Brent Schlender

I didn't read the Isaacson book, and I'm glad of it, because then I might not have read this one. It presents what seems like a pretty clear view of Jobs, from everything I know, and really focuses on the lessons he sort of learned during his years away from Apple, where he founded the less-than-successful Next, and the wildly successful Pixar. It talks a lot about his management style, and how that evolved. Jobs was maybe not as out of control when he returned to Apple as he was when he was forced out, though plenty of those personality traits remained. He was, in the years back at Apple, totally driven by more or less only 2 things: Apple and his family. These authors covered Jobs from the early 80s up until his death, and Schlender was very friendly with him. Jobs certainly wasn't a perfect person, and even in the last years, he mistreated some important people (notably Fred Anderson, who saved Apple economically during the disastrous mid 90s). This is an engaging read, even if it does sag a bit at times (I would have liked more detail in the chapters on OS X and the return to Apple, and the iPod).… (more)

This book focuses on Steve Jobs' business career, but offers a few interesting insights into Jobs' personal life as well. His beginnings as founder of Apple, being fired from the company he created, and his eventual return make for a story fit for fiction. The authors in this book key into Jobs as a figure of growth, someone who learned from his own mistakes and grew in his later years into an effective visionary and leader that he wasn't when he started Apple. I particularly enjoyed learning about the history of computing and Apple in particular, as this book offered a good overview of the company's recent history. A good read for those interested in technology and leadership.… (more)