Steve Jobs

By: Walter Isaacson

Narrated by: Dylan Baker

Length: 25 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Featuring a new epilogue read by the author.

From the author of the best-selling biographies of Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein, this is the exclusive biography of Steve Jobs.

Based on more than 40 interviews with Jobs conducted over two years - as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues - Walter Isaacson has written a 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.

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 economies, Jobs stands as the ultimate icon of inventiveness and applied imagination. He knew that the best way to create value in the 21st century was to connect creativity with technology. He built a company where leaps of the imagination were combined with remarkable feats of engineering.

Although Jobs cooperated with this book, he asked for no control over what was written. He put nothing off-limits. He encouraged the people he knew to speak honestly. And Jobs speaks candidly, sometimes brutally so, about the people he worked with and competed against. His friends, foes, and colleagues provide an unvarnished view of the passions, perfectionism, obsessions, artistry, devilry, and compulsion for control that shaped his approach to business and the innovative products that resulted.

Driven by demons, Jobs could drive those around him to fury and despair. But his personality and products were interrelated, just as Apple's hardware and software tended to be, as if part of an integrated system. His tale is instructive and cautionary, filled with lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values.

©2011 Walter Isaacson (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Interesting story, really bad reader :(

The reader's voice just sucks. The story, though is interesting enough. Wish the book were read by some one else.

Superb, Splendid, Brilliant...!!!

A very close and personal look to the man and a portrait of the Genius Steve Jobs..!

Well Written Biography

As biographies go (and I do really like reading them), this is one of the better ones. Isaacson does not try to paint Jobs as something he was not, but rather tries to tell it like it really was. It is well written, and gives a lot of insight into the life of one of the most influential men in America. I came away feeling like I really knew Steve Jobs. I'm not sure I would have liked him had I really known him, but I would have found him fascinating. His life is a tough one for someone to write about, but Jobs granted Isaacson the information that he wanted to do a thorough job. In a way, it made it so Steve was in control of the story of his life. He knew people would be writing about him, and he couldn't leave it to chance. He decided to cooperate with Isaacson so that someone could get the facts right before other people messed it all up. Steve was a control freak. He was also a detail person. The design of things was as important to him as the functionality. Every time I look at my ipod now, I understand why it looks and acts the way it does. I saw a man playing with his iphone today. It had a rubberized cover on it, and I found myself thinking that Jobs would have had a fit if he saw his beautiful design desecrated in such a way.

I am grateful that there are people like Steve Jobs in the world. He pushed others to "think outside the box" (sorry for the cliche, but it just fits so well). He caused others to be better than they started out to be because of the challenge to "be as good as Apple" or Pixar, or whatever else Steve had his influence on. The ripple effect from his innovations will continue to be felt for many generations. RIP Steve. The world is a better place because you were here.

The narrator, Dylan Baker, was perfect for this book. I started to believe he was actually Steve Jobs at times. He has that same straight forward, tell-it-like-it-is feeling to his voice.

The Narrator is Annoying--Story is Remarkable!!!

I was shocked to learn about how volatile Steve Job's was, especially in his younger years! I am convinced that every attempt was made by Walter Isaacson to deliver an honest, unfiltered accounting of the amazing life of one of America's truest personifications of the American Dream!

The author interviewed hundreds of people across the life of Mr. Jobs, and as you can imagine there is vast assortment of opinions. One thing that is universally true: Jobs lived an amazing life, one that, in his own words, "resided at the corner of technology and the liberal arts." His story is motivating, as it really does reinforce the concept that if you believe in what you are doing, and strive for excellence, your dreams can come true. However, it also is a cautionary tale as time is short and life's relationships deserve a whole lot more attention than just when utilizing them is a convenient means to an end.

It is too bad that they choose to use Dylan Baker, as I find his voice whiny and tedious. However, the story is more than enough to allow one to over-look an annoying. Just speed it up to 3x and pretend like you have Alvin from the Chipmunks reading.

A Lot About Jobs... Almost enough.

Massive work and the scattered gaps in the history are merely curious not damaging. Issacson's filter is intelligent. Truly enjoyed the complexity of Job's character as its presented and the way the author attempts to fit it into an explanatory narrative. Similarly, the feeling of time and place will inform readers for, well, perhaps centuries.

just finished it!

If you could sum up Steve Jobs in three words, what would they be?

it's great. love the ending too. I really got a feel for who he was and what made him tick. I wish the book had been out while he was alive and productive. People would have really

Which scene was your favorite?

I can't say which scene would be my fav because they were all good, the ending was really great.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

on/off

Any additional comments?

this book is great for anyone to read. every single person alive. we all have a dream.

Amazing balanced informative gripping.!

What did you love best about Steve Jobs?

I love the balance that is portrayed about Steve. I came away having more respect and more dislike for Steve jobs. You really saw the fire in the belly that dictates everything Steve jobs did and what made his work great. I am writing this review on an iPad2 having given away my iPad1. I really understand why I love my iPad and my iPhone so much. It's all about design! The iPod, iPhone and iPad where not the first of their kind, but most would agree they are the best designed. The book really highlighted Steve's obsession with design, but it also highlighted some of the failings in that obsession.

What did you like best about this story?

It was very balanced. It was detailed but not boring in its amount of detail.

What about Dylan Baker’s performance did you like?

It was well read. The voice was easy to listen to and I found it a good conversation not a sermon like some audio books.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Several times I was close to tears. As a person who often does not march to the same drum as masses it was inspiring to hear how many people did not belive in Steve's ideas and that usually he was right.

Any additional comments?

Everyone under 25 should read this book as a history of computers and how they got where they are now. It has some great history on Microsoft and windows aswell. Anyone wanting an interesting history of how the personal computer went from really complicated geeks only tool to a universal easy to use indispensable tool for the masses should read this book.

Must Read and this time I mean READ

This is a very well written account of Steve Jobs' life. It is interesting and full of information of an era I remember as a young adult growing up in the 70's.
The narrator of this book does not do it justice on any level. This is a huge miss on Audible's part. I was very disappointed. I am seriously thinking about buying the book to read just so I can get the full impact of what the author has written.

Fascinating read about a horrible human being

Where does Steve Jobs rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

somewhere in the middle. Its close to the top of my nonfiction favorites.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Steve Jobs?

When he decided not to grant stock options to the early employees of Apple. Despicable guy.

Which scene was your favorite?

seeing how his adopted dad contributed to stoves design philosophy.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

nope too long. i don't do one time sitting for audio books.

Any additional comments?

its still hard fro me to comprehend how a jerk of such epic proportions can so positivly affect the world.

Intriguing Story

I enjoyed this intriguing story of Steve Jobs life and accomplishments. I felt that author was even handed, telling both sides of the man. The good and the ugly. I would highly recommend this book, especially for those who want to learn some of the inside details of Steve Jobs and Apple and how they were so successful, meeting consumer needs and producing some of the most iconic products of our time. I book is a great biography on Jobs but it is also a good business book on how successful companies innovate and survive over time. I could not stop listening to this audio book!