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ashley073 's review for:
Steve Jobs
by Walter Isaacson
Reading experience was kind of weird. I initially read the first 50 pages or so right when it came out. Then I started to regret buying a $25 book, so I returned it (what can I say, Half Price Books has spoiled me). I finally bought it for about $14 yesterday and flew through the remaining 500 pages today. I was pleasantly surprised with the beginning- it was really interesting. But the 80's and 90's were like this horrible vacuum of nothingness.
Sure, a lot of advances were made- but I was so sick of reading about Steve's temper...it's like that's the ONLY thing this book talks about. Or, that's the only *emotional* aspect of 95% of this book. It's all emotionless facts about release dates and business deals, and then pathetic over-the-top temper tantrums. ...definitely a strange read.
It really made me sad, because all in all, I walk away feeling as though Jobs was a thoroughly unlikable human-being.
I'm typing this on my Macbook Pro, so of course I appreciate what he did...but a very large part of me wishes I never opened the cover for this book. Would a sliver of empathy ruin all of his brilliance? I just don't understand.
As for the book itself, much of it felt redundant, and pretty surface-focused. It would have been interesting to dig a little deeper, but at the same time, I'm not really sure what that would look like.
It's strange to say, but this book seems like such a waste. That being said, I don't know what could have "saved" it for me, but not only was the "main character" so thoroughly unlikable, but I don't feel as though anything can be learned from this book. It doesn't seem like something anyone would want to return to, in order to see how Steve Jobs accomplished what he did.
Then again, yesterday I read an incredible interview/biography of sorts with David Foster Wallace, and that was EASILY the most enjoyable reading experience I've had in recent memory, mostly because DFW was just so brilliant and endearing. So to try to follow that up was probably pretty difficult.
But if nothing else, the DFW book proves that being a genius doesn't automatically give you the right to be an asshole.
I still love my macbook and my ipod, but I think I'll always raise a suspicious eyebrow when people confess their undying love and admiration for Steve Jobs.
Sure, a lot of advances were made- but I was so sick of reading about Steve's temper...it's like that's the ONLY thing this book talks about. Or, that's the only *emotional* aspect of 95% of this book. It's all emotionless facts about release dates and business deals, and then pathetic over-the-top temper tantrums. ...definitely a strange read.
It really made me sad, because all in all, I walk away feeling as though Jobs was a thoroughly unlikable human-being.
I'm typing this on my Macbook Pro, so of course I appreciate what he did...but a very large part of me wishes I never opened the cover for this book. Would a sliver of empathy ruin all of his brilliance? I just don't understand.
As for the book itself, much of it felt redundant, and pretty surface-focused. It would have been interesting to dig a little deeper, but at the same time, I'm not really sure what that would look like.
It's strange to say, but this book seems like such a waste. That being said, I don't know what could have "saved" it for me, but not only was the "main character" so thoroughly unlikable, but I don't feel as though anything can be learned from this book. It doesn't seem like something anyone would want to return to, in order to see how Steve Jobs accomplished what he did.
Then again, yesterday I read an incredible interview/biography of sorts with David Foster Wallace, and that was EASILY the most enjoyable reading experience I've had in recent memory, mostly because DFW was just so brilliant and endearing. So to try to follow that up was probably pretty difficult.
But if nothing else, the DFW book proves that being a genius doesn't automatically give you the right to be an asshole.
I still love my macbook and my ipod, but I think I'll always raise a suspicious eyebrow when people confess their undying love and admiration for Steve Jobs.