Chapter 1: The Journey Begins - The Life of Steve Jobs

 Introduction

Walter Isaacson only agreed to write Steve Jobs' biography when he learned that Jobs was already dying of cancer. With his striking personality, Jobs approached Isaacson a couple of times since 2004 about the story of his life. It was only in 2009 that the author agreed. At that time, Jobs was already taking his second medical leave. Being a managing editor at Time magazine, Isaacson encountered Jobs several times since 1984. The first time the innovator mentioned his biography to the writer, Isaacson had just successfully released his book on Benjamin Franklin and was working on another about Albert Einstein. Isaacson declined, saying that it was too early as Jobs was still at the peak of his career.

It was Jobs' wife, Laurene Powell, who finally changed Isaacson's mind and informed him of the Apple CEO's sickness. Jobs was having his operation for cancer, yet he strived to keep his struggle a secret. What further inspired Isaacson to write this biography was the freedom given by Jobs in writing this book. He let the author write his life story as is, without any intervention whatsoever.

Like Franklin and Einstein, Steve Jobs valued his capabilities in both humanities and sciences. His creative talents, combined with engineering genius, made him the great innovator that he was. Jobs' work not only revolutionized the world of personal computers but also that of music, digital publishing, and animated movies. His life and personality may not be perfect, yet they continue to inspire people just as the company he built does.

Childhood

Steve Jobs knew at an early age that he was adopted. His father, Paul Jobs, and mother, Clara Hagopian, never hid it from him. They took care of Steve right after his birth. Colleagues have remarked that this made Steve independent and strong of character. His first hero was his father, who was a car mechanic. Steve's parents always told him that he was special. As a child, he discovered his intelligence in electronics, though he was a delinquent in school. Classes often bored him, and he would often engage in pranks with the help of his talents. This continued from grade school to college.

 

Wozniak

Steve Wozniak met Steve Jobs through a common friend in Homestead High. Both Steves showed talents in electronics and machines even as children. While Jobs was influenced by his father to be a businessman, Woz's dad despised marketing and encouraged him to excel in engineering. Though Woz was five years older than Jobs, he was very socially awkward and grew up to be a nerd. It was in their common friend's garage when he first met Jobs. Not only their deep understanding of electronics bound them, but also their love of Bob Dylan's music.

College Dropout

While Wozniak decided to go to Berkeley University, Jobs was picky in choosing where to study college. It was a condition when Jobs was adopted that he would finish school, and so his adoptive parents worked hard for his college fund. Jobs chose not to go to nearby Stanford University. He wanted to go somewhere more interesting and artistic. Despite the disagreement with his parents, Jobs enrolled in Reed College in Portland, Oregon. It was an expensive school with only a thousand students, yet it was known for its hippie culture.

Later on at Reed, Jobs thought that his course wasn't letting him learn the things he wanted. He dropped out and took any class that interested him, like calligraphy. Jobs fell in love with the hippie culture at Reed. He read many books on Zen Buddhism and started to practice extreme vegetarianism. He would not cut his hair and insisted on walking barefoot around campus.