Steve Jobs: One Last Thing

When Steve Jobs died of cancer in October 2011, he was hailed around the world as a visionary who changed the way we communicate. An artist, innovator, and intellectual, as well as a world-class salesman with a famed mantra ("think different"), Jobs grew up in what would eventually become California's Silicon Valley. Chance brought him into contact with Steve Wozniak—characterized here as the nerd to Jobs's hippie—and the duo worked on electronics in a garage, pursuing projects that would eventually help spark the microcomputer revolution. Jobs, who had the ambition and drive to make important advancements, was worth millions by the age of 23. A techno-visionary obsessed with elegant design, Jobs studied Buddhism but could also be prickly and arrogant in his personal relationships. In 1985, he bitterly resigned from Apple (the company he helped found), but quickly moved on to the next big thing, launching the hugely successful Pixar animation studio. Jobs returned to Apple in 1996, ultimately spearheading a series of game-changing innovative technologies including the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. While his refusal to sometimes share credit and profits leads one subject here to brand him a "total street bully," year by year Jobs continued to roll out new products at his eagerly anticipated sales pitches, despite fighting cancer. Although barely mentioning his early years or family life, One Last Thing does cover Jobs's sometimes stormy relationship with Microsoft guru Bill Gates, his cult-like status, and his enduring legacy. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)