Walter Isaacson, the biographer for Steve Jobs, was amazingly given free reign in writing the book titled simply, Steve Jobs. The simplicity in the title echoes the simplicity Jobs strove for in his Apple products. The amazing part of Isaacson's free reign is that, after reading the biography, you realize what a control-freak Jobs was.
The book is an interesting look at the man, the products, and the building of an outstanding company. I enjoyed reminiscing as one product after another was introduced into the telling of his life story. The more I read the more I wanted to find a soft side to this man. There were a few glimpses but I don't believe Isaacson could find much more. Jobs was a perfectionist and expected the same from all he encountered.
One of the things that stood out to me was Jobs observation of our world. It is one I agree with. He was visiting Istanbul, Turkey, and they were sampling Turkish coffee. As he said, "All day I had looked at young people in Istanbul. They were drinking what every other kids in the world drinks, and they were wearing clothes that look like they were bought at the Gap, and they are all using cell phones. They were like kids everywhere else. It hit me that, for young people, this whole world is the same now."
Technology has made the world smaller and more in common. The question is will we lose the richness of the cultures and traditions that make us who we are?
Perhaps the best description of Jobs' character is summed up in the words of Ann Bowers who had known him since the early years. When he asked what he was like when he was young she replied, "You were very impetuous and very difficult. But your vision was compelling. You told us, 'The journey is the reward.' That turned out to be true."
Good read that I believe would be especially interesting to anyone with a computer background or an Apple product in hand.
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