One Sentence Summary
This book is a biography of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, Inc., as penned by the acclaimed biographer, Walter Isaacson.
Book Genre
The book is a biography and a memoir.
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of this book is the life and times of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, Inc., and one of the most influential people of the twentieth century.
Key Ideas
Key takeaways: the book reveals how Steve Jobs’ vision, drive, ambition, and creative genius changed the face of personal computing, propelled Apple into becoming the world’s most valuable company, and made him one of the most influential people of the 20th century.
- The book explores Jobs’ childhood, the formation of Apple, his successes and failures, his struggle with cancer, his complicated relationships with colleagues, friends, and family, and his impact on the world.
- There are many insights in the book about Jobs’ insistence on perfection, his ruthlessness in business, his control of the creation of Apple products, and his commitment to the company.
- The book provides insight into Jobs’ creativity and innovation, his passion for challenging the status quo, and his ability to motivate people and change the world.
Main Parts of the Book and Short Summary
Part One: This part of the book covers Jobs’ childhood, his upbringing, and his early years in Silicon Valley.
Part Two: This part dives deep into the founding of Apple, Inc., the development of the Mac and other iconic products, Jobs’ success as CEO, and the launch of the iPod and the iPhone.
Part Three: This part covers Jobs’ battle with cancer and his struggles with Apple’s board of directors. It also details his return to Apple as CEO and the company’s subsequent reinvention.
Part Four: This part of the book examines Jobs’ difficult relationships with his family and colleagues, and the finality of his passing.
Key Takeaways
- Steve Jobs was a visionary who transformed personal computing, spurred technological innovation, and disrupted the way products are designed, manufactured, and marketed.
- Jobs’ control of the creation of Apple products and his insistence on perfection drove the company to achieve industry-leading success.
- The book gives insight into Jobs’ complicated relationships with his colleagues, family, and friends.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Walter Isaacson is a US journalist and biographer, who is also a former professor and executive at the Aspen Institute. He has had over five best-selling biographies, including that of Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Kissinger, and Steve Jobs.
Target Audience
This book is mainly targeted at people interested in reading about the life and times of Steve Jobs, and gaining an insight into the business acumen and creativity of the man.
Publisher and First Publication Date
The book was published by Simon & Schuster and first published on October 24, 2011.