Guest blog by BWB Change Agent, Activist & Author, Pattie Baker
You think you get 80 years. Steve Jobs’ recent death knocked the wind out of that one, and snapped back into focus for me that we have one day (this day) to live our fullest lives. Jobs had barely been on my radar–I have never owned an Apple product, and I’ve walked into an Apple store exactly once, while on vacation, simply to check my email (I don’t even text). Yet, I saw that face looking up at me at the last of the big-box book stores. And for some reason, he spoke to me (smart marketing decision, that face). I requested the book from my husband as a holiday gift, and I received it.
Thus began my life transformation. First, let’s start by saying that I read books rather slowly, not because I’m a conscientious, deliberate reader but because by the time night comes, the opening of the book and the almost-immediate closing of the eyes have become a Pavlovian response. It is common for me to dog-ear the same page day after day after day. So picking up this 600-page behemoth elicited snickers from my family.
Yet Steve quickly became my constant companion. He rode with me in the car and stood in line with me at the post office. He walked with me to the supermarket and I read while I strolled (carefully). He even kept me company during that annual three-hour mammogram/ultrasound appointment where I mostly shuffle from waiting room to waiting room in a blue gown, hoping to dodge the family-history bullet for another year. Two other women brought him as well, and thus began what became a common occurrence over this timeframe for me–the recognition of a secret society of people completely addicted to this book. We smiled at each other, we talked briefly, and we collectively dove back in, almost sorry when our names were called.
I heard some recurring comments while I was reading the book all over town. “I can’t put it down.” “Can you believe this story?” “Every single page is a page turner.” “Don’t you just love it?” And even, “Time to go to bed with Steve” from a friend who sent me a photo of the book sitting on her pillow, with its jacket off. She and I had discovered we were both reading it as we dug in a food pantry garden together, and out of the blue she whispered, “Have you read the Steve Jobs book yet?” Trowels got the towel, and it was all about Steve from that moment on.
So, the book. Let me tell you briefly about the book. First of all, the story is completely fascinating, how Steve was adopted, what happened at college, the whole apple farm thing, the drugs, the friends he made, the famous tinkering in the garage, and the building, demise, and rebuilding of an empire. Oh, wait, not just one empire, but two. You do know about Pixar, too, don’t you?
The guy was completely socially inappropriate. If you’re anything like me, you’ll talk about the fruit diet thing and the way he smelled for days. The guy was nasty, as in extremely nasty (my personal conclusion is that you can be a genius and change the world while still being nice, and I’m holding onto that). The guy simply made up his own rules (um, yeah, you really do need to get a license plate when you drive a car) and he truly believed that he could bend reality, not just view it in his own way but actually bend it, change it.
Goodness, let me not go too far without giving Walter Isaacson, the author of Steve Jobs, the major shout-out he deserves. Although mostly chronological, this book suddenly isn’t. Although mostly told from an observers’ position, this book suddenly welcomes Isaacson dipping in and out in the first-person. Although presenting a whole lot of technology details, Isaacson never once caused me to glaze over or skim–not once, in 600 pages. In fact, by the time I finished reading this book, I found myself wondering about Albert Einstein, Ben Franklin, and Henry Kissinger (all biographies Isaacson has written). Hint: If you’re a high school teacher, get this man’s books into your students’ hands immediately. They will fall in love with the power of storytelling and the relevance of history.
And now, back to Steve. Yes, now his story is history. But I suspect there is not one person who puts down that book who won’t be changed, and who won’t somehow carry forward the best of the man. For me, I already see his impact. I’ve quit some things. I’ve pursued some others. I’ve lost a little patience. I’ve spoken out a bit more. I’ve gotten in some trouble. I’ve lived a little louder. I’ve celebrated my passion and reconsidered some weaknesses as possibly strengths. I’ve dreamed a bigger dream. I’ve stretched. And it’s only been a month.
I would be so bold to say that Steve Jobs, by Water Isaacson, is the best book I’ve read in my life, and having read it now, at this precise crossroads on my personal and professional journey, will prove to change its entire outcome, in ways I can only right now imagine. The important thing? I’m imagining more. In that way, Steve continues to be my constant companion.
You can immediately pay it forward by ordering Steve Jobs, by Water Isaacson, from Better World Books, and help literacy projects close to home and around the world as a result. In fact, delivering easy-to-access, affordable books (specifically text books) was Jobs’ next goal. Interestingly, that’s actually how Better World Books got its start.
Wow, Pattie’s post makes me so interested that I am buying the book from our site right now. Have you read it? Did you have the same life-changing experience as Pattie? What lessons did you learn and how are you imagining more? Please share your thoughts below. Thank you!
*Note* The above guest post is from a dear friend of Better World Books, Pattie Baker. Pattie is a writer specializing in sustainability. She writes FoodShed Planet (www.foodshedplanet.com), and for corporations and publications. Her book, “Food for My Daughters,” is available at Better World Books. This content does not necessarily reflect the views of Better World Books (as our lawyers make sure we say). We love having guest bloggers and invite you to email [email protected] if you are interested in covering a book or topic on the BWB Blog. Thank you, Pattie, your thoughts and actions consistently challenge and inspire us to be better!
This is a wonderfully written review. I’ve had this book on my table for 2 weeks. Now I can’t wait to be done with work today so I can start it tonight. Thanks Pattie, I’m so excited!
I’m 50% of the way through it on my kindle and like the reviewer, I take it everywhere with me, to yoga class in case there is a short wait, to lunch when I’m alone (of course) and to bed every night. I’m shocked at his horribly bad behavior towards others (not really surprised though) and in awe at the same time at his intuition and genius when it came to clearly seeing the potential of things. I do believe that it could be a life altering book. One that pushes you to realize that sometimes it only takes faith in yourself to change your world and sometimes your faith and belief changes the world for other people too. I like the idea anyway. Let’s see what the last half has in store. A fair amount of credit goes to the author for his impartiality as I have no doubt that someone like Jobs had a way of manipulating so successfully without most people even realizing it, but I don’t believe he was successfully able to do that with Isaacson! Really enjoying the book.
GREAT. Now I have turned on another friend to Steve and she is emailing me daily about this and that. It was a fascinating read and the writer is brilliant with his words. I enjoyed the book more than almost any other book in YEARS!!!
It’s been on my wishlist for awhile now. Pattie gave me the push to make the purchase and become inspired by Steve too. Thanks!
Thank you all for taking the time to comment! And, FYI, Debbie emailed me to tell me she picked up the book this past Friday and didn’t put it down all weekend until it was done!
I’m almost afraid to tell you this–my friend just lent me Isaacson’s Einstein book, and the first paragraph is terrific! Here we go again!
Patty,
Check out what is going on at FoxComm where most Apple products are made. I don’t think he cared much about human rights when it came to selling his products en masse to the world.
Thank,!
Carolyn
Carolyn: yeah, I know. 🙁 There are a million bad things to say about Steve–and lots of them are in the book. But for whatever reason, I was really moved by the good.
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