Review: Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal

Blumenthal, Karen. (2012). Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different. New York: Feiwel & Friends. 320 pages. ISBN 9781250015570.

 

Awards/Selection Lists:

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award, 2013 finalist
American Library Association Children's Notable List
Booklist Editor's Choice list, 2012
Junior Library Guild Selection
Kentucky Bluegrass Award Middle School list
Librarian's Choices, 2012
Texas Lone Star List

 

Author's Website: http://www.karenblumenthal.com/index.html

Brief Summary: Steve Jobs, the founder and savior of Apple Inc., and Pixar, was a controversial figure, volatile but brilliant, not always honest, but a visionary. He helped shape the world in which we live in through this vision, through his faults and his strengths, through his life story, and many people never even knew it. This book follows Jobs' life, from birth and adoption, through death, controversy, bankruptcy, failure, terminations, growth and successes, giving the details of his life transparently, but without vilification.

 

Personal Reaction: I have mixed feelings about this book. While it was written well, and easy to read, it's always hard to hear the negative aspects of a person whom you have heard some great wisdom come from. But then again, that's exactly why I chose this book: to be able to better understand what Steve Jobs was about, what his personal philosophy and work ethic was, and to make my own opinions based on the evidence presented. The truth of the matter is Steve Jobs wasn't always nice. He wasn't always likeable, or a good father and husband. Sometimes he was a terrible friend and all of these things were harder for me to reconcile than any issue with him being bad at business, in certain aspects. However, it really taught me that people who make a profound difference on the world don't have to be perfect. They can make mistakes, and doozies at that, and still be an example, can still help people, can still turn a corner and decided to be better to those around them, and while they may change in the details, essentially, they are the same person at heart. The bottom line is, I learned from him, as well as his mistakes. I learned that my tenacity can be rewarded and I can be having a positive effect on the world right now, and not even know it, but it's still a worthwhile goal. I don't have to be perfect. I can (and do) make mistakes but picking myself up WILL get me somewhere, even if I don't see it now. Most importantly, I have to agree with him, to live your life for yourself, not up to other people's expectations and to do what you love, have faith that in the end, somewhere, the dots will connect.

 

Front and Back Matter:  Title page, copyright, table of contents, introduction, chronological biography, illustrated timeline, author chapter notes (includes which resources were used in each chapter, in lieu of a formal bibliography), glossary, index.
 

Content Evaluation: At first I thought the author might be making conjectures as to Jobs' emotion state, only to find she would follow it up with a direct quote from Job's himself. That gave me a good sense that she had definitely done her homework. I was impressed that she did not sugar coat the less than favorable details of Jobs' personality and dealings, but she struck a harmonious balance, by not vilifying him, even at times, I think, putting slightly more emphasis on his positive attributes and dealings, though always keeping in mind the dirty. Overall, it was a well balanced biography and I think interesting for anyone who is still struggling to find their way, and wonders if they will ever get there, especially those that are the exploring sort, while trying to find the road less travelled, but with greater reward.