iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon
This was an OK book, not great, not fabulous. Just OK. It was pretty interesting regarding the early days of Woz’s history and through the early years of Apple. Once he left Apple, the history became more disjointed and wasn’t as well written. Honestly, the latter third of the book was pretty dull, until the last chapter.
His advice to young engineers is pretty fascinating.
- Well, first you need to believe in yourself. Don’t waver.
- As an inventor, you need to see things in gray scale.
- Artists work best alone.
- Work Alone.
- You’re going to be the best able to design revolutionary products and features if you’re working on your own. Not on a committee. Not on a team.
- It’s so easy to doubt yourself, and it’s especially easy to doubt yourself when what you’re working on is at odds with everyone else in the world who thinks they know the right way to do things. Sometimes you can’t prove whether yo’re right or wrong. Only time can tell. But if you believe in your own power to objectively reason, that’s a key to happiness.
- It’s so rare to be able to see the future like that. I can’t promise it’ll happen to you. But when you see it, you knot it. If this ever happens to you, leap at the chance to get involved. Trust your instincts.
Steve and his co-author are reasonable storytellers, but it’s almost too conversational a book. I personally found it interesting at times, but I also felt that it was pretty slow going for much of the middle of the book. iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon
While the last chapter comes close to salvaging the book, I’m simply not sure it’s worth the read. My advice to someone reading the book: If you find yourself getting bored with the content, simply skip to the last chapter and read that.
Hectic-Dad’s rating (out of five)
