I am currently reading Steve Jobs, a biography of the late CEO of Apple by Walter Isaacson. It hit the bestseller’s list pretty quickly after Jobs’ death earlier this fall. The hardcover edition is really heavy, so if you can get the Kindle edition, your arms will probably thank you. On another note, you also wouldn’t have to worry about being startled by the creepy book cover on the Kindle version either.
This book really gets into the nitty gritty of daily life with Jobs, his life, and Apple. Jobs started Apple with his engineer friend Steve Wozniak. Wozniak was the one that put the products together, while Jobs was the one who handled the marketing and sales aspect.
Jobs’ most talked about quality in this book was how focused and driven he was. He did not stop anywhere short of perfection, and that is putting it mildly. That is certainly reflected in the quality of Apple’s products like the Mac, iPad, iPhone, etc.
The biography definitely points out the quirky aspects of Jobs’ personality, like his obsession with dieting and other extremes. He practiced Zen, and was interested in the Buddhist philosophy. It all goes back to how driven he was about things he wanted. If you’re familiar with Apple at all, you’ll know that as a culture, it is very private, and Jobs himself is a very private man. This biography is the chance to get a glimpse into what really went on behind that mask of privacy.
Isaacson did over 40 interviews with Jobs over a course of two years, and also interviewed over 100 of his family, friends and peers. So, that demonstrates how much thought and detail went into writing this biography.
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. – Amazon
I am in awe at how much has changed as far as technology goes. But, if you look at the Apple II versus all Apple products now, they still remain products of Jobs’ vision of perfection. They also are very user focused. Apple has opened up technology to so many people who otherwise would not be able to use it.
Steve Jobs will keep me occupied for awhile, but so far I’ve really enjoyed it. I think it also helps having some technical knowledge. But even for those who aren’t technical, they can still appreciate reading about one of the most influential men in the technology world.