Icon

I've got a new hobby. Reading was never my forte until this past few weeks. I owe this to my father-in-law who got a really nice book called American Beliefs. This book has introduced me to the wilderness of book reading and I am glad it happened. This blog also marks my third year anniversary in blogging. I still remember my first blog where i was so apprehensive about me ever pursuing this kind of activity. But here I am.
This blog is gonna be about this book I have been reading. Its called "Icon". Its the story of Steve Jobs. I gotta say that if you are a big fan of Steve Jobs, you should stay away from this book. It potrays a very childish, astute and perfidious Jobs who wrongfully took credit for "big" products, was relentless in taking center stage at all opportunities, conspired to oust people who were given charge against his favor, and was unreliable under all circumstances. The book writes about his bitter encounters with Jeff Raskin, with his buddy and peer Steve Woznaik, one time Apple CEO John Sculley, and the investor Mike Markkula.
Jobs got the taste of his own recipe when he was ousted from Apple and replaced by John Sculley. This is when he ventured into new companies like Next, which never made big, but was bought by Apple, and Pixar, which every Tom in every country would know about. It was during this period that Steve learned from his mistakes and graduated into being a commendable person, though he is still a hard ass. The Pixar story is really interesting and talks about John Lasseter as the whole and sole of Pixar, with Steve being a sidekick, even though Ed Catamul, Alvin Ray and he were co-founders.
It also writes about how Gil Amelio, the successor to John Sculley and Spindler, had done a good job in reviving Apple. Right when Apple announced its first good quarter after a series of dismal earnings, he was ousted and the job went to Jobs. Gil left the company with plenty of cash flow, the right projects given a headstart, futile projects canned. The book mentions that Jobs reaped the benefits sowed by 'Gil'.
Well I would say partially. I have to give credit to this guy though for IPod and the Apple Music Store. Very well thought and well planned products/services. Against all odds both have accounted for almost more than half of Apple's revenues. His continuos innovation in creating a new line of IPods and then introducing the IPhone is just mind-blowing. He gives more emphasis to 'design' than anyone else.
He is truly an ICON.