iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business

This book chronicles the life of Steve Jobs through the early part of the 2000's. It talks about everything from his estranged daughter, his unique lifestyle, the founding of Apple and his forced exit. Where the book was most interesting (to me) was when Jobs returned to Apple and how his approach had changed. He was still driven and passionate about his goals for Apple but he was more aware of the management aspects of his role as CEO.
iCon demonstrates how the flawed but driven man reshaped the world of technology. The book further demonstrates that, with his passing in Oct 2011, Steve Jobs will be sorely missed by Apple and the world of technology.

“An unauthorized and unflinching portrait of the phenomenon behind Apple” says the back cover. Unauthorized, it definitely is, but I am not sure about the unflinching part, because the book does not reveal anything that an Apple enthusiast doesn’t already know.

The book sketches Steve Jobs’ intriguing life. It begins with RSJ’s (RSJ stands for Real Steve Jobs. If you don’t know what I am talking about, visit this site.) birth and sheds light on his childhood, his college days, founding of Apple, and RSJ’s and Apples’ growth. It doesn’t show the readers a personal side of RSJ. It only paints RSJ through events that happened in the public. List of events in RSJ arranged in chronological order interspersed with show more conversations with a few people - that’s what the book is about. The book paints a contradicting picture - it quotes a few people saying working with Steve Jobs was a nightmare, some people say he was a terror, the book also describes Jobs as a charismatic figure, who improvised on all his speeches and held the audience captivated.

A biography need not be just a journal of events in a lifetime. Readers want to know about RSJ from a different perspective, his human side, if I can say that. Boardroom meetings, RSJ’s charismatic talks in MacWorld meetings, his break-up, his addiction with Zen - all this is available elsewhere too. What a biography should give something that is hidden from the public. This book can probably be forgiven because it says it is unauthorized. If not from Steve’s mouth himself, but a different perspective could have been given by including conversations from more people who have worked with Steve.

My expectations from this book was different from what the book actually gave me. I was expecting to know how Jobs managed Apple, his management tactics and his style of working. I was expecting a peephole to Apple’s world through RSJ’s eyes. This is not what I got. In fact, there is hardly any mention of how Jobs built this company and took it to where it is now. This book is like reading lots of Page 3 articles on Steve Jobs. How much of Page 3 can you take in, anyway? This book has nothing that I could take back home. It only leaves me more knowledgeable about Steve Jobs. Were my expectations flawed? May be.

If you want to know Steve Jobs better, pick this up. If you expect to know how Steve Jobs managed Apple, this is not the book for you. show less

This is an unauthorised book about one of the most influential computer superstars in our fledgling industry of digital development. What made me want to read it was when I heard Steve Jobs kicking up a fuss about the publication of the book, which of course promptly promoted more publicity. Even if you are not interested in reading about the history of the development of computers from the mid 70s onward, this is still a very readable look at a man who knows how to stage show and promote new ideas and products. He is evangelical but is no angel. This tome has been written from the viewpoint of many 'acquaintances'. It is not terribly flattering most of the time but it is an interesting take on a period of history that has so influenced show more how we live and work with computers today. show less

Read it in one go, great book. Steve Jobs comes out as a shite early on, but a smart and successful one who mellows and turns out OK in the end. Great historical perspective.

Kind of glib, narration was excitable. I had no idea of the connection of Pixar and Steve Jobs. I admit that I wasn't particularly interested in those movies either (except the Incredibles, but I figured that was due to Brad Bird).

I was hoping that there was some pun contained in iCon, like "I con", but there wasn't.

Pros: good engaging bio writing style
Cons: lack of real personal/insider information after Steve's recent success

Steve's bio. Slightly dramatized, but thats ok. Intro and the last chapter r my favs. Addicted, need it every 2 months.