald Trump.
Inflation, Israel, and the indictments involving his son will likely damage Biden’s prospects in 2024. Although Biden served as a competent placeholder, I would prefer a different, younger nominee for the Democratic party.”
I recently sold my house and relocated. My main grievance stems from paying a 6% commission fee during the house closing. Considering the current seller’s market and the available technology for facilitating home sales, commission fees should ideally range between 4% and 5%.”
“The overwhelming presence of misinformation, lies, and exaggerations across various domains such as media, politics, business, science, and education can easily deceive even the most discerning individuals, leading them to believe a significant portion of it.”
“The auxiliary attractions of gambling and ‘sports talk’ form the pillars upholding sporting events and programming. The off-field or off-court action and controversies often prove more captivating than the actual games themselves.”