Why you should read Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal (Henry Wang)

Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different is a biography about Steve Jobs, one of the co-founders of Apple and a man who was known for the iPhone and iPad. In this book, the author describes Jobs’ interest in computers and the creation of Apple, one of today's largest tech companies. It started with Jobs and his good friend Steve Wozinak in Jobs’ parents’ garage and with some business ventures they created an alternative to the widely popular IBM machines running software designed by Microsoft. The book shows how Jobs pushed boundaries and created a hallmark for what people around today see as the Apple Logo. 

I have only read up to half of the book, which consists of three parts, mirroring Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Speech in 2005. This format is helpful to understand how Jobs worked his life and how he became what many people today see as an influential leader. This sort of style gives the reader a better visualization on how Jobs managed the company and his vision beyond. Using Jobs’ own words and building off that gave a good setting for what the author then presented. One of the most famous stories Jobs had shared was how he dropped out of college and took one class on calligraphy which at the time seemed useless, but later proved essential when designing the first Apple computer, the Macintosh. These fascinating stories presented readers possibilities for them to connect to the text. 

Jobs’ character was well recounted throughout the book. His personality is described as harsh and strict with mile high standards, but proved to be effective as it gave great results, such as the first iPhone and iPad. In an interview he says that, “These are all smart people I work with, and any of them could get a top job at another place if they were truly feeling brutalized. But they don’t” showing just how impactful his high standards can be. Applying that to other things will show a reader just how important it is to build strict, but strong relationships with coworkers, as it leads to better results and even higher expectations, sometimes being both good and bad for others. Reading this book will help readers understand leadership and how to effectively inspire others, just like jobs. 

    Jobs' work has had a huge impact on society, defining how to be a leader and how to run a business. His companies such as Pixar and Apple have continued to change people ever since, revolutionizing the movie and tech industry. This book is relevant to our current era as it shows how Jobs’ style of leadership is effective and how it can be used on a multitude of things in life, from sports to teaching. Reading about Jobs’ life gives a great example on how someone can be whatever they truly want, as long as they work for it. This is why you should read Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal as it is informative yet adds a personal touch to the life of Steve Jobs.