leannaaker's review against another edition
5.0
I'm sorry this book is over. I'm sorry Jobs' life is over. I'm sorry I'll never get to meet Jobs. I'm sorry Jobs' genius won't ever grace Apple again. I appreciate all of my Apple devices, even more, to the state of cultdom. And this book spoke to me, at a point in my life when I needed some reassurance to love myself, my path, and my focus. “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”--Steve Jobs. I recommend this for any number of audiences. What an amazing biography!
smitmachhi's review against another edition
5.0
Yes Steve Jobs was kind of an asshole, but only because he believed in his visions so much that it was hard for others to take in.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
jconfess's review against another edition
4.0
Steve was an amazing man. His vision changed my life immeasurably. I identified with his feelings toward his birth father and his quick dismissal of things as crap. I am the same way. I just don't understand why he resorted to crying so often. Was it genuine? Was it manipulation? Whichever it was, this was amazing look at the genius who thrust us into the future.
athena56's review against another edition
3.0
I will say this: the book takes the incredibly complex and rich history of this man, and ultimately the company that he is synonymous, and breaks it down into easily digestible chunks based on theme, rather than years. While this provides its own set of challenges of trying to figure out what was simultaneously happening, it at least for allows a clear narrative of what you need to know about Mr. Jobs.
What is keeping me from giving this book a higher rating is the proverbial "boner" that Walter Issacson has for Steve Jobs. Yes, he is a creative genius. Yes, he created products that changed the landscape for modern technology. No one is going to argue that one. But it seemed to me that Issacson, while he explains Jobs' foibles and eccentricities -- such as penchant for being a Grade A dick or just a generally rude, inconsiderate person as a side effect of his "genius". The book almost serves as a "Get Out of Jail Free" card for Jobs because Issacson places him on such a pedestal.
"He was mean and coarse, but that caused him to inspire the best in his employees." -- The book reads like that constantly [Above is not a direct quote, but FAR too many sentences echo that.]
While this book might be better than other Steve Jobs' fanfare in the world of publishing, this book, IMO, presents an incredibly strong bias to the man, and allows his "inspiration" to serve as a pass for him to be a shitty human being to pretty much everyone.
What is keeping me from giving this book a higher rating is the proverbial "boner" that Walter Issacson has for Steve Jobs. Yes, he is a creative genius. Yes, he created products that changed the landscape for modern technology. No one is going to argue that one. But it seemed to me that Issacson, while he explains Jobs' foibles and eccentricities -- such as penchant for being a Grade A dick or just a generally rude, inconsiderate person as a side effect of his "genius". The book almost serves as a "Get Out of Jail Free" card for Jobs because Issacson places him on such a pedestal.
"He was mean and coarse, but that caused him to inspire the best in his employees." -- The book reads like that constantly [Above is not a direct quote, but FAR too many sentences echo that.]
While this book might be better than other Steve Jobs' fanfare in the world of publishing, this book, IMO, presents an incredibly strong bias to the man, and allows his "inspiration" to serve as a pass for him to be a shitty human being to pretty much everyone.