Walter Isaacson Considering Expanding Steve Jobs Biography

[janstett]

What I find the hardest to come to terms with, concerning his personality, is his rudeness. I think he could have been just as successful without scathing person attacks. I think a lot of people might point to that and say "see, Steve was an ******, so that's how good businesses are built." But I think it's more complex. I think he could have been just as effective, making hard decisions and giving people "bad news" without the intentionally wounding comments.

I agree with this. I read the book in an approach that I wanted inspiration and leadership, looking at it as a business case study, especially the return to Apple and the miraculous turnaround.

I interrupted my reading of the Skunk Works book by Ben Rich (the guy who succeeded the legendary Kelley Johnson) to read the Jobs bio. Both guys were hard-nosed, no nonsense types. Also interesting how quality was #1 with Jobs and fast execution was #1 with Johnson, both legendary men with different priorities. But my god Jobs was an ass.

The way everybody was either a rock star or trash... The way he pitted the Mac team against the Apple II team (which was repeated after his return with Fadell and the iPod guys)... The way he froze people out (including Woz)... The way he just pretended things he didn't like (such as his daughter or his cancer) didn't exist.

It's a complex story, because there was definitely some business saavy and lessons to be learned, but Steve really was not a good person.

 

[divinox]

Given that I was moderately happy, but not thrilled, with the first edition, I would never pay for the addendum. As John Siracusa said, 'Jobs picked the wrong guy.' I hope he eventually open sources his interview so that someone with better technical curiosity can dig deeper.
But I'm curious... will the iBooks version automatically download the updated version? I'd even consider it fair to offer the addendum as an 'in App' purchase if reasonable.

Open sourcing interviews would be somewhat shady from an integrity perspective. Jobs gave Isaacson an exclusive, not the world. Legally, i guess the family might be able to extend the rights though.

On topic: Milking like this is lame; I'm surprised Jobs didn't make sure it wouldn't happen.

----------

I agree with this. I read the book in an approach that I wanted inspiration and leadership, looking at it as a business case study.

I interrupted my reading of the Skunk Works book by Ben Rich (the guy who succeeded the legendary Kelley Johnson) to read the Jobs bio. Both guys were hard-nosed, no nonsense types. But my god Jobs was an ass.

The way everybody was either a rock star or trash... The way he pitted the Mac team against the Apple II team (which was repeated after his return with Fadell and the iPod guys)... The way he froze people out (including Woz)... The way he just pretended things he didn't like (such as his daughter or his cancer) didn't exist.

It's a complex story, because there was definitely some business saavy and lessons to be learned, but Steve really was not a good person.

In the words of Gates: he was fundamentally flawed (as a person). Think theres quite a bit of truth in that. Then again, he was brilliant enough to (eventually) get away with it.

----------

I will probably end up buying it if it's actually released, but it's clear that the book was released as it was (unfinished) at the time that it was solely to capitalize on his death.

My guess is that the publisher was pressing to release it early just in case they couldn't sell as many copies once the news of his death and the memorials died down two or three months after the fact. I, for one, wish they would've waited and released a finished product two or three months later.

I've never heard of a biographer saying they're contemplating an addendum to a book they wrote that was released less than two months prior -- especially when they had all of the information at the time the first book was released. It's not like this is a continually evolving story that's changed since the first book was released. This just sounds like a money grab for the author and publisher and it's extremely tacky.

This. Hopefully its in violation of the original contract. Then he'll be stuck writing some crummy "my take on Jobs" carp.

 

[bankshot]

I really would have liked more details on the NeXT years, as well as the long transition from NeXTStep to OS X. But I suppose that's more about the people working on those things and the technologies, rather than Steve Jobs himself.

I agree that the level of detail in the first part of the book (up to being ousted) was much better than what came after that. Trying to cram too many big things into the rest of it, while not devoting enough attention and detail to each. You'd think 600+ pages would be enough, but I was really disappointed to find that well over 100 of that was just the index!

 

[janstett]

I also want to add that Jobs spent his teen and adult years looking for "enlightenment" but ironically he never found it.

Mostly because he was a narcissist. He only cared about enlightening himself and never considered other people in the equation.

He's actually a great study in delusional narcissism. I was surprised by just how dysfunctional he turned out to be. He was more than just an ass, I think the guy needed help. Felt bad for his parents.

 

[admanimal]

I agree that the level of detail in the first part of the book (up to being ousted) was much better than what came after that.

That's because almost all of the material about the original Mac years was (poorly) paraphrased from the excellent Revolution in the Valley book (the content of which is also available for free at www.folklore.org).

 

[celo48]

Of course he is. Nev rev means more money I am sure he will come up with something else after the rev2.

 

[divinox]

I also want to add that Jobs spent his teen and adult years looking for "enlightenment" but ironically he never found it.

Mostly because he was a narcissist. He only cared about enlightening himself and never considered other people in the equation.

He's actually a great study in delusional narcissism. I was surprised by just how dysfunctional he turned out to be. He was more than just an ass, I think the guy needed help. Felt bad for his parents.

/eastern hat on

No one who went away looking for enlightenment ever came back having found it. Enlightenment is not something you find. Only in not-looking for it can one ever not-find it.

/eastern hat off.

As for turned out, what is to say he wasn't always like that? Personally, i feel more sorry for him than anything else. Can't have been easy. Or then again maybe it was, cause he just "didn't get it"...

 

[63dot]

Of course he is. Nev rev means more money I am sure he will come up with something else after the rev2.

The first version could be SJ the jerk, and then SJ the not so jerky jerk, and rev. 3 could be SJ the typical CEO who turned Apple around.

I think with the passing of time, SJ will be remembered more for what he did as a leader than his personal shortcomings. History should focus on the things he did in business, but failures as well as successes. He's not the only deadbeat day or bully and it would certainly be inaccurate to be remembered mostly for those attributes. Does anybody talk about the fact that he finally made amends with his daughter? ... well, no that just doesn't sell books, does it? For now, the tale of a self-made, deadbeat dad, college dropout turned visionary billionaire sounds most juicy.

 

[dernhelm]

Geez dude, the book doesn't need to get any longer. That much I CAN say.

 

[ProVideo]

I agree with this. I read the book in an approach that I wanted inspiration and leadership, looking at it as a business case study, especially the return to Apple and the miraculous turnaround.

I interrupted my reading of the Skunk Works book by Ben Rich (the guy who succeeded the legendary Kelley Johnson) to read the Jobs bio. Both guys were hard-nosed, no nonsense types. Also interesting how quality was #1 with Jobs and fast execution was #1 with Johnson, both legendary men with different priorities. But my god Jobs was an ass.

The way everybody was either a rock star or trash... The way he pitted the Mac team against the Apple II team (which was repeated after his return with Fadell and the iPod guys)... The way he froze people out (including Woz)... The way he just pretended things he didn't like (such as his daughter or his cancer) didn't exist.

It's a complex story, because there was definitely some business saavy and lessons to be learned, but Steve really was not a good person.

Steve Jobs might have been an ******* in many regards, but he had the foresight and will to get away with it and back it up. My fear is that the Michael Scotts of the world will look to him for inspiration in running an office or company and make bad situations only worse where nothing is gained.

 

[dernhelm]

In the words of Gates: he was fundamentally flawed (as a person). Think theres quite a bit of truth in that. Then again, he was brilliant enough to (eventually) get away with it.

I love this quote from Bill Gates who IMHO was also fundamentally flawed as a person. He turned himself around a bit after leaving MS, however.

 

[Macdick]

Book

Who is Steve Jobs???

 

[63dot]

I love this quote from Bill Gates who IMHO was also fundamentally flawed as a person. He turned himself around a bit after leaving MS, however.

Great point. It's funny with a comment like that coming from Gates. Maybe SJ was the bigger jerk, but Gates is by no means the nice guy in all of this.

 

[divinox]

I love this quote from Bill Gates who IMHO was also fundamentally flawed as a person. He turned himself around a bit after leaving MS, however.

Without knowing either, i'd say that they play in completely different leagues when it comes to being flawed as a person. That said, one must remember that part of Jobs genius was his persona; and just the same with Bill. Truly, they were both great men - well, one still is - just in extremely different ways. If i were to have one as a friend, i know without doubt who i'd pick though ; )

----------

Great point. It's funny with a comment like that coming from Gates. Maybe SJ was the bigger jerk, but Gates is by no means the nice guy in all of this.

I think the difference is that while Gates certainly was cut-throat when it came to business, he probably was and is more "human" in life. Jobs were... Jobs.

 

[63dot]

I think the difference is that while Gates certainly was cut-throat when it came to business, he probably was and is more "human" in life. Jobs were... Jobs.

At least in my lifetime, I don't think anybody personified cut-throat more than Bill Gates. I am sure we can all find some 19th century robber baron who was more "ambitious" than Gates.

 

[Glideslope]

I'd prefer to know more about Steve as a family man. His family was barely mentioned. I don't expect him to grill his youngest on how dad was, but you can interview his oldest and wife more.

I thought the biography was below average.

Doubtful we will ever get inside the family. It was Steve's most valued request to leave them alone.

Walter will not attempt anything other than perhaps something like "Steve's Last 24hrs."

Maybe the sister will reveal more about the alleged "Oh My God" from Steve at the moment of passing. Who knows.

Just leave Laurene, Reed, Eve, and Erin alone for at least the 1st year.
Walter gets it.

 

[Arran]

So will the next version be the "S" version?

I was thinking, "Steve Jobs... one more thing".

 

[CrackedButter]

How many versions will I need to buy to get the full Steve Jobs story?

I heard Isaacson has been speaking to George Lucas about versions. I'll buy the last one thanks.

I want Isaacson to speak to John Siricusa first though. He'd give him some feedback on his next book.

 

[pwhitehead]

Expand? How much more is there to know about jobs then the media and the world have demonized him has? Is a product with jobs name on it really making a good living for you? One book is good enough, wait for the movie and then think about a part two!

 

[notjustjay]

His overuse of certain words annoyed me. I think he used the word "cherubic" several times when once is more than enough. "Prickly" was overused the most when describing Jobs. There are a few other words he overused that I can't remember right now, but while reading it became very noticeable.

"At the meeting, Steve started crying."

 

[flux73]

Maybe the sister will reveal more about the alleged "Oh My God" from Steve at the moment of passing. Who knows.

I don't usually harp on minor misquotes, but this one matters a bit more. Mona Simpson actually said that he said "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow." No mention of God.

 

[Pair]

Steve Jobs really did have an impact on Walter, hold back a few features for a future model.


I listened to the audiobook, but what really annoyed me, was the constant referencing to the REALITY DISTORTION FIELD. The way it was constantly used, along with not attempts to explain, but 'actual' explanations as to why Steve was the way he was. Always using the abandonment line.

 

[NakedPaulToast]

I'm about 60% through and have a huge appreciation for his business, artistic and technology sense. But he was a nasty man.

I don't know how anybody could come away from reading his biography and feel good about him.

 

[korgri]

didja hear?

Isaacson cutting a deal with Vegas casinos, there are gonna be Steve Jobs impersonators doing "MacWorld" shows: "Insanely Great!". Showstoppers:"One More Thing"; "Think Different" Opens with some little blond haired athlete chick running up the aisle with a sledge hammer, flings it at the stage. Recreates announcements of the iPhone, iPad. Audience looking as mesmerized/enchanted as they did at the real thing. Chorus of "Insanely Great"song: "It's on the site, available now; oh wow,
oh wow, oh wow!"
Don't laugh, it'll probably happen. Noah Wylie signs up for 26 weeks at the Bellagio as Steve Jobs in "Insanely Great!"
At least the costume budget should be pretty modest.

 

[Cougarcat]

I've already read that and I agree that it's quite beautiful. But I don't see how that contradicts what I wrote. You and at least one other poster seems to find what I wrote to be offensive, which it's not meant to be.

The point is, there is no conspiracy theory regarding the timing of his death.