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Review
‘I, Woz is essential reading, not just because of the great prose or because it makes revelations…it’s real value lies in the reflections of the man who sparked the computer revolution…I, Woz offers lessons for the next generation: believe in yourself, make do, be honest and work alone. He might have added: “be generous” – it’s the way he’s led his life’
(Sydney Morning Herald )'Fascinating'
(The Times ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.Product Description
The mastermind behind Apple sheds his low profile and steps forward to tell his story for the first time.
Before cell phones that fit in the palm of your hand and slim laptops that fit snugly into briefcases, computers were like strange, alien vending machines. They had cryptic switches, punch cards and pages of encoded output. But in 1975, a young engineering wizard named Steve Wozniak had an idea: What if you combined computer circuitry with a regular typewriter keyboard and a video screen? The result was the first true personal computer, the Apple I, a widely affordable machine that anyone could understand and figure out how to use.
Wozniak's life--before and after Apple--is a "home-brew" mix of brilliant discovery and adventure, as an engineer, a concert promoter, a fifth-grade teacher, a philanthropist, and an irrepressible prankster. From the invention of the first personal computer to the rise of Apple as an industry giant, "iWoz" presents a no-holds-barred, rollicking, firsthand account of the humanist inventor who ignited the computer revolution. 16 pages of illustrations. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Before cell phones that fit in the palm of your hand and slim laptops that fit snugly into briefcases, computers were like strange, alien vending machines. They had cryptic switches, punch cards and pages of encoded output. But in 1975, a young engineering wizard named Steve Wozniak had an idea: What if you combined computer circuitry with a regular typewriter keyboard and a video screen? The result was the first true personal computer, the Apple I, a widely affordable machine that anyone could understand and figure out how to use.
Wozniak's life--before and after Apple--is a "home-brew" mix of brilliant discovery and adventure, as an engineer, a concert promoter, a fifth-grade teacher, a philanthropist, and an irrepressible prankster. From the invention of the first personal computer to the rise of Apple as an industry giant, "iWoz" presents a no-holds-barred, rollicking, firsthand account of the humanist inventor who ignited the computer revolution. 16 pages of illustrations. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Steve at first seems overly self-interested, but this reflects the stage of his life he is recalling. Woz tries to put right some of the half-truths and errors that have been reported about his involvement with Apple. He is rightly proud of the things he has created and makes this very clear in this book. The content of iWoz falls between a biography and a techincal analysis of Woz's designs.It has an easy to read style and although it contains a good bit of geek tech-talk it does not get in the way of the main message.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Wozniak's non-comformity and considerable achievements are underlined in a fairly self-deprecating way in this book.
The explanation of how he designed and built the Apple I is extremely accessible and makes it sound like anyone could do it. Of course, the reality is that very few people have both the vision and skills necessary to make a quantum leap like the original Apple computer.
He's also included chapters on Phreaking, his development of remote control systems and later Apple products. He sets out his position on the politics within Apple and adds a section on advice for new young inventors and engineers - which is short and to the point. Throughout the book he's constantly referring to the various professional relationships between individuals and companies within the Silicon Valley area - with the intermingling of ideas from Atari, Commodore, HP, Apple and others. These were key points in the development of the Silicon Valley area as an engine of economic growth and also pivoting points on which the IT revolution tilted.
But this is not a text book - so you're reading it like Wozniak is saying it. Don't expect huge amounts of detail or a read that will take weeks. I read this book in a couple of sittings - and it was all the better for it.
In response to those who see this book as a self-serving exercise: Having read the biographies of others (sports personalities, media tycoons and the rest) I'm at a loss to see how Wozniak is trying to big himself up. If you want self-promotion on a huge scale try reading the memoirs of some UK politicians. Wozniak admits to losing vast amounts of money on some of his business schemes, having had failed marriages and crashing a plane! How much more self-abuse do people want from him?
The explanation of how he designed and built the Apple I is extremely accessible and makes it sound like anyone could do it. Of course, the reality is that very few people have both the vision and skills necessary to make a quantum leap like the original Apple computer.
He's also included chapters on Phreaking, his development of remote control systems and later Apple products. He sets out his position on the politics within Apple and adds a section on advice for new young inventors and engineers - which is short and to the point. Throughout the book he's constantly referring to the various professional relationships between individuals and companies within the Silicon Valley area - with the intermingling of ideas from Atari, Commodore, HP, Apple and others. These were key points in the development of the Silicon Valley area as an engine of economic growth and also pivoting points on which the IT revolution tilted.
But this is not a text book - so you're reading it like Wozniak is saying it. Don't expect huge amounts of detail or a read that will take weeks. I read this book in a couple of sittings - and it was all the better for it.
In response to those who see this book as a self-serving exercise: Having read the biographies of others (sports personalities, media tycoons and the rest) I'm at a loss to see how Wozniak is trying to big himself up. If you want self-promotion on a huge scale try reading the memoirs of some UK politicians. Wozniak admits to losing vast amounts of money on some of his business schemes, having had failed marriages and crashing a plane! How much more self-abuse do people want from him?
Format:Paperback
This is a terrible book. The format, of ghost-written 'auto-biography', has been badly executed. The use of the first-person irritates, as the prose's style rapidly descends into a series of 'I did this', 'I was good at', 'I built' and so on. Frankly, it goes on and on about 'me', eventually making a number of sections almost unreadable. You plough on, though, hoping for some information to be revealed about both Apple and Wozniak's relationship with Steve Jobs. Sadly, there isn't nearly enough to balance out the self-centred stuff.
Best wait for an objective biography in due course.
Best wait for an objective biography in due course.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Rational and lively storytelling
Woz dedicates his book to the engineers.
If you know a tiny bit (no pun intended) about the binary coding and logic and computers and videogames you'll consider this book as... Read more
If you know a tiny bit (no pun intended) about the binary coding and logic and computers and videogames you'll consider this book as... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Vilmin S
iWoz, but what is he now?
I rented this book from my local library and would recommend anyone who is interested in this book to do the same! Read more
Published on 6 April 2010 by M. Evans
Woz: iAm the best
A lot of people have commented on Steve being completely self absorbed in his writting, which I agree with. Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2009 by P Kart
Bad, bad, bad, this book is baaaad...
This is a copy of my review of the original hardback edition of the book...
I love books about computer history and culture. Read more
I love books about computer history and culture. Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2008 by T. RING
Bad, bad, bad, this book is baaaad...
I love books about computer history and culture. I really looked forward to this book but found it hugely disappointing, poorly written, repetitive, bragging etc. Read more
Published on 25 Oct 2007 by T. RING
Wozniak: Computer innovator's chatty life story
This honest memoir of Apple innovator Steve Wozniak's life runs from a childhood spent discovering how things work to his breakthrough: building the first affordable computer with... Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2007 by Rolf Dobelli
Gentle Giant, Shark-Geek
This book is about the other face of early Apple Computer , before the quitting of Steve Jobs and the path that the kinder co-founder of Apple took. Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2007 by Dr. Anoop Sahal
Beware the autobiography!
I, and I suspect many others, have been doing Steve Jobs a great disservice by believing the rumours about the 2 Steve's. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2007 by Matt Testifies
Very Disappointing
From this book we are able to deduce three things:
1. Steve Wozniak is a brilliant engineer.
2. Steve Wozniak is a very decent chap.
3. Read more
1. Steve Wozniak is a brilliant engineer.
2. Steve Wozniak is a very decent chap.
3. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2006 by Paul Johnson
A good read, but only at a low level
I did enjoy this book, very easy reading. I do think it was pretty one sided though, in some ways lack of vision. Read more
Published on 26 Oct 2006 by C. Mcneill
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