Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Let me just say, I loved this book!
It is a long one, so I brought it on our vacation to Cancun (on my Kindle, not my iPad...sorry, Steve). I dreaded starting it, thinking I would feel like I was reading a business case study or an onerous biography. Finally, the thought of not having it done in time for my end-of-January Book Club meeting got me to start the book (it is 571 pages, which seemed long for a beach read!).
I surprised that I could not put it down.
I am a half-hearted Apple Fan. I was an early MP3 player gal and so relieved to finally get an iPod--a music player that made some sense and worked properly (and now thanks to this book, I know why). My husband surprised me last Christmas with an iPad. I enjoy it, but did not consider it life changing. I was a Palm/Treo/Blackberry fan who just switched over to an iPhone in October, mostly out of frustration (I did not know how convoluted and complicated my Blackberry was until I did not have to recover it weekly).
Yet, I am still a PC/Windows person and reluctant to change. Now I understand why. As a former programmer and software developer, the closed nature of the Apple systems has always been a little uncomfortable for me...yet, I could never put my finger on exactly what bothered me about getting a Mac. It is clear after reading the book, that I still have a lot of thinking to do before I switch to an Apple. In fact, my daughter who is studying Computer Information Systems in college, just had to go out today and buy a Windows machine, because there is not a single CIS class for which she can use her Mac (the closed nature of the computer means that not all software can be developed for it or on it).
Steve Jobs was a quirky, strange and brilliant individual. The author did a great job of explaining how Jobs thought through products, product launches, development and company strategy. While I did not always agree with his opinions, it is hard not to have respect for someone who is so committed to his beliefs. I can't say that Steve Jobs is someone that I could have been friends with, but certainly he is someone I would have wanted to be in charge of bringing my ideas to fruition. It is hard not to respect that kind of singular focus and commitment.
The book also provides a really nice overview of the way different companies perceive business, marketing and strategy. I thought the book was informative and interesting without being preachy and text-book like. As someone who was working in the computer field during the early days of Apple, Microsoft and the other companies mentioned, I found so much of this book simply fascinating. I remembered so many of the products and launches that the book mentions!
At the end of the day, it was all the things I thought it might be; a case study in creating a successful business and biography of a corporate giant. Yet, as I said before, I could not put it down. If you are looking for a good read, and one where you will probably learn something about one of the most successful companies and product lines of our time, I highly recommend this book.
Comments(5)