Steve Jobs | Book by Walter Isaacson
Walter Isaacson is a American journalist a distinguished career in roles such as Aspen Institute, CNN, and Time magazine, best known for his biographies on influential figures like Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin. His ability to depict narratives into stories solidified his reputation as a figure in the world of journalism and biography.
Abandoned at Birth, Fleeting Existence: 56 years young
Review By: Joel Lovely
Who should read this book ?
Readers seeking insight into the persona of Steve Jobs and want to grasp the evolution from the Personal Computing Era to the Contemporary Post-PC Landscape.
Before:
Steve Jobs is often regarded as the Leonardo da Vinci of modern times, a fusion of creativity, innovation, and vision. Although, the 2015 movie provided a glimpse into his life, it left me wondering if movies fall short of the pages of the book, offering a more picture of Jobs’ journey so I decided to listen to the book!
After:
The book was indescribable in its ability to convey the profound impact of technology on reshaping the world. The story of Steve Jobs goes like this…..
Abdulfattah Jandali and Joanne Schieble, two individuals from different worlds, embarked on a romance that resulted in the birth of a child who would later become an Steve Jobs. However, the intricacies of their relationship, fueled by religon and Schieble’s family, led to Jobs up being placed for adoption.
Paul and Clara Jobs, a couple who embraced the responsibility of raising this extraordinary child with formidable care. From an early age, it became apparent that Jobs was not ordinary. School was seen as a mere constraint to his insatiable curiosity, leading to a rebellious phase in his youth.
As he matured, Jobs embraced a hippie mentality, exploring the realms of philosophy and expanding his consciousness through experiences like taking LSD and embarking on global journeys in search of meaning. Unusual habits, such as his “fruitarian diet” and preference for walking barefoot, became synonymous with his unique character.
His stubbornness and passion for computers paved the way for the creation of Apple Computers alongside Steve Wozniak. Their first challenge, set by Atari’s CEO Allan Acorn, birthed the Apple I, which made its debut at the Byte Shop. The revolutionary Apple II, with its groundbreaking RGB projection, propelled Apple into the spotlight.
Facing formidable adversaries like IBM and Microsoft, Jobs sought inspiration from Xerox’s GUI Interface, leading to the development of the Macintosh and the Lisa, the latter ironically named after his abandoned biological daughter, Lisa Buchanan. Jobs’ journey took him to NeXT and Pixar after the Apple board had chosen John Skully over him, Next and Pixar ventures faced challenges before ultimately flourishing finding again, Xeorx’s GPU chip to fuel growth a spark of revolution in animation film and a business shift in NeXT.
A rollercoaster ride ensued by the downfall of apple sparked Jobs return to Apple, introducing vertical integration with a closed OS, transforming the company’s design and revolutionizing industries.
However, the narrative takes a somber turn as Jobs faces life ending cancer. Ultimately, at the age of 56, leaving behind a legacy that forever changed the landscape of technology and design. Steve Jobs, a visionary and pioneer, with a story that is as tumultuous as it is inspiring.
Conclusion:
The book was so good, but the ending was so heart-wrenchingly sad. Life is too short