Books: iWoz

Without the Woz, would we still be using slide rulers__perhaps? But there is a greater story here, one about an engineering genius, the Woz, who hatched an idea 30 years ago and how that idea shaped his personal journey and developed into the behemoth company we know today as Apple. I was an early adopter of Apple products__ loved them from the start. So I was excited to see this book published in 2006, (yes my review is a little late, but I didn’t have a blog then), appropriately entitled, IWoz, Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented The Personal Computer, Cofounded Apple and Had Fun Doing It. And that about sums it up. He invented, cofounded and had fun. Plus he is an icon. There is something special about the Woz, something likable not found in other founders__no names mentioned please. It’s rare that two complimentary geniuses, Wozniak and Jobs, would meet and be able to see their vision through. In doing so we all benefited. As you read the book Wozniak’s personality and way of thinking become apparent and you see how he was able to create the personal computer as we know it today. I won’t describe everything that takes place in the book, but three points emerge that the reader takes away: first that Wozniak developed the Apple II computer on his own and without the help of Jobs, secondly he never left Apple’s employ, he is still officially an employee, and thirdly he never had a falling out with Jobs, they remain friends to this day. The book then ends with encouragement for other young inventors to see their dreams through to their completion. It’s good to have Wozniak’s side of the story in his own words rather than an interpretation of that story through the eyes of others and the many books that have been written about Apple. Is this book worth reading? Why pick it up? Yes definitely so. Why? Hey the Woz__is the man who invented the personal computer__ no kidding. Oh by the way, visit: woz.org