In 2009, Steve Jobs selected Walter Isaacson, a renowned biographer, to chronicle his life. Jobs introduced Isaacson to his childhood home in Mountain View, California, highlighting the house's sleek design and unique aspects. He commended Joseph Eichler, the architect behind over 11,000 homes in California, for his ability to produce quality, affordable homes at scale. Jobs also proudly showed Isaacson a fence his father, Paul Jobs, constructed half a century ago.
Isaacson, celebrated for his biographies of historical figures like Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, faced a nuanced task in writing about Jobs. Crafting a biography about the Apple co-founder during his terminal illness posed unique challenges, especially as Isaacson engaged with Jobs' family during a trying period. Jobs agreed to refrain from influencing the biography's content, except for its cover design, acknowledging that the portrayal wouldn't be wholly positive. Despite this, Jobs understood the significance of his legacy and the need to address uncomfortable inquiries. In the book's conclusion, Jobs, speaking in the past tense, reflects on his motivations.
Isaacson’s treatment of "Steve Jobs" establishes it as a definitive biography, yet its proximity to Jobs' passing makes it an unusual read. Part of the book serves as a vital record of Silicon Valley's history, presenting narratives familiar to tech enthusiasts but engaging for a wider audience. Some content, like the mention of Jobs' first job at Atari with the game Pong, feels dated. In contrast, other parts, such as the launch of the iPad 2, are so recent that their significance is not yet fully recognized, despite Isaacson's vivid description likening the device's activation to a baby's joyous expression.
Isaacson also looks ahead, suggesting the biography's relevance for future readers. He emphasizes that the success of Apple's products wasn't merely due to their aesthetic appeal but also the array of apps they offered, enabling a variety of enjoyable experiences. Isaacson predicts that even apps like one involving a slingshot to topple pigs and their fortresses, akin to the game "Angry Birds," may one day seem as nostalgic as Pong.