The Machine Stops
by E. M. Forster
Should I read this?
Recommended by 2 sources and appears in Books Recommended by Elon Musk, Most Recommended Books, and Science Fiction.
"The Machine Stops" is a science fiction short story (12,300 words) by E. M. Forster. After initial publication in The Oxford and Cambridge Review (November 1909), the story was republished in Forster's 'The Eternal Moment and Other Stories' in 1928. After being voted one of the best novellas up to 1965, it was included that same year in the populi...
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Why recommended
Recommended by 2 sources and appears in Books Recommended by Elon Musk, Most Recommended Books, and Science Fiction.
Recommended by notable people
People and public figures who have recommended this book.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
Elon Musk
Co-founder of PayPal, Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink
“Worth reading The Machine Stops, an old story by E. M. Forster”
Appears In
Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Recommended by 25 sources.
“Ready Player One reads like a videogame in book form: fast, immersive, and packed with 80s pop-culture puzzles. Its main draw is a high-stakes treasure hunt set in a richly detailed virtual universe, appealing to anyone who loves geek culture. The constant references, however, can feel like a pop-culture checklist rather than storytelling, and characters remain thin. If you're not already steeped in early video games, movies, and music, you'll miss much of the fun. It's a nostalgic thrill ride that sacrifices depth for pure, unapologetic escapism.”
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How recommendation signals are reviewed
Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.