The hype delivers—this is a book that lays out a story about a man and a company that changed the world … because they could. 

 

The portrait painted by Isaacson depicts Jobs as competitive, relentless, uncompromising and inspired. But, you already knew that. What Isaacson does so impressively is interview a number of key corporate players and reach outcomes that are persuasive and credible. In the process, the book becomes both a biography and a history of some of the great power struggles that have captivated the digital world.  

 

The reader will be fascinated by the relationships between Jobs and Steve Wozniak, Bill Gates, and many others, but some of the most entertaining tales document the fascinating interplay with musical giants like Bob Dylan, Bono, and the Beatles--all of whom were approached early on with the opportunity to market their songs on Apple devices. The author makes the point that artists like Dylan were able to reach entire new generations through the iPod and iTunes, thus enhancing their legends.

 

In the end, the message of Apple’s “Think Different” commercial of 1997 sums it all up: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do…”