We take a deep dive into the unique and often-imitated problem-solving methodology of one of the world's most consequential entrepreneurs, using Ashlee Vance's biography, Elon Musk, as our guide. This episode focuses specifically on Musk's reliance on "first principles thinking." Our hosts unpack what this actually means: the practice of boiling things down to their fundamental truths and reasoning up from there, rather than reasoning by analogy. We analyze how this approach allowed him to radically rethink established industries like aerospace and automotive manufacturing. This is a masterclass in a powerful mental model for true innovation.