GREAT READS

Steve Jobs

This is hands down one of my favorite biographies. Walter Isaacson does an amazing job writing about Steve Jobs, a very complex and creative man and a bit crazy. When Isaacson was first approached by Jobs to write his biography, he wasn't interested. He was sure there would be limits and people he had to avoid and felt that would not allow for an accurate portrayal of the man responsible for the vision and excellence behind the Apple Empire. No, was Jobs reply, nothing was off limits. Isaacson could interview anyone and write anything he wanted to portray an accurate picture of the man inarguably responsible for the creativity behind so many things we use on a daily basis from personal and tablet computers, phones and music to animated movies and digital publishing. Jobs was far from the nicest person in the world and this book interviews current friends as well as friends who thought Jobs treated them unfairly.

At times, the book even paints an unflattering picture of Jobs and his idiosyncracies.  Jobs felt he knew the best way to do everything including the best way to eat, and he embraced a strict vegan diet. He also felt that because of his vegan diet, he did not need to wash every day. Well, not true according to some of the people interviewed! Eventually Jobs started working alone at night because so many complained that he smelled bad. A bit manic in his pursuits, he would go on benders where he would only eat a single food for days on end such as bananas. 

There are many stories portraying both the good and the bad of Steve Jobs and a good bit of history of the creation of computers and other Apple products. I found it funny that young Jobs found a way to steal signals to make phone calls and thought that was great but when he became the head of Apple he made sure that no one would have any chance of getting anything without paying for it. Jobs was quite a character and this book was an extremely satisfying read and I would highly recommend it.
I would like to end this review with a quote from the book by Steve Jobs.

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose."

Thank You and RIP, Steve Jobs

Recommended by Pam Wiseman