Steve Jobs
Asshole, crybaby, smelly hippie — and the man who bent reality to create the future.
A Flawed Visionary
Asshole, crybaby or smelly hippie? Steve Jobs can be described in many ways. He certainly was a flawed man, yet brilliant. The products he brought into this world disrupted whole industries — a result of always demanding the impossible.
Steve was adopted, and a sense of abandonment was a big theme in his life. One of the most moving parts of the book is when Steve's biological father casually mentions to his sister that "I had a restaurant once and this Steve Jobs character used to eat there all the time." Both not knowing they were family.
The Reality Distortion Field
He could bend reality, and make people believe they could achieve the impossible. In essence, this was because Jobs had an unshakable belief that the rules of the game didn't apply to him.
When a reporter asked about the two-year delay of his NeXT computer, Jobs' answer was: "It's not delayed, it's five years ahead of its time."
"He had this ability to focus on just two or three things and say no to everything else. This is a rare and valuable trait."
📺 Video Review
The Hippie Behind the Products
Steve's hygiene was a huge problem at Apple. He believed firmly that his diet — containing almost exclusively fruits — made it safe for him to not use deodorant or shower.
What really stood out for me in this book was how much of a hippie this guy actually was, and how the influence of his LSD experiences and eastern philosophy impacted on the products he created.
Want to see Jobs bringing his A-game? Watch the unveiling of the original iPhone on YouTube. Look how proud he is!
💡 Key Takeaway
Jobs was sold on the Zen Buddhist idea of detachment from material things. Still, he created tons of them — which might sound very paradoxical. But thinking more thoroughly about it, it's actually the other way around. The things he created have had a tremendously dematerializing effect on society. The iPod (with iTunes) replaced shelves filled with CDs. The iPhone replaced video players, cameras, photo albums, handheld gaming consoles, calculators — and more.
⚖️ Verdict
Excellent book! Probably my favorite biography of all time. Isaacson delivers a completely unflinching portrait — you'll love Jobs, hate him, and understand him, often in the same chapter. If you read one biography this year, make it this one.