Christian Davenport’s second book, "Rocket Dreams," is a thorough accounting of the growing friction between space billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, with insights from private jets and secret meetings, Twitter spats and battles for government contracts.

The book may not endear readers to either man; if anything, both come across as business titans who have volunteered their time and money to an absurd fight, as Bezos’ Blue Origin and Musk’s SpaceX have jockeyed for supremacy. The detailed reporting highlights the vast chasm between what both men say — that their goal is to benefit humankind — and the seeming reality that they are simply fighting for the glory of winning.

At times, the saga feels like a hilarious space soap opera. There was the time Musk took a hit off a joint while

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