iWoz

How I Invented the Personal Computer and Had Fun Along the Way

By: Steve Wozniak, Gina Smith

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

The mastermind behind Apple Computer sheds his low profile and steps forward to tell his story for the first time.

Before cell phones that fit in the palm of your hand and slim laptops that fit snugly into briefcases, computers were like strange, alien vending machines. They had cryptic switches, punch cards, and pages of encoded output. But in 1975, a young engineering wizard named Steve Wozniak had an idea: what if you combined computer circuitry with a regular typewriter keyboard and a video screen? The result was the first true personal computer, the Apple I, a widely affordable machine that anyone could understand and figure out how to use.

Wozniak's life before and after Apple is a "home-brew" mix of brilliant discovery and adventure, as an engineer, a concert promoter, a fifth-grade teacher, a philanthropist, and an irrepressible prankster. From the invention of the first personal computer to the rise of Apple as an industry giant, iWoz presents a no-holds-barred, rollicking, firsthand account of the humanist inventor who ignited the computer revolution.

©2006 Steve Wozniak (P)2006 Tantor Media, Inc.

Honest 5 star for WOZ and Patrick Lawlor

Would you listen to iWoz again? Why?

I am listening again, the WOZ story is exceptional, but also the narrator Patrick Lawlor is very skilled.

Modern Day Inventor

What made the experience of listening to iWoz the most enjoyable?

Growing up during the same time the author did and knowing, personally that what he was saying was how it really happened. Remembering how the world was changed..

What other book might you compare iWoz to and why?

Paul Allen, Idea Man......or Steve Jobs biography....or Ghost in the Wires. All are about beginning of the modern computer age.

Which scene was your favorite?

When he worked with his son as a small child, teaching him and then went on to teach other kids and ignite their imaginations.

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

He helped change the world...forever.....and he continues to make a difference.

Any additional comments?

no.

Lots of Laughs

This was a fun read. I laughed out loud so many times. Interesting story and nice history of computers. Nice to see the personal side of growing up as a computer engineer.

The performance was good. The story was good. I was always interested in the back story that never made it to the mainstream.

We Love WOZ

You can hear Woz telling it, the narrator almost sounds like him.Good insight into a great person.

Loved it!

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

The wizard rocks!

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

No, I really enjoyed splitting it up.

Any additional comments?

I really loved the technical detail. As a programmer I could really relate to his passion!

Read this before reading Job's Biography

If you're an IT geek like myself, this book is a necessary and fascinating part of learning your computer history. Steve Wozniak has been there, done that, did it first, did it with Jobs, and he gives it to you in full detail. And I mean full. If you don't know computers or don't understand electronics, you may get very lost in his detailed explanations. He tries to simplify them for the every day reader, but that may not be enough for some.

Technical explanations aside, Woz has some great stories to tell, and he's very proud of his accomplishments. The book tries to be inspiring, and it is, albeit with a slight sense of gloating.

The narrator's performance is good, but he emphasizes a few too many words, and at times it was a little stressful, but I got used to it over time.

Overall, I'm glad I read the history of Woz and how the whole Apple thing came together. Coincidentally, I was just getting to the point in this book where Woz meets Jobs when Jobs passed away. Now I must move on to Job's biography!

Great narrative of the Woz story!

A bit geeky at times but very entertaining. Seems to convey how Woz views his life events
A good read

Woz did this, then Woz did that, then Woz...

Steve Wozniak's a brilliant man who's lived a charmed life. And good for him. He was born with gifts, he developed those gifts, and he became one of the most successful people in the world. He's an amiable guy whose conflicts with others fall on the minor side (political disagreements with his father, running afoul with the authorities over pranks, etc.). In other words, he's not the tortured soul Steve Jobs was, and thus, his story's just not that interesting. I'm sure tech-heads will enjoy his play-by-play of all the things he created, but it's doubtful others will. Lastly, and this is probably not fair snice it's his autobiography, but he offers few insights into Jobs. This was far too long for my tastes; but, it needs to be emphasized, I'm not the target audience.

Truly inspiring

The narrator captured the energy of the man and beyond the interesting nature of the tale there was clearly heart behind this material. Even though I have no engineering background I appreciated every aspect of this audio book and particularly towards the end I realized how much I have in common with this man. I hope all beings feel inspired to live their purpose passionately.

Great to hear a narrator that matches the story

I was looking forward to hearing this story, as almost all the other accounts of Apple's history and of the contributions Woz made to that history have been rife with errors and author bias.

But having net and spoken with Woz a number of times, I was well aware of his child-like wonder and enthusiasm. So when I started the audiobook, Patrick Lawlor immediately captured Woz's essence, and kept me connected throughout the book.

Gina Smith also managed to distill a very complicated and involved story into a lovely, amazing and easy to understand journey.

I absolutely adored bother the text and the audio. Bravo and brava.