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

Well worth it.

Great story, good enough reading and writing. Steve Jobs is the star here. Worth listening to for so many reasons- stick to your vision, hard work pays off, you can be talented and a jerk, etc.
I wasn't initially interested in reading about Steve, although I am an Apple fan, but friends recommended the print book for the story, and I wasn't disappointed. Highly recommended.

Wacko Jobs

What made the experience of listening to Steve Jobs the most enjoyable?

Great to hear about the bizarre life of Steve Jobs...even better that Dylan Baker was the reader. I've never been disappointed with hearing anything from him.

What did you like best about this story?

The background of the company directly related to the personality of Jobs.

A Deep Look Behind The Curtain...

Isaacson does a great job peeling back the curtain on the life of one the most influential characters of our time.

If you are "in" the tech world, a lot of character flaws and tales highlighted by the author may not be new, but if you are a just user of Jobs' products it's a very eye opening account.

There is no doubt this is one of the most in-depth and complete biographies on Steve Jobs, but I don't believe their was anything new (of great value) shared in the book.

Wether you knew the life and trials of Jobs, or not, this is a fantastic look at the ups, downs and ups of a very influential character.

I also suggest you read 'Icon' as a further look into the 'darker' side of Steve Jobs.

Excellent book. Shoddy narration.

This is a great book. Isaacson researched well, writes well, and explains everything. It was hard to stop listening and I was disappointed when it ended.

The narration isn't very good. No attention is paid to tone and the quantity and quality of mispronunciations is embarrassing. At this level, it's more the fault of the producer and editor, but it still makes for a distracting experience.

So good!

It's hard to explain how important this book is, it's one of those things that are difficult to put into words. It's very well done and balanced in it's portrayal of Steve Jobs, and because of that you get to experience and learn so much about the man. I see it as an important read for everyone. Both to learn about the history of the technology movement but also to learn what business people can do, beyond a motivation for money.

Excellent!!

Would you listen to Steve Jobs again? Why?

This is one of the best books that I've ever read or listened to. The author did an amazing job of letting us know a genius. It's fascinating. CF

Any additional comments?

It's worth every penny.

awesome book

Would you listen to Steve Jobs again? Why?

I have heard of this book a long time ago. I finally find the chance to listen to it.

Have you listened to any of Dylan Baker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

yes. It is kind of funny.

Good biography...

Great book, written well with good flow. The chronological order of events was a little bit off and that could be hard to follow at times.

Riveting

I put off reading this at first but, buying my first iPhone, then iPad, I became more and more curious about the innovation and pure simplicity behind the products. Steve was truly a visionary and a monumental jerk all at the same time. I find it fascinating that the folks with which he was the most brutal are the ones that look back and credit him with pushing them to achieve higher than they ever imagined. Mr. Isaacson did a seamless job of weaving the story together and telling it from all sides. Dylan Baker did a fine job narrating as well.

Intriguing the whole way through.

Thank you so much to the author for so meticulously documenting every aspect of such a very interesting man. What a treasure and important piece of history you left. I enjoyed every minute of it. Narrator did a good job too.