After reading this book, it is hard not to have feelings or form opinions about Steve Jobs. But to put it simply, he was human. He was a multifaceted, passionate, cold, visionary, calculating, selfish, loving, constant learner, troubled, imperfect human being. But who's perfect. We are all built and wired differently, but when Steve was made the model was broken and I don't think we'll ever see another like him again. He had little to no social graces and that filter most people have between their brain and their mouth, Steve didn't have that. He always felt it was his job to always tell the truth and what he thought. And with Steve, there was only black or white, right or wrong, genius or idiot, perfect or the worst ever. He only wanted to surround himself with 'A' players. Anyone else only took away from the excellent. He had a firm belief that the best way to provide an excellent product was to control 100% of the experience. He did not believe in giving the customer what they wanted, because in his words "they don't know what they want until we show them." He like to quote Henry Ford saying "If I asked the customer what they wanted, they would just say they wanted a faster horse." More times then not he would give you his brutal unforgiving opinion, whether you wanted it or not. Steve was always searching for peace in his life, which I do not think he ultimately found. Being in the technology profession myself, it was very interesting to see Steve's point of view on the direction of the technology. Where it started, where it is, and where he envisions it going. Most of the book I though he was nothing short of a jerk. I still think that. But as he knew his life was coming to a close, he did make an effort to right some of the wrongs he felt he committed. That is why I said he was an imperfect human. This was a very well written book. Anyone interested in technology, apple, or Steve Jobs will like this book.
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