I just finished the new book. To my mind, it provides a fair appraisal of the complexion of a person whose every though, every quote, and every decision has been scrutinized for several decades. I had the fortune to spend 26 years, beginning in 1985, working in software start-ups, constantly under the invent or die paridigm in which someone like a Steve Jobs comes to stardom. I worked for the same CEO in three consequetive companies throughout that 26 year period; probably one of the longest running continuous partnerships in the history of the fast-paced and ever changing technology industry. He's a UC Berkley grad, and a Harvard MBA (was there at the same time as Bill Gates), and is a brilliant and driven entrepreneur and CEO. I recall shouting matches in meetings, cold dismissals of people who were lazy in their thinking, and a relentless drive to pull us all forward into a future he often single-handedly invented. Very much a portrait that would match Steve Jobs. And yet, one of the most caring and human people I've ever known; a Buddist, a deep thinker, and someone who would go out of his way to serve his employees, beyond the workplace. To anyone on the receiving end of his intense and intellectual scrutiny, I can see them walking away dismissing him as nothing more than an egotistical asshole. But that was the farthest from the truth understood by those of us knew him for decades. I imagine the reputation of Jobs was formed in the same manner, and wholly undeserved of the actual man.
I thought so too. Even from Isaacson's book, clearly there were many people who deeply loved him and understood him.
I'm sincerely not seeing such a huge difference from Isaacson, based on this review. More interviews with people close to Jobs, which is great, but "dispelling myths" - how? If I had to encapsulate Isaacson's depiction of Jobs it would be exactly as described in this review, "half genius, half asshole", and with a definite sense of evolution, maturity and growing respect for the team around him as he got older.
Can anyone who has now read both describe in a nutshell how this is so different in its depiction of Jobs' personality?
I've purchased the audiobook and am really excited to start it.
Issacson only mentioned NeXT. This book definitely covers a lot of it.
It's not "dispelling" anything. Lots of Isaacson's book is okay. But these writers had something he didn't: a firsthand knowledge of Jobs at NeXT on, a real understanding of the industry as a whole, and of course, cooperation and interviews from the people who actually knew him best. It's not Isaacson v. Schlender, it's "in addition to." My reaction so far is that the failure of Jobs in 1986 was his narcissism and jerkishness. He was mostly a different man by 1997. He had learned to be a leader, and how to impress any board of directors he might have.
Correct. Being in the industry looking out, those not in it have truly fabricated a world far more amazing than what actually exists.
In a valley chalk full of start ups NeXT and Apple stand out as a business failure/business success but ignored in the mire is the fact that without the failure the success never happens. More importantly, the place considered a failure was actually far more intense and interesting to work within than the success.
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I thought so too. Even from Isaacson's book, clearly there were many people who deeply loved him and understood him.
Issacson only mentioned NeXT. This book definitely covers a lot of it.
Correct. Being in the industry looking out, those not in it have truly fabricated a world far more amazing than what actually exists.
In a valley chalk full of start ups NeXT and Apple stand out as a business failure/business success but ignored in the mire is the fact that without the failure the success never happens. More importantly, the place considered a failure was actually far more intense and interesting to work within than the success.
Maybe someone should make a movie from this book instead.