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Steve Jobs Audio CD – Abridged, September 10, 2013

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 43 ratings

2012 Audie Award Finalist for Audiobook of the Year

Walter Isaacson’s “enthralling” (
The New Yorker) worldwide bestselling biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs—the inspiration for the movie Steve Jobs starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, and Jeff Daniels, directed by Danny Boyle with a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin.

Based on more than forty interviews with Steve Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than 100 family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. Isaacson’s portrait touched millions of readers.

At a time when America is seeking ways to sustain its innovative edge, Jobs stands as the ultimate icon of inventiveness and applied imagination. He knew that the best way to create value in the twenty-first century was to connect creativity with technology. He built a company where leaps of the imagination were combined with remarkable feats of engineering.

Although Jobs cooperated with the author, he asked for no control over what was written. He put nothing off-limits. He encouraged the people he knew to speak honestly. He himself spoke candidly about the people he worked with and competed against.

His friends, foes, and colleagues offer an unvarnished view of the passions, perfectionism, obsessions, artistry, devilry, and compulsion for control that shaped his approach to business and the innovative products that resulted.

His tale is instructive and cautionary, filled with lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
43 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2014
    A great read. My first computer was a Mac and this book helped shed light on Apples early beginnings, it's struggles and triumphant rise from possible doom. Of course Apple is synonymous with Steve Job, main hero and antagonist of this story. I was mesmerized by his personality and traits and how both played a supporting and destructive role in his life. I highly encourage people to read this book.
    Alex
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2014
    Dreamers, thinkers, doers, they know how to have fun. They know how to push the envelope. They know when to take a little risk! At the end of the day those are the same ones who will change the world forever! An intimate glimpse inside the head of the man who dared to dream big and simply wanted the chance to design himself into the lives of you and me. Easy to read. Full of surprises every step! Anton Kozikowski Blur to Focus Productions, Hips Double Time Productions, LLC.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2013
    Very Good. History of the PC / Apple. Interesting example of nurture over nature. His intellectual and drive from his birth parents.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2014
    I gave this as a gift. I listened to the original unabridged version while traveling west and really enjoyed it. I feel all Americans should read this as a book or listen to the audio book. Warning: This is a long audio book, but well worth your time.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2014
    Let me explain...

    The stories about Steve Jobs are great. I loved hearing the interviews from various people who's paths have crossed with Steve over his life. There are definitely some unique perspectives and I definitely have a new perspective on a man that is pretty well known already.

    However, I do have to say the writing of the book was not my cup of tea. Too often, the interested stories of Steve Jobs life were overshadowed by Isaacson's haphazard storytelling - at times it felt all over the place. Now I understand a biography doesn't have to be chronological, and often, it makes sense to follow an interesting arc of one's life for some depth. However, too often, i felt lost and confused. One moment we are talking about Steve's fight with cancer. This led to a comment about how Steve thought the stress from the 80's may have in some way caused/encouraged his cancer to develop. All of a sudden, Isaacson transports us back to those days - despite the fact he's already thoroughly described that portion of Steve's life in an earlier chapter.

    Another minor annoyance with the audiobook version - there is no signal to change CD's. I would be listening and suddenly I would be transported back 20 years only to realize I had re-listened to the first minute of the CD. This was made even more difficult since, as mentioned above, Isaacson tended to do this (jump around) even in the normal course of the book so i was never sure if this was his writing style or the CD had restarted.

    Nevertheless, Steve Jobs will always be remembered as an important business leader at, as Isaacson seemed to reiterate every third paragraph or so, the intersection of technology and humanities.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2014
    An interesting account of an amazing life which may not have been well lived (as far as virtue is concerned), but definitely produced and left behind a legacy of modern technology in computers. He accomplished in a very short life what most of us never do. Such brilliance and ambition just for the sake of doing what one can and not necessarily for personal wealth, although that too was achieved. I enjoyed the honest research of the author, definitely not a "white wash" and the timeline of advancement in computers, etc.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2014
    I ordered this accidentally. I thought it was the book. When I tried to return it the seller graciously refunded my money but allowed me to keep it any way. I then ordered the book. I gave my husband both the audio copy and the book. Turns out, he really enjoyed listening to the book on the way to work. He was able to pick up in the book when we go down the shore. Thank you again for your FANTASTIC customer service.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2014
    I'm a huge Apple fan & consumer, with iPhone, iPad, and three Mac computers. But knew little about Steve Jobs. The book is well written & gives a very balanced perspective on his life.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Mahesh Thams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on July 7, 2015
    nice
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Son in laws Birthday present
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2014
    He was thrilled with the Cd's He has them in the car and listens to them while driving for work
  • Cafe Red Sky
    4.0 out of 5 stars stay hungry, stay foolish
    Reviewed in Japan on August 14, 2014
    I have listen "Steve Jobs" in audio abridged version.

    I could learn something from the life of Steve Jobs.

    B. Russel wrote that you can have happy life if you produce or construct something as a life-long job.
    Jobs have created several techno-items, Mac, iPod, iPhone, and so on.
    Most of his creations have changed the ways how people enjoy daily life over the world.
    He loves to innovate things and change people's life. Therefore his own life should be very happy.
    He understand how people love iPhone commonly over the world.

    He loves his products more than he loves other people especially in his early days.
    This makes his life not perfect. But nobody can have a perfect happiness.

    He strongly influenced many people, especially for their adventurous up-and-down lifes.
    He also influenced me in some sense.
    He loves simplicity, beauty, and totality. I also love these qualities.

    There are not so many genius. He is one of tech geniuses of our age, along with Bill Gates, Google founders, and Facebook founder.

    Which do you like among big IT companies ?
    I like Apple, Google, and Amazon, rather than Micro Soft or Facebook.
    All of these are founded in US, which means US has been strong in IT.
    Maybe Mr. Son of SoftBank can be compared with them in Japan.

    Then how can we enjoy life like Steve Jobs ?
    First we may need to 'stay hungry and fool'.
    Then we find intellectual fellows, start-up a company and innovate something new.
    Surely we need a good fortune.
    Maybe US provides environment exclusively better than any countries for this kind of big dream.

    His life also tell that even one of the richest man on earth can not remove diseases and avoid decease. Life is not long.

    He said he like to produce good products rather than get profits.
    To make good ones, he believe that all hardwares and softwares are designed and controlled by Apple.
    He tried to make Apple keep dominating techno-production even after his death.
    As of 2014, Apple still keeps great. But nobody knows what will happen in 10 years.
    I think it is difficult to keep current shares without a genius in Apple.
    Apple may merge or be merged by other big companies like IBM, HP, Sharp, or some Chinese giants.

    I like Gate rather than Jobs in person.
    Because Gate with his wife have gave the world a lot of his money for better lives of many poor and young people and he tries to inform the world about health problems world wide.
    Compared with him, Steve looks like not interested in lives of poor countries.

    This is very good for English learning and listening.
  • BCKT
    4.0 out of 5 stars 通勤時間に読む(?)ため
    Reviewed in Japan on January 4, 2024
    中古品をamazonで購入。(audibleCD)

    本を読む時間がないので、通勤時間に読む(?)ためのもの。

    安く買ったので文句は言えないが、4枚目が再生できないCDだった。
    これでamazon3度目のガッカリ購入。

    ま、勉強代だな・・・
  • Carol
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2016
    This was a gift- my husband loved it!