I definitely love my iPhone … and my MacBook Pro … and my
mom just received an iPad for Christmas so I spend quite a bit of time on
that. It’s no secret that both my
family and I enjoy Apple products, however, I never knew much about their
creator. I received this book from
some relatives for Christmas because they know of all the Apple products I
own. I never thought that I would
read this book when it was published, due to its size, (so I didn’t ask for it)
until I unwrapped it, and I am definitely glad that my family knows me so
well! The size is a bit
intimidating, but the story was really interesting and worth the read if you
are interested in Steve Jobs, computers, and Apple products!
Title: Steve Jobs
Author: Walter Isaacson
Genre: Biography, Non Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: October 24, 2011
Pages: 656
Out in Paperback?: No
My Rating: 4/5
Review:
Goodreads Summary:
Based on more than forty interviews
with Jobs conducted over two years--as well as interviews with more than a
hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and
colleagues--Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster
life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion
for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal
computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital
publishing.
At a time when America is seeking
ways to sustain its innovative edge, and when societies around the world are
trying to build digital-age economies, Jobs stands as the ultimate icon of
inventiveness and applied imagination. He knew that the best way to create
value in the twenty-first century was to connect creativity with technology. He
built a company where leaps of the imagination were combined with remarkable
feats of engineering.
Although Jobs cooperated with this
book, he asked for no control over what was written nor even the right to read
it before it was published. He put nothing off-limits. He encouraged the people
he knew to speak honestly. And Jobs speaks candidly, sometimes brutally so,
about the people he worked with and competed against. His friends, foes, and
colleagues provide an unvarnished view of the passions, perfectionism,
obsessions, artistry, devilry, and compulsion for control that shaped his
approach to business and the innovative products that resulted.
Driven by demons, Jobs could drive
those around him to fury and despair. But his personality and products were
interrelated, just as Apple's hardware and software tended to be, as if part of
an integrated system. His tale is instructive and cautionary, filled with
lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values.
Characters:
Since this is a biography, the term “character” isn’t really
appropriate, but I really enjoyed reading and learning about Steve Jobs, his
childhood, and Apple. I know many
people have their own opinions on Apple products and Steve Jobs himself,
usually loving him or hating him.
My family and I do own several Apple products, including iPhone, iPod
Touch, iPad, and MacBook Pros, which we all really enjoy. Through reading this book, I know many
people disagreed with some of Jobs’s actions and methods for running a company,
especially on a moral and ethical level.
I can definitely see how they would think and feel that as I was reading
the book; however, his perfectionism allowed me to connect with him and understand
where he was coming from. Although
I don’t agree with the treatment of many of his co-workers, I did enjoy
learning that Steve Jobs was a perfectionist similar to me. :)
Plot:
This book focused on the life of Steve Jobs, beginning with
his birth and following his rise to fame through his company, Apple. I found many of the smaller details
very interesting as it allowed a “behind the scenes look” at many iconic
moments in his life and the creation of Apple products. I also enjoyed the moments that came
directly through a Steve Jobs interview, specific for the book. Although his quirky characteristics
created a lot of controversy after the release of his novel, I did find it
interesting to read about.
Writing Style:
I really feel that the writing style of Walter Isaacson really
made this book for me. I really
enjoyed reading about the life of Steve Jobs, but I really appreciated the way
Isaacson wrote this book. The
style was easy to follow and the description was understandable yet interesting
and sophisticated. I will be the
first to admit that I do not understand much (if anything, let’s be honest)
about the inner workings of a computer or the creation of software; however, I
felt that Isaacson really wrote this book in a way that allowed me to
understand what he was talking about (there wasn’t too much computer jargon)
without “dumbing” it down and losing most of the story regarding the creation
of these technological products.
Overall, I loved the writing and found the subject matter very interesting!
Have you read this
book? I remember quite a bit of
controversy regarding Steve Jobs’s actions in his company after this novel
first came out. What did you
think? How did you feel about the
writing style in regards to understanding all the technological elements?
FTC Disclaimer:
All items mentioned were purchased by me. This is not
a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. No affiliate links were
used.
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