Apple Praises 'Becoming Steve Jobs' as 'Better Than Anything Else We've Seen'

[Tsuchiya]

So, again, why dismiss Cook being unhappy. His opinion means nothing? He was as close to Jobs as can be.

Isaacson may have hidden some less savory part of Jobs past, but he was also kinda weak in demonstrating why people would be so incredibly loyal to him and what made him so different from others, what is this passion that drove him. I think if he'd gone stronger on the negative AND positive, it would have been a more accurate book.

We're going to have to agree to disagree. Isaacson attempted to stay balanced, and trying to stay away from embellishment doesn't mean it wasn't an accurate book.

Also I didnt "dismiss" Cooks opinion. Merely said it was troubling. I understand it, I wouldn't want anything negative said about a friend of mine either. I do question why the top brass remained quiet about the Isaacson book for so long. Jobs himself commissioned the book, gave first hand interviews and allowed Isaacson to interview whoever he liked. It seems a fair portrayal.

 

[brinary001]

This kind of happened to me with my Grandmother. She passed away when I was 8 or 9. I had nothing but these vivid, glowing amazing memories of this fantastic woman that despite ailing health and a severely crippling cancer, she still did everything and anything to please us (her grandkids).

only 30 someodd years later, through various retellings, stories and accounts from her life (chronicled in some writing by interviews with others around her) did I learn that she really wasn't all that pleasant a woman. She was career driven. intense, bossy, pushy and made a lot of peoples lives miserable. She despised my father for marrying her daughter, and generally was not all around this pleasant woman that I remember.

do I hate that I have learned this? not at all. I'm finally happy to know the real her. To see that despite these faults, the love and care she gave us meant that much more in spite of everything.

Nobody does themselves justice by pretending something that isn't true, just for rosy happy funsies.

Wow that is certainly an interesting turn of events. But good on you for recognizing that your grandmother was, well, a grandmother, but a matriarch in her field and ruthless when she had to be. However, you are currently beating out some pretty high-ranking Apple execs for this realization.

This was not unlike Steve Jobs. While yes, he did have some family trouble (especially at first), he did put them first and treated them perfectly towards the end of his life.

 

[kalsta]

What this discussion is highlighting for me, is that all humans have faults—those we love, those we hate, and everyone in between. And one big fault humans tend to have, is to be over-simplistic in our opinions and judgements of others. He's a great guy. He's an ***hole. She's a wonderful woman. She's a *itch.

One thing I'm liking about this book so far, is that the authors are really trying to make the point that Steve Jobs is not so easily classified, and that the typical myths and legends haven't painted a very complete picture. They're going to some pains to capture the complexity of his character (both good and bad) and to set the scene for the conversion they believe he went through—his 'wilderness experience' if you like—which is the theme implied by the title itself, and explored early in the book. I'm still not very far through the book (having only just bought it on iBooks a few hours ago), but so far I have to say I'm liking it a lot.

 

[LordVic]

Wow that is certainly an interesting turn of events. But good on you for recognizing that your grandmother was, well, a grandmother, but a matriarch in her field and ruthless when she had to be. However, you are currently beating out some pretty high-ranking Apple execs for this realization.

This was not unlike Steve Jobs. While yes, he did have some family trouble (especially at first), he did put them first and treated them perfectly towards the end of his life.

Thats just the key. There's a duality here, Steve JObs was absolutely different people to different people.

in fact, almost everyone is. its human nature. We like certain people more than others and treat them differently. I know i try really REALLY hard not too, but it's always innevitable.

thats why when this book gets Apple's seal of approval, I don't look at it as "this is the true Steve Jobs, because thats fundamentally only half the story. This is the true Steve Jobs that he was to his friends an family and those he considered close friends.

There's nothing wrong with that, but it would be a lie to believe that was the ONLY Steve Jobs.

There was more facets to him than just that and for anyone to now take this book as gospel and ignore the other's is pure fanboy idolization at best. The truth of the matter is that he was a human being, and not some fictional singular dimensional character in some novel.

And it would be amiss to remember him only for the good, or only the bad, and not the human being he was.

 

[Keirasplace]

We're going to have to agree to disagree. Isaacson attempted to stay balanced, and trying to stay away from embellishment doesn't mean it wasn't an accurate book.

Also I didnt "dismiss" Cooks opinion. Merely said it was troubling. I understand it, I wouldn't want anything negative said about a friend of mine either. I do question why the top brass remained quiet about the Isaacson book for so long. Jobs himself commissioned the book, gave first hand interviews and allowed Isaacson to interview whoever he liked. It seems a fair portrayal.

Well, they seemingly didn't get to the current top Apple team. So, it can't be fair in portraying how he's seen by those that worked closest to him in his later years. They said they couldn't recognize the man they worked with, that's a major disconnect. Not all of them were his closest friends, though Cook undoubtedly was.

The fact it got rushed for release at his death makes your point about accuracy and fairness seem overblown. How would one even know if it was fair or balanced (that's the Fox news motto BTW!!).

Anyway, both books will be out and because of the timing, Isaacson' book will always have sold more than this latter one, whether it is fair or not makes no difference. Many will see the first book as definitive.

Getting all sides of the story and piecing it all together taking into account the various point of views and biases is probably the best way to go at it if one is looking for something as close to the truth as possible.

Knowing why people would really love working for him, despite his very big failings, is what's needed. Does this latter book does it, I don't know; I hope it does.

 

[chocolaterabbit]

All this rampant speculation as to what's in the book and what its biases are when no one here has finished it yet

 

[JPLC]

The fact that Isaacson's original book cover and title had to be redone after everyone said it was a horrible joke should have been a clue at the hastily done tripe that would be inside.

Image

That cover design is a crime!

 

[brinary001]

Thats just the key. There's a duality here, Steve JObs was absolutely different people to different people.

in fact, almost everyone is. its human nature. We like certain people more than others and treat them differently. I know i try really REALLY hard not too, but it's always innevitable.

thats why when this book gets Apple's seal of approval, I don't look at it as "this is the true Steve Jobs, because thats fundamentally only half the story. This is the true Steve Jobs that he was to his friends an family and those he considered close friends.

There's nothing wrong with that, but it would be a lie to believe that was the ONLY Steve Jobs.

There was more facets to him than just that and for anyone to now take this book as gospel and ignore the other's is pure fanboy idolization at best. The truth of the matter is that he was a human being, and not some fictional singular dimensional character in some novel.

And it would be amiss to remember him only for the good, or only the bad, and not the human being he was.

Truer words have never been spoken. I've read the Isaacson bio that showed him as being more of an ogre, and now I'd like to read this one which grants him more omission in his actions (if said actions are even mentioned). Then I'll have two sides to the story of him and Apple as a whole to help guide my view as accurately as possible.

 

[technosix]

Not a fan of narcissistic people, no matter how much they're worshipped I'll pass. Besides I have been an Apple shareholder/customer and know all I want to know. With some close friends that are life long Apple engineering experts still at the helm, I get live updates.

 

[kalsta]

thats why when this book gets Apple's seal of approval, I don't look at it as "this is the true Steve Jobs, because thats fundamentally only half the story. This is the true Steve Jobs that he was to his friends an family and those he considered close friends.

There's nothing wrong with that, but it would be a lie to believe that was the ONLY Steve Jobs.

There was more facets to him than just that and for anyone to now take this book as gospel and ignore the other's is pure fanboy idolization at best. The truth of the matter is that he was a human being, and not some fictional singular dimensional character in some novel.

And it would be amiss to remember him only for the good, or only the bad, and not the human being he was.

Have you read any of the book yet? Don't worry, in the chapters about his first tenure at Apple AND his time with NeXT, it doesn't gloss over the unlikeable aspects of his character. You guys who haven't read the book sure seem willing to make a lot of assumptions based on the article here!

All this rampant speculation as to what's in the book and what its biases are when no one here has finished it yet

Indeed! (I haven't finished it yet, but I've read enough to know that this isn't a one-sided glorification of the man.)

 

[furi0usbee]

Wow, BAD NARRATOR!!!!!!!

I bought this audiobook, turned it on, and wow, the narration SUX bad. The guy has random pauses, breaks where there shouldn't be breaks, and all around is just bad. It actually takes away from the book for me. I have audio books where the narrator gets you more into the book (Super Mario.. Nintendo), and this for sure is the opposite. I'm going to have a hard time getting through it.

 

[oliversl]

I actually got the impression that Isaacson admired Jobs by the end of it all. The fact that Cook was unhappy with it is troubling. Both Steve and his wife wanted an accurate portrayal and instructed Isaacson to paint the complete picture which he did. He could have been a lot harsher about certain aspects, such as the whole Lisa fiasco, but wasn't.

Both Steve and his wife wanted an accurate portrayal and instructed Isaacson to paint the complete picture which he did

Interesting and very valid point. Steve Jobs approved that biography when he was alive.