Steve Jobs

I just finished the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson.  I had been curious about the book, but then it was sitting on the new books shelf the last time I went to the library.  I ended up grabbing it, not sure what to expect.  I had heard and read the same stories in the media as everyone else about Jobs and they were kind of interesting, but would I be able to make it through a whole tome about the man?  The answer is yes.

This book was actually, very well written.  The book is a good story that is mostly in chronological order, which makes it pretty easy to follow along.  The book also seems pretty balanced. although there are some pretty serious questions that are left unasked by the author.

I was surprised at how much of a dick Jobs was.  We have all heard what a jerk he could be, but he turned out to be a jerk most of the time and he never did feel bad about it.  Jobs didn't feel that the normal rules of social conduct applied to him.  He actually didn't feel that any of the rules applied to him.  This was what let him break them all in his time at Apple, but made him an asshole.

Jobs saw the world in black and white.  Something or someone was either the best thing ever or shit.  There was no in between.  This explains his perfectionism.  It had to be perfect or it was shit.  There is a reason that Apple products are so polished.  Jobs knew what he wanted and got the people around him to accomplish it, usually through bullying.

It was also interesting to find out the reason for Apple's end to end integration.  While it is true, that Jobs thought it was best for consumers, he more importantly needed the control.  Jobs was a massive control freak.  He did not want anyone opening up his creations and messing them up.  He didn't want anyone to make a program that would interfere with his vision.  Job's need to control everything in his life, was most important in the development of the Apple ecosystem we know today.

When I finished the book, I was very impressed with what Jobs had accomplished during his life.  Upon further review however, the story of Jobs life was the story of Apple with a brief interlude at NeXT and Pixar.  What I mean, is that the man had no other interests or accomplishments.  Jobs was married with a family, but he was often, distant, cold and neglectful towards them.  I think what I learned was that Jobs was a very complex man that helped usher in the digital age and later changed how we interact with said digital world.  But, I do not thing he was a great man.  Jobs was a great businessman and salesman, but not a great man.  He was actually a generally awful man who's accomplishments were one dimensional (but impressive in their area).

In short, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story, likes Steve Jobs, hates Steve Jobs or is just curious about the man and/or Apple.