Joe Crescenzi

I've had a computer since the 70s. That was way before the Internet, way before practical software such as word processors and spreadsheets. Back then, it was something for hobbyists called "Hackers" who loved to explore the possibilities of using devices that would one day change the world.

Because my history with computers ran parallel with Apple's history, I've always had a connection with Steve Jobs and Apple, so this book brought back a lot of memories.

I was hesitant at first to buy the book, because I always felt I knew all there was to know about Steve Jobs and Apple, because I followed his story most of my life, but I'm so glad that I did. Although I knew he was part of the "Hippie" movement, I had no idea the extent of his counter culture roots.

The bottom line is that the story of Steve Jobs is fascinating, even to those who have never felt a connection to technology. He had a famously unique rough exterior, but deep down there was a pure passion for greatness at the core every outburst that drove those whom he lashed out at to achieve bigger and better goals.

One last comment regarding the narration by Dylan Baker. I've listened to over 200 audiobooks, and I consider his narration to be one of the best I've heard so far, so I can't figure out why there have been so many negative comments about the narration. I kept reading people say he sounds nothing like Steve Jobs and knows nothing about his speaking style. It seems to me that some people think this was an "Autobiography", so it should be told in Steve's own voice. This is a biography, so it's not meant to sound like Steve. It's Walter Isaacson's story of Steve Jobs, so there is no reason for him to try to sound like anyone but himself. If they want to hear a more realistic voice, look for his speeches on YouTube or wait for Hollywood to make a movie.

Yes. And I have, because it's full of great information.

"Delivering Happiness" from Tony Hsieh and "Good to Great" from Jim Collins.

While the book is full of time saving advice, the key takeaway for me is that the focus on company culture, because in spite of Paul's efforts to trim a 2 seconds here and there, he spends more than an hour each day NOT building products, but building better people, who in turn become more efficient at build better products.

His philosophy reminds me of the old story of the lumberjack who entered a contest to see how fast he could cut down a tree. Everyone was half way through before he even started, yet he won the race. He was sharpening his axe.

I have listened to over 450 audiobooks, including some that were way too long to get to the point. Paul delivers his message without wasting any words, so the book itself is a great example of efficiency.

Even though the chapters and the book itself are short, he makes it a point to summarize each chapter to make sure the key points stand out. This underscores the message and insures you absorbed it.

Lastly, this is not a Harvard Business School textbook on the merits of bean counting. Paul Akers lives and breathes this lifestyle and his magnetic personality comes through with flying colors.

If you've never seen or heard Paul Akers in action, check out some of his videos online. His energy is contagious.

Zig Ziglar is one of the all-time best motivational speakers because of his dynamic personality and his deep rooted values.

This particular audiobook is a great example of Zig in action. He doesn't focus on complicated "Get it Done" strategies or systems. Instead, he simply uses common sense ideas and he illustrates them with captivating stories and his one-of-a-kind delivery.

He reminds us to that the first step in getting things done is setting specific goals and for those who have a hard time doing that, perhaps your first goal is to give him a listen. Once you do, you'll want to explore some of his other books, such as "See You at the Top".

This book is a great introduction to science. It doesn't get too in depth into any one area, but it does touch on quite a few of the fundamental building blocks, such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology and biology.

It's not easy putting so many different subjects into one book, but the author does a great job of connecting everything together without seeming scattered.

I'm one of those people who forgets what he had for breakfast, so I thought this book might shed some light on how people with exceptional memories manage to remember thousands of numbers in sequence.

Joshua Foer had an average memory, just like the rest of us, until he decided to follow the "Memory Sport" circuit for a couple of years. He was just an observer, but soon became the national memory champion, proving that anyone can learn to improve their memory.

This book isn't a self-help book and it doesn't spent too much time on techniques or tricks to improve your memory. It's more about the journey itself and that makes it more... memorable.

I listened to this audiobook twice because I wanted to reinforce some of the underlying concepts. This book explores the underlying stories behind some serious hoarders, which gives non-hoarders a glimpse of some of their own tendencies.

You just might find that you share some of the same issues that are the root of a serious hoarder, and you can learn how to clear your mind as you clear your environment. If nothing else, you will be fascinated by the psychology behind the mess.

George Carlin was a national treasure and this book does a great job of putting his life in perspective. Even if you thought you knew everything there was to know about George Carlin, your understanding expands when you get to know the inner thoughts behind his public and private life.

His brother Patrick does an outstanding job with the narration largely because he shares a lot of George's phrasing and inflection.

I am a long time fan of Zig Ziglar, having first discovered his insight on the art of selling, then discovering that his sales success was not based on sales alone.

If you explore his vast library of books and CDs you'll discover that his success is due to the fact that his faith in God is at the center of every thing he does.

I didn't hear about his 2007 head injury until I found this book yesterday. When I heard the news I was immediately disturbed as if he was a member of my own family because he has touched many of us like a loving father.

I get the audio versions of his books because I am a student of what Zig calls "Dashboard University". I love to learn and open my mind whenever I'm driving, and in the case of Zig's CDs, I love to hear his books in his own voice to hear get the inflection. His delivery is priceless.

In the case of this book, another reason I wanted to get the audio version was I wanted to hear his voice as a way to feel better about his condition. Just hearing his voice made me feel better about his condition. Without understanding the effects of his injury I feared I would no longer hear that distinct voice I have grown to love.

His voice and his message are as inspirational as ever. In some chapters he is joined by some of his family members, who share additional insights about the aftermath of his injury in their own words. Unlike the printed version, the audio version also gives us addition insight as to their emotional state because Zig and Julie are not afraid to cry as they read some of the more painful memories. I couldn't help but cry along with them and I'm glad they didn't edit those moments from the recordings because it shows us they are human too.

We all face struggles at some point in our lives and this book helps inspire us to find ways to live and even "Embrace the Struggle". Sometimes those struggles lead to unimaginably great things that God has in store for us or those around us.