austinstorm's review against another edition
4.0
Coming off of reading Metaxas' Bonhoeffer biography, I thought this was very well written. Some will be disappointed by the lack of coverage of Jobs' inner life, but there are enough stories to get a pretty full picture. (Spoiler: Jobs was a real a**hole)
The most difficult thing to read about was the way he threw himself into work after his cancer diagnosis and his late-life obsession with his legacy and building a company that would last. Maybe it's just where I am, but it's depressing to read about people trying to extend their influence beyond the grave.
The most difficult thing to read about was the way he threw himself into work after his cancer diagnosis and his late-life obsession with his legacy and building a company that would last. Maybe it's just where I am, but it's depressing to read about people trying to extend their influence beyond the grave.
litcontours's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating bio into the life of a garage entrepreneur with a hippie attitude. I loved the author's pace and style, along with a lot of focus on the tech (much like his life).
tushar_bansal's review against another edition
4.0
The story was good but the book could have been much shorter. I found a lot of things being repeated again and again
vuphong's review against another edition
5.0
An honest biography about a genius who is full of flaws. It also provides a good peak into Silicon Valley's history.
unsecuredstation's review against another edition
4.0
A great and very well written memoir of a complicated person. Coveys a lot of what Steve was like.
“He had never, in two years, asked anything about what I was putting in the book or what
conclusions I had drawn. But now he looked at me and said, “I know there will be a lot in your book I won’t like.” It was more a question than a statement, and when he stared at me for a response, I nodded, smiled, and said I was sure that would be true. “That’s good,” he said. “Then it won’t seem like an in-house book. I won’t read it for a while, because I don’t want to get mad. Maybe I will read it in a year—if I’m still around.” By then, his eyes were closed and his energy gone, so I quietly took my leave.”
“He had never, in two years, asked anything about what I was putting in the book or what
conclusions I had drawn. But now he looked at me and said, “I know there will be a lot in your book I won’t like.” It was more a question than a statement, and when he stared at me for a response, I nodded, smiled, and said I was sure that would be true. “That’s good,” he said. “Then it won’t seem like an in-house book. I won’t read it for a while, because I don’t want to get mad. Maybe I will read it in a year—if I’m still around.” By then, his eyes were closed and his energy gone, so I quietly took my leave.”
trishanne4's review against another edition
2.0
I found some of what I read to be fascinating, since I had only heard bits and pieces of Steve Jobs' early life and the beginnings of Apple. But there was much technical description that was dry and boring. Not that I didn't expect that, it just wasn't holding my interest. Had I stuck with the book, I may have been able to give it more stars but the book needed to go back to the library soon and I wasn't up for plowing through hundreds more pages at that point. I may pick it up again and finish it someday.
iamazoo's review against another edition
5.0
i don’t usually like biographies but this one was fantastic. what an imperfect but absolutely brilliant individual.
barareads's review against another edition
i hate biographies and this one has not become the exception i hoped it might become… so dull, and this whole computer related stuff is alien and boring for me. so since neither his career (or should i say job(s)) nor his horrible personality were pleasant to read about, sorry not sorry but this is a strong dnf
tayburdiss's review against another edition
4.0
Issac is an excellent biographer. It’s clear to me why Jobs chose him and liked him. A theme for Jobs was finding people that were the best at what they did, Issac is just that. This book was really long and filled with a lot of facts, however the author keep me wanting to read more. He created a good storyline, with threads throughout, without his opinion or bias hugely impacting it, that’s impressive.
Jobs is an intriguing human. It made me really nostalgic as I grew up as apple grew into its own. I was able to witness so many of the significant product launches. This book gave me a deeper appreciation for Apple.
However, I am awe struck but the lack of women in the narrative of Apple and Jobs life. With a few exceptions, the only women mentioned were either related or in a relationship with Jobs. Both Pixar & Apple it appears didn’t have any women involved in management or leadership roles in their creation nor growth. THAT IS WILD. There were at least a hundred men that we meet in the book that worked with, against, alongside or for Jobs, there was maybe 3 women I could count.
Jobs is an intriguing human. It made me really nostalgic as I grew up as apple grew into its own. I was able to witness so many of the significant product launches. This book gave me a deeper appreciation for Apple.
However, I am awe struck but the lack of women in the narrative of Apple and Jobs life. With a few exceptions, the only women mentioned were either related or in a relationship with Jobs. Both Pixar & Apple it appears didn’t have any women involved in management or leadership roles in their creation nor growth. THAT IS WILD. There were at least a hundred men that we meet in the book that worked with, against, alongside or for Jobs, there was maybe 3 women I could count.
girgir81's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to this on audio and it was very enjoyable.
The 4 stars are not for Steve Jobs the person (not a huge fan of his character) but rather for his genius and business acumen.
I am a huge apple fan and loyal user and this book just strengthened by belief in the superiority of the apple brand. I am also a marketeer and should know better but… this is the power of brand building and the hold it has on consumers.
Highly recommended book…
The 4 stars are not for Steve Jobs the person (not a huge fan of his character) but rather for his genius and business acumen.
I am a huge apple fan and loyal user and this book just strengthened by belief in the superiority of the apple brand. I am also a marketeer and should know better but… this is the power of brand building and the hold it has on consumers.
Highly recommended book…