The mastermind behind Apple steps forward to tell his story for the first time. From the invention of the first personal computer to the rise of Ap...
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May 01, 2008
Deanna
rated it: 
Ok, I do have to admit that I haven't finished the book (nor do I want to at this point - but someday I may pick up where I left off.) I was first interested in reading this because I thought that the guy who invented Apple "must" be a pretty interesting guy. Maybe he is...but it doesn't come across in this book. He comes across as the most arrogant, self-centered, self-important person EVER! I know that autobiographies are about one's life - but I guess I am more drawn to people who c
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Mar 12, 2008
Brooks
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What a goody-two shoes. I was not very impressed – a little light on the insights. The only areas he went into detail was on some discoveries – like when he built a middle school science project that used logic circuits, the original Apple II board, his work with Attari, and his design for a universal remote. He went through two divorces and raised two kids and we have a total a few paragraphs on these events. The one area I wanted to know more about was the start up of Apple. He goes
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Sep 15, 2007
James
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Steve Wozniak is one of my heros. He's a brilliant engineer who changed the world just by doing what he loved to do and doing it well. His sense of humor is legendary and wonderful. I love me some Woz.
So I pre-ordered iWoz as soon as I heard about it and couldn't wait for the Amazon box to arrive at my door.
Boy was I disappointed. The writing for this book is atrocious. It uses small words and basic, repetitive sentence structure. It's boring to read. The stories are in More...
So I pre-ordered iWoz as soon as I heard about it and couldn't wait for the Amazon box to arrive at my door.
Boy was I disappointed. The writing for this book is atrocious. It uses small words and basic, repetitive sentence structure. It's boring to read. The stories are in More...
Jan 25, 2009
Gayle
rated it: 
A personal memoir, and a important counterpart to all the Svengali-like portrayals of Steve Jobs as the evil genius behind Apple. Because in the beginning there were the Two Steves, each a necessary part of the original Apple, and in this book, Steve Wozniak steps out from behind Jobs' shadow with a grin and a wave.
Woz is a study in stereotypes--a brilliant engineer who thinks in electrons, and a socially-inept geek who can't talk to girls. A guy who wants to change the world for the More...
Woz is a study in stereotypes--a brilliant engineer who thinks in electrons, and a socially-inept geek who can't talk to girls. A guy who wants to change the world for the More...
Jul 16, 2011
Gale
rated it:
Woz...One hell of a big ego, almost too mich to bear.
Although this book is an interesting glimpse at the early Apple days and the Apple I and II, many of Woz's claims did not ring true for me.
I was with Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) from 1973 to 1983 (2nd largest computer company at the time) and many of the "1sts. or breaktgroughs" claimed by Woz had been already done by DEC and others.
In my opinion, Apple' s world game-changer was the Lisa. Its g More...
Although this book is an interesting glimpse at the early Apple days and the Apple I and II, many of Woz's claims did not ring true for me.
I was with Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) from 1973 to 1983 (2nd largest computer company at the time) and many of the "1sts. or breaktgroughs" claimed by Woz had been already done by DEC and others.
In my opinion, Apple' s world game-changer was the Lisa. Its g More...
Jun 28, 2011
Jack
rated it: 
I was a little shocked with Woz' casual arrogance throughout his narrative. Several instances of this attitude shine through from his recollections of his childhood and the founding of Apple in the mid 70s, clear up to more recent work with the US festivals. Overall, this autobiography is written from a very personal perspective and in a conversational tone that was easy to read, but didn't suggest that much thought went into his past. On the positive side, it does a great job of providing a win
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Jun 22, 2011
Peter
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Nothing really interesting in this book. Woz is a great happy guy and you would be too if you owned the Apple stock he owns. He is a philanthropist, he cares about people and he wants to make the world a better place. His struggles in life are completely glossed over (two divorces, failed business ventures post Apple) and you get his recollections of life from when he was a kid, in college, during his early days at HP and of course the genesis of Apple Computer and its flagship product. My guess
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Mar 27, 2011
Ken
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One of my favorite literary genres is the origin story. How did a great thing get invented, how did a great person become great. This one is the story of how Steve Wozniak invented the personal computer at a very young age, and helped found Apple Computer.
This is a very breezy read, pretty obviously dictated and barely edited. It’s like sitting in a room with Steve Wozniak as he tells you his life story, with some diversions and some humorous anecdotes thrown in. I finished it in a wee More...
This is a very breezy read, pretty obviously dictated and barely edited. It’s like sitting in a room with Steve Wozniak as he tells you his life story, with some diversions and some humorous anecdotes thrown in. I finished it in a wee More...
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Feb 10, 2011
Maggie
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wozniak was most definitely a player and made a huge difference in the early years of development of the personal computer, and the book is an excellent history of this developmental period as well as giving readers a solid explanation of how the pc works. kudos. beyond that though (although that alone is a good reason to read the book!) it is amazing how smart and clever (in a most positive meaning) this computer engineer is while at the same time having such a juvenile understanding of life. j
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Dec 01, 2010
Mike
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This is a great book for anybody at least mildly interested in techno-geek stuff, the history of our information age, or if you just like a good autobiography.
I knew previously that Steve Wozniak was part of the force behind building the original Apple PC products. But I actually had no clue that he is all but single-handedly responsible for inventing the world's first Personal Computer. As an I.T. aficionado myself, that story line was inspiring. It's very uplifting for anyone who's g More...
I knew previously that Steve Wozniak was part of the force behind building the original Apple PC products. But I actually had no clue that he is all but single-handedly responsible for inventing the world's first Personal Computer. As an I.T. aficionado myself, that story line was inspiring. It's very uplifting for anyone who's g More...
Feb 20, 2012
Jim
rated it:
This book has a great personal appeal to me, as I lived through the personal computer revolution, and I related to the story. The first 1/4th of the book was very annoying as a narrative and frustratingly didactic to me (it isn't just because I have a PhD in electrical engineering, because I have found some thoroughly engaging narratives on the principles of digital logic and basic electronics). The writing style was very difficult to tolerate in general. I have tried to finish every book I s
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Nov 30, 2011
Gypsy
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iWoz is a MUCH easier book to read than the Steve Jobs biography. I picked up this book because I was so irritated with Steve Jobs through the things I read in his biography, that I really needed to hear from another voice from the people that created the Apple computers.
This book came out in 2006, 5 years before Job's authorized biography was published. It was written in the first person so it feels like you're having a cup of coffee with Woz himself & just listening to him tell y More...
This book came out in 2006, 5 years before Job's authorized biography was published. It was written in the first person so it feels like you're having a cup of coffee with Woz himself & just listening to him tell y More...
Aug 23, 2011
Hriday
rated it:
I am not an Apple fan boy. I liked this book.
I agree with most other reviewers who claim that this book does sound a bit braggy, i know it all types but hey, it is Steve Woz! I also agree that the writing style is not very literary but again, the co author has left it the way Woz would probably talk. This book doesnt claim to be a literary masterpiece nor is it lining up for the Booker/Pulitzer. Try Orhan Pamuk or Salman Rushdie if all you want is literariness. This is a book for Eng More...
I agree with most other reviewers who claim that this book does sound a bit braggy, i know it all types but hey, it is Steve Woz! I also agree that the writing style is not very literary but again, the co author has left it the way Woz would probably talk. This book doesnt claim to be a literary masterpiece nor is it lining up for the Booker/Pulitzer. Try Orhan Pamuk or Salman Rushdie if all you want is literariness. This is a book for Eng More...
Mar 24, 2009
Mr. Z
rated it:
Do you like spending time on your personal computer? If so, be sure to thank Steve Wozniak. If it weren't for him, there wouldn't be a personal computer like the ones that millions upon millions of people use today! This book, "iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon," is Mr. Wozniak's autobiography. It tells the story about how he went from being a self-proclaimed nerdy kid with no confidence and no girlfriends to inventing a number of world-changing inventions (including the Apple Comp
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Nov 17, 2011
Menish
rated it:
I enjoyed reading this book. After reading Steve Job's autobiography, I thought it would be neat to see read about Steve Wozniak...and what greater way to do it via an autobiography.
Being an engineer myself, it was a great motivation to see how much Wozniak loved engineering, his pranks and his clever methods he used in engineering practice.
On that note, if your expecting any sort of drama in this book or want to read about some of the dirt that went on at Apple, you won' More...
Being an engineer myself, it was a great motivation to see how much Wozniak loved engineering, his pranks and his clever methods he used in engineering practice.
On that note, if your expecting any sort of drama in this book or want to read about some of the dirt that went on at Apple, you won' More...
Jan 28, 2012
Jeff
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Having recently finished Steve Jobs biography, I thought this would be a great follow-up to hear 'Woz's' side of the story, but they're not quite in the same vane. Jobs book contained a great deal of background on Apple in addition to his 'life story' and portrayed the two Steve's as best friends, whereas Wozniak barely touches on Apple, and focuses mainly on himself and all the things he created; which I suppose makes sense as it is an auto-biography. The tone when mentioning Jobs is not at a
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Nov 30, 2011
Sher
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I am really glad I waited to review this book until after I read "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson. When I first listened to this story, I was put off by the style of the writing. I thought it made Woz out to be self-serving and egotistical. I came to realize that that is not what Woz wanted to do. He simply told his story and gave it to an editor to fix up. Well, the editor was not so great, in my opinion. This book could have been so much better with a quality editor. Example:
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Jun 13, 2011
J.R.
rated it:
I was surprised at how much we owe our current technological state to Woz. I never realized just how utterly responsible he was for creating -- alone, from scratch -- the personal computer as we know it (not to mention writing the game Breakout and inventing the universal remote). Ultimately I enjoyed this book. It had a very positive outlook and I felt motivated to get involved in something productive afterwards. People who have an engineering background will enjoy it more than others, as he ge
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Oct 19, 2009
Shelley
rated it:
I heard about the book on a podcast, and thought it sounded interesting. Its a biography of one of Apple computer co-founders, Steve Wozniak.
It recounts the sometimes serendipity of innovation and invention, but also too some of the genius that obviously was part of both Steve's. Woz comes off as arrogant at times, but not so much self-serving as perhaps just facts.
There is quite a lot of contextual information surrounding not just the birth of Apple computer, but also More...
It recounts the sometimes serendipity of innovation and invention, but also too some of the genius that obviously was part of both Steve's. Woz comes off as arrogant at times, but not so much self-serving as perhaps just facts.
There is quite a lot of contextual information surrounding not just the birth of Apple computer, but also More...
Sep 12, 2011
Margaret
rated it:
If I could give this book minus stars I would. If I don't give any stars it will look like I did not rate it. What a self-indulgent, poorly written, description of a first class loser. If his goal was to set the record straight, it does that -- you can see why others came not to want to have anything to do with him. His "practical jokes" often make him an oversized jerk. His use of wealth to through a music party is the act of someone who wants attention. Don't bother with the book
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Aug 22, 2011
David
rated it:
iWoz is not as good as many other books on the early history of Apple and the PC revolution. Wozniak tells many interesting stories, but the narrative is sometimes disjointed, skipping around in time without telling you, and often repetitive. Gina Smith needed to provide a stronger editing touch in order to keep the early and late chapters from meandering into the wilderness.
I would not recommend this book to anyone with only a casual interest in the topic. There are many other bett More...
I would not recommend this book to anyone with only a casual interest in the topic. There are many other bett More...
Aug 28, 2011
Matthew
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It rambles a little in places, but overall iWoz is an interesting look at the life and influences of one of the most influential and creative forces in the computer industry.
Wozniak gives the reader a feeling for what his early life was like with a father who was an engineer and who instilled in him a love of engineering and discovery. This section of the book is both the most informative and the most tedious. Most readers want to know about Wozniak's history with Apple, but to und More...
Wozniak gives the reader a feeling for what his early life was like with a father who was an engineer and who instilled in him a love of engineering and discovery. This section of the book is both the most informative and the most tedious. Most readers want to know about Wozniak's history with Apple, but to und More...
Feb 04, 2011
Sebah
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قراءة تعيسة. قررت التوقف عن قراءته، لأني بدأت أتهرب من القراءة كي لا أرغم على قراءته. وقتي أضيق من أن أرغم نفسي على إتمام أي كتاب أبدأه.
اخترت الكتاب رغبة في معرفة تجربة الشخص رقم 2 في عالم آبل و البحث عن طرق عملية يمكن تطبيقها في مجال التربية بناء على تجربته. أسلوب كتابته ممل ممل، يعيد تكرار نفس الفكرة بأشكال مكررة مملة و يصرف عليها الكثير من الوقت. و الحق أنه ليس شخصية مميزة، برأيي، لدرجة تحتم علي معرفة أسرار تميزه رغم رتابة أسلوبه.
الكتاب، أظن، قد يصبح أفضل إن تم تنقيته و More...
اخترت الكتاب رغبة في معرفة تجربة الشخص رقم 2 في عالم آبل و البحث عن طرق عملية يمكن تطبيقها في مجال التربية بناء على تجربته. أسلوب كتابته ممل ممل، يعيد تكرار نفس الفكرة بأشكال مكررة مملة و يصرف عليها الكثير من الوقت. و الحق أنه ليس شخصية مميزة، برأيي، لدرجة تحتم علي معرفة أسرار تميزه رغم رتابة أسلوبه.
الكتاب، أظن، قد يصبح أفضل إن تم تنقيته و More...
Jun 26, 2011
Karen
rated it:
I am not the biographical type. I've probably read maybe two in my life - this being one. With that said, this book is seriously awesome. Sure, it's chock full of tech speak and over-the-top TMI, but in all that you get a glimpse of the real Woz. And he's so totally cool. Like that favorite uncle you only get to see once a year at your family's 4th of July reunion. He brings all the illegal fireworks. Yeah, that uncle.
Woz writes his story in a way that let's the reader into his life wi More...
Woz writes his story in a way that let's the reader into his life wi More...
Dec 03, 2009
D.J.
rated it:
As a computer geek/lover this was the perfect book for me. Wozniak talks us through his whole life, almost all of which has been somehow related to technology. He is a brilliant geek, the epitome of geekdom in fact, in that he never left the technology behind to become a manager or take any role that meant he couldn't devote 100% of his time to improving the technology.
I think Steve Jobbs comes out very badly from this book. Wozniak is very careful what he says about Jobbs, and the lit More...
I think Steve Jobbs comes out very badly from this book. Wozniak is very careful what he says about Jobbs, and the lit More...
Oct 11, 2011
Kayo
rated it:
After the passing of Steve Jobs, I decided to finish this book. I had started it over a year ago, but life got busy and I decided to shelf it and read other, more time sensitive books first.
Off the bat, let me say that you need to a certain level of understanding of how computers work in order to fully enjoy this memoir. Every once in a while, Wozniak dives into technical discussions to explain the problems and dilemnas he finds himself in and you'll get lost if you're not savvy enou More...
Off the bat, let me say that you need to a certain level of understanding of how computers work in order to fully enjoy this memoir. Every once in a while, Wozniak dives into technical discussions to explain the problems and dilemnas he finds himself in and you'll get lost if you're not savvy enou More...
May 19, 2009
Steven
rated it:
I listened to this on audiobook. It was supposed to be my light "reading" during my East Coast Trip. With those expectations, it was enjoyable.
Especially when talking about his childhood, Wozniak comes off arrogant, and throughout it, it's hard not to wince at his naive outlook on some things, yet his enthusiasm is infectious.
I've underestimated his and Apple's historical role in developing personal computers and my favorite parts were when he delved into engi More...
Especially when talking about his childhood, Wozniak comes off arrogant, and throughout it, it's hard not to wince at his naive outlook on some things, yet his enthusiasm is infectious.
I've underestimated his and Apple's historical role in developing personal computers and my favorite parts were when he delved into engi More...
Jul 11, 2011
Brian
rated it:
Chatty and repetitive in a way that pretty clearly suggests it was dictated without being strongly edited, I'm not sure I would have been able to finish the book had I read it. That said, the tone works perfectly fine for an audiobook.
As is not surprising given what you already know about the Woz, the best parts address his approach to problem-solving, and the worst parts are those in which he gives frequently facile analysis of large-scale historical change. There is some arrogance th More...
As is not surprising given what you already know about the Woz, the best parts address his approach to problem-solving, and the worst parts are those in which he gives frequently facile analysis of large-scale historical change. There is some arrogance th More...
May 12, 2011
Ioannis
rated it:
I have listened to the audio book It's an interesting book but you can't expect it to be true literature. I have been thinking about the way kids are grown, about his father, about skills and talent. Also about my kids and my role as a father, how to cultivate their curiosity and how to plant in their way of thinking the scientific question mark. So although the book is not so smooth ask the way, it made me wonder about some serious decisions about me, my kids and my life and this is what makes
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Sep 27, 2011
Ben
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What a curious book! I have read bits and pieces about Steve Wozniak through the years, but never heard anything from the horse's mouth--until I read this book. Plenty have likely pointed out some very obvious flaws in this book, from Woz being perhaps a bit less than humble to the frankly mind-numbing repetitiveness of the book. But ignoring the problems with the prose, what emerges from the book is a picture of a great man, someone who is a genuinely good person and blessed with a very specifi
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