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.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 120 reviews)

iWoz, iMac, iEngineer

Let me start off by saying that I am not an Apple fanatic. I started out an an Apple II way made in high school, but never really got hooked on them. I was a Tandy user for the most part. Maybe it was the price. Maybe it was the fact I could ride my bike to Radio Shack and play with them, whatever the reason, I still don't own any Apple products, but that might change as I decide between the iPhone and the Blackberry.

iWoz is the story of Steve Wozniak, engineer, teacher, inventor of the personal computer, pilot, and co-founder of Apple Inc. Personally, I have a hard time with just the title of the book. iWoz, how original along side iCon (Steve Jobs book), iPod, iMac, iPhone, and iDon't Get It, all I can think of is I Robot. Is that a bad thing?

iWoz is written by Steve from his point of view. And his point is often much more interesting than conventional history would have you think. The book follows Woz from his early childhood with an engineer father, through young adulthood, and through on to current day Woz. Along the way he expresses himself with humility and candor, something I found refreshing when compared to some of the very dry Apple histories.

My favorite part of the book is seeing how, through his whole life, he just wanted to be an engineer. Everything else was simply extra and he was quite content to make great electronics, and maybe play a practical joke along the way. Woz also sets a few things that are considered Apple lore straight as he saw them. Woz's skills as a teacher are seen clearly as, along with Gina Smith, he takes some of the most complex events in computer history and presents them in a way that is easy to understand.

iWoz is more than a fanboy book, it's a great read about a time in computer history that it seems fewer and fewer people truly understand.
December 11, 2008

Wozniaks (lame) attempt to not be forgotten

I just finished reading iWoz last night and I have to say that I was extremely dissapointed.

This book offers advice at the end, almost as an afterhought. If Wozniak wanted to make the book more interesting it would have served him better to turn the last chapter into a phamplet and sell that.

Reading through this book you will find several digs at Steve Jobs. Immediately I realized that Woz is quite bitter and resentful against Jobs.

There is no doubt in my mind about Woz's intelligence and what he has created but he talks about it in such a boastful way that it begins to become draining. "I was the first to do this, I was the first to do that" over and over again.

What I realized at the end of the book is that Wozniak has taken everything he has for granted. He forgets what while he may have invented many things he would not have financially benefited from ANY of it without Apple and without Jobs. He would still be a engineer at HP in their calculator division had OTHERS not worked with him. He rarely credits others for getting him where he is today.

My opinion of Steve Wozniak was much higher BEFORE I read this book. Unfortunately this book made me see what kind of person Steve Wozniak is, perhaps this is why he's burnt through so many wives. He's arrogant, self-centered and egotistical. Perhaps if you want a lesson in how to be thankless to those who've helped you reach much success you should give this book a read.

While Woz claims he did this book to 'set the story straight' it reads more like a last ditch attempt at not being forgotten.
November 09, 2008

It's informative, inspiring, and hilarious.

I was looking to find out how much was true of Pirates of Silicon Valley when I came across this book. I'm not a fan of Apple, but I am a person who enjoys history of many sorts, and I am close to getting a degree in Engineering Technology.

It's just a great read. There are many interesting things in here about history, such as his thoughts on Vietnam. He talks about his design decisions in simple terms. He describes in detail the most hilarious pranks that had me laughing aloud. I even learned a few things that might help me as an engineer. If I wasn't so busy, this book would be done in 2-3 days tops. It's just that difficult to put down. I always want to know what happens next and am disappointed when I have to put it down.

There are a few minor downsides. He is often repeats himself. He can be pompous at times. Some sentences don't communicate well. Even after reading the sentences multiple times, I couldn't understand what it was saying.

I'm just over halfway done with the book and I had to write the review because I am so excited about this book. I don't think you have to know any technical knowledge to enjoy it for what it is.
September 22, 2008

A Reminiscing Romp through early Computer History

If you use a computer (which is almost everyone now) I believe your obligated to read this book. Even though I enjoyed the book I felt like it lead me a little to how Woz wants to be remembered. I have a great admiration for him and this story certainly supports that. While for me there was nothing really shockingly new I did find a lot of little facts and stories that I had not known. Unfortunately I never did follow or understand his activities with the huge concerts in California. Being a long time computer enthusiast I couldn't help but loving this book. Hope you enjoy it as much.
September 17, 2008

Well written actually

Don't be put off by the negative statements about this guy. He is actually a very good writer. He explains himself clearly, and gets across complicated ideas in an accessable way, that... sort of just flows into the brain with the minimal of the reader's effort.

I think the main problem that readers have with his writing, IS his accessability! They want him to write in really over-complicated ways. You know... University degree educated people who feel something is not correct unless it's hard to read and hard to understand, so they can prove they are smarter than everyone else. I think most of the negative reviewers here are the ones who are bloated on the ego and butcher language, cos I found Woz a lot easier to read than their reviews.

Sadly, this is a comment on our times. There are too many stupid people in society who go around rubbishing inventors cos they are jealous that for all their degrees, achievements and so called intelligence, they never found themself capable of inventing anything.

Small minded arrogant University degree educated people make life tough for those who want to make the world a better place.
September 14, 2008

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