Steve Jobs: The Book

Walter Isaacson is a gifted writer, and his portrayal of Steve Jobs in the new bestseller is very different than the previous books I have read of his on Ben Franklin and Albert Einstein.
It was a very difficult task given the personal challenging background of Steve (he was abandoned by his parents) and his up and down personality. He frequently berated people and always expected their best. He pushed people to do more and innovate beyond what others saw was possible. He was a perfectionist of the first order who refined and reworked until it was perfect in his eyes. He didn't believe in market research only in delivering great innovative products to the customer. The strategy led to blockbuster products including the mac, ipod, ipad, itunes, and pixar to mention a few.
He changed the rules of industries and caused lasting disruptions in so many ways. He was uneven with his family (favoring his son over daughters) and a workaholic. His diet was vegan and very unbalanced over his life - this led to some of his health issues. He was constantly a fighter (with the need for control) with other major figures such as Bill Gates and key founders and leaders at Disney and Pixar. Many he reconciled with later in life.
Most of all he focused on implementing his visions. He drove people to make them happen; he invested time and money while he expected their best all the time. Is he a role model for innovation? No, but we can learn from his continuing focus on his visions, the wide net of friends and resources he built, and his excellent products that challenged the status quo and redefined industries.
A salute to Steve!