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94 reviews for:
Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart Into a Visionary Leader
Brent Schlender, Rick Tetzeli
4.22 AVERAGE
94 reviews for:
Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart Into a Visionary Leader
Brent Schlender, Rick Tetzeli
4.22 AVERAGE
inspiring
medium-paced
Having read the official biography previously, I'm glad I read this to balance it out. I appreciated that this telling of his life focused on his growth and human complexity, instead of trying to paint a binary caricature like the official biography. That said, I would have liked a more holistic view of Jobs, not just his work life. At times, this felt like a history of Apple/NeXT instead of the history of a man. The deep-dive into Apple and NeXT was interesting, but not expected.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
informative
medium-paced
Every book I read about Steve Jobs are different in how they present him. This one shows more of his personal side, which I appreciated.
thrifted this with my friend Emily in vancouver in 2022 — far better than the Walter Isaacson biography, but less known
I liked this biography on Steve Jobs more than the one written by Walter Isaacson. It showed a much more personal side to Steve.
Where Walter Isaacson largely squandered his opportunity for original new reporting in his authorized “Steve Jobs” biography, this book has an interesting take on the professional life of Steve Jobs. It explores some of the traits that led to his ouster from Apple, and how his time with Next and Pixar changed him; moderating those same traits and setting the stage for his return to Apple and leading them to massive success in his second stint with the company. There is some occasional editing sloppiness that make it feel this book may have been rushed a bit, but overall it offers a compelling and unique perspective.
The Real Steve Jobs
I never had the privilege of knowing him, but now I feel like I did. I certainly enjoy the fruits of his labors.
I never had the privilege of knowing him, but now I feel like I did. I certainly enjoy the fruits of his labors.
I have not read the Walter Isaacson biography, but I have read Creativity Inc, and it was interesting to learn about the history of Pixar from Steve Jobs' perspective.
The title of this book was aptly chosen. It is all about how Steve Jobs evolved in his approach to leadership and management, from his early turbulent years at Apple, to his experience at Next and Pixar, and finally his return to Apple and its subsequent rise from the ashes of its disastrous performance in the 1990s.
It contains a lot of information and conversations told to the author in confidence. I hope he obtained permission from Steve himself or at least from his family posthumously to include this material in the book for everyone to read. The book itself does not say.
The title of this book was aptly chosen. It is all about how Steve Jobs evolved in his approach to leadership and management, from his early turbulent years at Apple, to his experience at Next and Pixar, and finally his return to Apple and its subsequent rise from the ashes of its disastrous performance in the 1990s.
It contains a lot of information and conversations told to the author in confidence. I hope he obtained permission from Steve himself or at least from his family posthumously to include this material in the book for everyone to read. The book itself does not say.
The story of Steve Jobs and Apple parallels my career in user experience. My first computer was an Apple ][+. I was offered a job at Apple in 1996, six months before Jobs returned, and agonized over the decision but ultimately turned it down because the company had just announced its enormous loss.
This book does set right some things about Jobs that the Isaacson book seemed (having read this one, at least) either to get wrong or, more importantly, omit—such as the negotiations with the record labels. But maybe the number one thing I take away from it is that it seems to indicate that Steve Jobs did ultimately succeed in creating a great company, and that its chances of continued success are excellent.
There’s another book (or series of books) here that’s clearly missing, and that’s a comprehensive history of the company. “West of Eden: The End of Innocence at Apple Computer” (1989) by Frank Rose is still somewhat burned into my brain as what I think of as the definitive history of Apple up until Jobs’ departure. I still have my copy of that book. But there’s a lot that I’d like to hear about the 1985-96 period, and much more to be said about 97-present. However, I suspect that “Becoming Steve Jobs” may be the best last word on the man himself. and I’m not sure I’d or want or need to read another tome on him, regardless of how influential I think he has been, including on my own career. So that’s a pretty strong endorsement “Becoming Steve Jobs."
This book does set right some things about Jobs that the Isaacson book seemed (having read this one, at least) either to get wrong or, more importantly, omit—such as the negotiations with the record labels. But maybe the number one thing I take away from it is that it seems to indicate that Steve Jobs did ultimately succeed in creating a great company, and that its chances of continued success are excellent.
There’s another book (or series of books) here that’s clearly missing, and that’s a comprehensive history of the company. “West of Eden: The End of Innocence at Apple Computer” (1989) by Frank Rose is still somewhat burned into my brain as what I think of as the definitive history of Apple up until Jobs’ departure. I still have my copy of that book. But there’s a lot that I’d like to hear about the 1985-96 period, and much more to be said about 97-present. However, I suspect that “Becoming Steve Jobs” may be the best last word on the man himself. and I’m not sure I’d or want or need to read another tome on him, regardless of how influential I think he has been, including on my own career. So that’s a pretty strong endorsement “Becoming Steve Jobs."