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Steve Jobs Paperback – September 10, 2013

by Walter Isaacson (Author)

25,524 ratings

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Paperback. Pub Date :2013-09-10 Pages: 656 Language: English Publisher: Simon Schuster The phenomenal bestseller from the author of the acclaimed biographies of Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein.Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years- as well as interviews with more than 100 family members. friends. adversaries. competitors. and colleagues-Walter Isaacson set down the riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries:. personal computers. animated movies. music. phones. tablet computing. and digital publishing Isaacson's portrait touched hundreds of thousands of readers.At a time when America is seeking ways to sustain its innovative edge and when societies around the world are trying to build digital-age econ...

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About the Author

Walter Isaacson, University Professor of History at Tulane, has been CEO of the Aspen Institute, chairman of CNN, and editor of Time magazine. He is the author of Leonardo da Vinci; The Innovators; Steve Jobs; Einstein: His Life and Universe; Benjamin Franklin: An American Life; and Kissinger: A Biography, and the coauthor of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made. Facebook: Walter Isaacson, Twitter: @WalterIsaacson

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; First Edition (September 10, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 656 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1451648545
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1451648546
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.9 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1.5 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,899,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Computing Industry History
- #4 in Computer & Technology Biographies
- #8 in Biographies of Business & Industrial Professionals

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Walter Isaacson

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Walter Isaacson is writing a biography of Elon Musk. He is the author of The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race; Leonardo da Vinci; Steve Jobs; Einstein: His Life and Universe; Benjamin Franklin: An American Life; The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution; and Kissinger: A Biography. He is also the coauthor of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made. He is a Professor of History at Tulane, has been CEO of the Aspen Institute, chairman of CNN, and editor of Time magazine.

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Customers find this biography compelling and well-researched, providing extensive information about Steve Jobs' life and personality. The writing is clear and engaging, with one customer noting the author's ability to capture a complex mind. The book holds readers' interest throughout, and they appreciate the beautiful portrayal of Jobs' multifaceted character. While customers describe Jobs as an amazing and complicated individual, some find the content repetitive.

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Readability Inspiration Writing quality Biography Reading quality Design Character development Complexity

2,878 customers mention "Readability"2,810 positive68 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a compelling and fascinating read that tells the whole story of a great man.

"...This biography was an excellent read and a must for anyone interested in Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs himself, or the creation of one of technologies..." Read more

"...if not riveting, story that is not only well-written and well-constructed (organized in a chronological manner), but it is incredibly well-..." Read more

"...it came to putting it all together in an intelligent, readable and accurate story of a man who was his own worst enemy and who has helped define our..." Read more

"...or Steve Jobs, this book is enlightening and entertaining, and well worth the read...." Read more

1,233 customers mention "Inspiration"1,160 positive73 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, praising its well-researched content and thought-provoking examination of Jobs' life.

"...could be a good thing or a bad thing, but it is clearly the most heavily researched and exhaustive biography that is likely to emerge in a very long..." Read more

"...constructed (organized in a chronological manner), but it is incredibly well-researched, too...." Read more

"...he any lightweight when it came to putting it all together in an intelligent, readable and accurate story of a man who was his own worst enemy and..." Read more

"...I think the purpose of the book is to provide meaningful insight into Jobs, including what formed him and what he formed, not to comprehensively..." Read more

915 customers mention "Writing quality"813 positive102 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it clearly and engagingly presented, with one customer noting the author's ability to capture a complex mind.

"...Walter Issacson's biography is highly readable and very compelling...." Read more

"...This is a fascinating, if not riveting, story that is not only well-written and well-constructed (organized in a chronological manner), but it is..." Read more

"...problem with appreciating good writing and the exercise of superlative literary and personal judgment on the part the author of this biography, a..." Read more

"...It provides a good understanding of just how Steve Jobs drove Apple to where it is today...." Read more

900 customers mention "Biography"872 positive28 negative

Customers praise this biography for its extensive coverage of Steve Jobs' life and career.

"...a bad thing, but it is clearly the most heavily researched and exhaustive biography that is likely to emerge in a very long time...." Read more

"...on the man, enjoy the story and the way it has been told by a brilliant writer and be aware that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to read..." Read more

"...It was both captivating, and offered meaningful insight into Steve Jobs and the history of Apple...." Read more

"...It's also an even better history book. It details the ascent of personal computing from the perspective of the very people that were (and still are)..." Read more

460 customers mention "Reading quality"435 positive25 negative

Customers find the book engaging and hold their interest throughout, describing it as an eye-opener that's worth the time and energy to read.

"...no control over the product (other than the cover design), it is a compelling, but not always flattering bio of a mercurial and important individual." Read more

"...But, it is Jobs' peculiarities--his uniquenesses--that make this book so engaging...." Read more

"...This book didn't disappoint. It was both captivating, and offered meaningful insight into Steve Jobs and the history of Apple...." Read more

"...The book left me enriched, provoked and sad in equal measure. It is long but flows well and is a fast read...." Read more

426 customers mention "Design"426 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's design, noting its amazing art of design and crisp inventiveness, while appreciating how it impresses with its detail.

"...The clean and elegant design is an undoubted result of his Zen Buddhist background...." Read more

"...hands-on, know your product, be thorough, check-and-re-check, perfectionism is good and it works, have passion, infuse everything you do with emotion..." Read more

"...on the part the author of this biography, a book which presents an accurate word picture, warts and all, of a major figure, an innovator, a mover..." Read more

"...I Jove it when you can bring really great design and simple capability to something that doesn't cost much," he said as he pointed out the clean..." Read more

343 customers mention "Character development"316 positive27 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, describing Jobs as a fascinating and uniquely gifted individual with a complex personality.

"...are an almost perfect analogy to his personality and disposition. The clean and elegant design is an undoubted result of his Zen Buddhist background...." Read more

"...Sure, he was incredibly bright, imaginative, creative, intelligent, educated, and knowledgeable, but the way he treated others, the way he thought..." Read more

"...Steve Jobs is the most interesting human being I have ever encountered, even though my only introductions are through this book ... and being..." Read more

"...Most importantly, this is a very personal book...." Read more

317 customers mention "Complexity"203 positive114 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the complexity of the book, with some finding it complex and complete, while others note it is often repetitive and not an easy story to follow.

"...to read the life story of one of the most brilliant, beguiling, eccentric and important innovators of our time written by one of our very best..." Read more

"...I hated it. For me, it was confusing, there was too much going on at once, and the only thing I thought it had going for it was the networking..." Read more

"...No, not exceptionally. Instead, he was a genius. His imaginative leaps were instinctive, unexpected, and at times magical...." Read more

"...It is structured perfectly, flows beautifully and is a brutally honest look at a brilliant man who will become a colorful part of our cultural..." Read more

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Mr. K
Mercurial
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2013
Verified Purchase

This review is being typed on a Macbook Pro, which I purchased two years ago. Later, when I go to the gym, I will listen to songs purchased on iTunes, which I have transferred over (using Firewire) to my iPhone 4s; I have been caught in the snare of Apple's enclosed system for the past year and have no intention of leaving it anytime soon. What this book has done, for me and countless other Apple fans, is help me understand the devices I use through an understanding of the man who created them.

Walter Issacson's biography is highly readable and very compelling. I admit that before opening this book I was ignorant of just how much of an impact Steve Jobs has had on Silicon Valley and technology generally. It was engaging to read Isaacson's account of the construction of the Apple II in his parents garage, the development of the Macintosh, the creation of Next, the acquisition of Pixar, and his eventual return to Apple where he saved the company and entered his most creative years at the age of 40 (developing iTunes, the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad).

Most interesting to me though was how his devices (take your pick between the iPhone, Macbook, etc.) are an almost perfect analogy to his personality and disposition. The clean and elegant design is an undoubted result of his Zen Buddhist background. The enclosed system, in which the case cannot be opened, the software altered, and the multiple device connectivity, are a striking parallel to his ridiculous demand for control. It was hard not to read the book and find yourself liking Jobs. Yes, he was an ego-maniac, a control freak, a sometimes cruel individual, an abandoner, and he had the temperament of a rattle-snake, but he was also a genius.

It isn't that he was always correct, but he was right on SO MANY things that it is astounding to look back and consider some of his most strategic business decisions and creative endeavors. Important also is noting that he himself invented little. Instead, he combined the ideas and notions of others (from Steve Wozniak to John Lasseter) to create products that people had as of yet not understood they even needed. This ability, combined with a borderline debilitating perfectionism, gravitational personality, and ingenuity made it possible for him to bring together the best and the brightest and create a company which will hopefully endure for many years following his death. Being a Seattle-ite I was drawn as well to his interactions with Bill Gates and how different (yet similar) their egos and ideologies were.

This biography was an excellent read and a must for anyone interested in Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs himself, or the creation of one of technologies biggest companies. I found myself very much rooting for Apple and Jobs, and I believe that Isaacson was too, because his affection is evident in his writing. Academically, this could be a good thing or a bad thing, but it is clearly the most heavily researched and exhaustive biography that is likely to emerge in a very long time. Because Jobs had no control over the product (other than the cover design), it is a compelling, but not always flattering bio of a mercurial and important individual.

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rlweaverii
Incredible, even sensational, motivational book
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2012
Verified Purchase
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

This is a fascinating, if not riveting, story that is not only well-written and well-constructed (organized in a chronological manner), but it is incredibly well-researched, too. It not only revealed how open Jobs was with Isaacson, but how open all of those who were part of, influenced, or were on the fringes of Job's life, were when Isaacson interviewed them.

From reading this book, you get this intricate portrait of a mercurial, sometimes vicious, self-absorbed, genius who had serious difficulties dealing with the realities of day-to-day living. But, it is Jobs' peculiarities--his uniquenesses--that make this book so engaging. You simply have a hard time believing such a person like Jobs even existed! (Remember, Jobs did not read this book before he died.)

One aspect of Jobs' personality--reinforced throughout the book--was that "ordinary rules didn't apply to him" (p. 313). I found it astonishing, for example, that he couldn't be relied on to tell the truth. It was said about him by Helmut Sonnerfeldt, "He lies not because it's in his interest, he lies because it's in his nature" (p. 313). He was adept at misleading, being secretive, as well as being brutally honest. He could be incredibly brutal!

Whatever you thought about Steve Jobs--based on his public persona--this book will shake (destroy?) that image. Isaacson pulls no punches, nor do the individuals interviewed. Jobs was a temperrmental, insensitive, authoritative, control freak, with an emphasis on freak! Sure, he was incredibly bright, imaginative, creative, intelligent, educated, and knowledgeable, but the way he treated others, the way he thought about others who were not his intellectual equals (or intellectual superiors!), was near pathological and perverse. He was an egomaniac's egomaniac (terribly selfish and demanding). To give you a mere glimpse of how selfish he was, he seldom remembered anniversaries or birthdays (p. 530).

Jobs was not one to emulate when it comes to effective human relations, however, even though many of his personal eccentricities were not exemplary, this is a motivational book.

There are a number of great motivational messages throughout the book. Some of the messages include: never give up, create a vision or dream, pursue your dream, whatever it takes, surround yourself with great minds and supportive personnel (not just "yes people"), don't worry about going against the grain, be creative, take risks, defy failure, bet your career on doing things in a different way, be hands-on, know your product, be thorough, check-and-re-check, perfectionism is good and it works, have passion, infuse everything you do with emotion, focus, prepare thoroughly, do nothing half-assed, and always keep your customers in mind (be user friendly). Jobs knew that "deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do" (p. 336).

On the basic values Jobs supported--and a value seen in every Apple product which he oversaw (and a value that made Apple successful!)--is the effective marriage between technology and the humanities (p. 527). The marriage was consummated in the silicon architecture, in the Aple organization, as well as in Jobs' own soul (p. 527)!

If you really want an overview of who Steve Jobs was and how he operated, Isaacson does a beautiful job of summarizing in Chapter 42, "Legacy" (pp. 560-571). It is an honest, complete, and intimate conclusion that accurately and completely draws together many of the comments, reactions, and insights scattered throughout the book. It is a wonderful closing chapter.

In this final chapter, too, Isaacson allowed Jobs, who had shared with him what he hoped his legacy would be throughout the course of their conversations, to be the one to conclude the book (pp. 567-570). No, there are no completely new insights in Jobs' essay, because you absorb his personal values, approaches, feelings, and reactions throughout the book, but Isaacson was correct, just hearing Jobs express himself at the end was a beautiful, warm, and touching way to conclude the book. Just as Jobs was a true genius (very few measure up!), Isaacson is a genius in the manner with which he introduces him to the general public. This is truly an incredible book.

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Alex
Un'affascinante immersione nella vita di un visionario
Reviewed in Italy on July 11, 2023
Verified Purchase

Ho appena terminato di leggere "Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography" e sono ancora completamente immerso nel mondo affascinante di uno dei più grandi innovatori del nostro tempo. Questo libro, scritto con maestria da un autore esperto come Walter Isaacson, offre un'analisi approfondita della vita e delle opere di Steve Jobs, il co-fondatore di Apple.

La biografia è un'autentica pietra miliare che riesce a cogliere l'essenza di Jobs come persona e come leader carismatico. Isaacson ci conduce attraverso un viaggio emozionante, partendo dall'infanzia di Steve Jobs fino ai suoi trionfi e fallimenti nel mondo degli affari. L'autore non si limita a raccontare una sequenza di eventi, ma ci fornisce una comprensione intima di chi era realmente Steve Jobs e di cosa lo ha spinto a diventare l'uomo che ha cambiato il modo in cui viviamo e lavoriamo.

Uno degli aspetti più notevoli del libro è la sincerità con cui vengono descritte le sfaccettature complesse della personalità di Jobs. Isaacson non esita a mostrare i lati negativi del suo carattere, evidenziando la sua determinazione quasi ossessiva e il suo carattere spigoloso. Questo rende la narrazione ancor più coinvolgente, poiché ci permette di apprezzare appieno le sue realizzazioni straordinarie, ma anche di riflettere sulle conseguenze che il suo approccio può avere sulle relazioni personali e professionali.

La ricerca di Isaacson è encomiabile e la sua abilità nel raccogliere testimonianze e interviste di persone vicine a Steve Jobs aggiunge una dimensione autentica alla narrazione. Sono rimasto affascinato dai retroscena di Apple e dalle interazioni tra Jobs e altre figure chiave come Steve Wozniak e Tim Cook. La biografia offre una panoramica completa degli alti e bassi dell'azienda, comprese le decisioni coraggiose e i momenti di scontro che hanno plasmato l'industria tecnologica.

Inoltre, il libro affronta tematiche più ampie come l'importanza del design, l'innovazione e l'arte nella creazione di prodotti che cambiano il mondo. È stimolante leggere di come Jobs abbia integrato la sua passione per l'estetica nella filosofia di Apple, creando prodotti che hanno ridefinito gli standard dell'industria e hanno influenzato il modo in cui viviamo e ci connettiamo.

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Mr Dibyasingha Parija
Highly recommend!!! Buy right now 😁
Reviewed in India on October 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
"I found this book about jobs to be a fantastic read! The book was both informative and inspiring, filled with useful insights that can be applied in real life. Job’s journey and innovative ideas are well-captured, and the book provides a deep look into the mind of one of today’s most influential entrepreneurs, created, innovator...... I highly recommend it to anyone interested in entrepreneurship, technology, or personal growth."

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Harpreet singh
Inspiring
Reviewed in Canada on January 12, 2025
Verified Purchase
“An insightful and engaging read! Walter Isaacson captures Steve Jobs’ brilliance, creativity, and complexities perfectly. A must-read for anyone interested in innovation and leadership.”

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Ana Cristina chis
Très long...trop long ...mais fascinant
Reviewed in France on August 14, 2014
Verified Purchase
Il y a beaucoup de "storytelling" ce qui est merveilleux ... toutes ces petites histoires qui créent ce personnage très complexe et son «champ de distorsion".

Je le recommande pour ceux qui aiment: des histoires d'affaires, l'esprit entrepreneurial, des gens créatifs, non-conformistes, les stratégies, les commerçants, vendeurs, etc ..... et bien sûr, toute autre personne qu'il est ouvert à une telle histoire et à la culture américaine (sachant qu'il y a beaucoup de scepticisme autour de la culture américaine en France ... oui oui, je sais que je généralise :)).

Il s'agit d'un très long livre (568 pages) et croyez-moi, la lecture sur un Kindle ne facilite pas les choses. Mais il y a toutes les détails que vous pourriez avoir besoin : commençant par des témoignages et points de vue différents sur la même histoire jusqu'aux détails de la façon dont ils ont travaillé sur les couleurs et les composants utilisés pour chaque ordinateur.

En outre, c'est un livre très inspirant ... bien sûr, si vous ne restez pas coincé dans la perspective «il est fou ou il est égoïste ou il ne se soucie pas de ceux qui travaillent pour lui ou que ça marcherait jamais en France ou qu'il est allé trop loin ".
Bref...J'adore

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Gabriel Carvalho
Ótima leitura sobre uma pessoa extraordinária.
Reviewed in Brazil on May 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
Walter Isaacson consegue realizar um trabalho incrível ao contar a história de um dos mais geniais CEOs que já passou pelo nosso planeta. Repleto de entrevistas e diferentes pontos de vistas acerca de um mesmo acontecimento, o livro consegue nos fazer entender o porquê de Steve Jobs ter tido tanto sucesso em sua trajetória. Único ponto negativo seria a falta de opiniões do próprio autor sobre as controvérsias de Jobs, e uma certa superficialidade em alguns temas mais polêmicos. Mesmo assim, é uma leitura excelente, bem fluida e tranquila.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Mercurial

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, even sensational, motivational book

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Un'affascinante immersione nella vita di un visionario

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend!!! Buy right now 😁

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring

5.0 out of 5 stars Très long...trop long ...mais fascinant

5.0 out of 5 stars Ótima leitura sobre uma pessoa extraordinária.

Mercurial

Incredible, even sensational, motivational book

Un'affascinante immersione nella vita di un visionario

Highly recommend!!! Buy right now 😁

Inspiring

Très long...trop long ...mais fascinant

Ótima leitura sobre uma pessoa extraordinária.