Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson (2011)

Although, considered as Steve Job's account of his life in some sense, the writer has provided a very detailed description of a product innovator's life. The book has overall kept the author's originality which is not influenced by Jobs as much. I have read iCon and you can see the review couple of years back. I think iCon level of depth is fair. This is by far way too detailed and sifting through 600 pages at times can be a bit daunting. But I will not consider this boring in any manner. Just sometimes when you get the gist you just want to finish the story and move ahead. At some point I felt that. But I think one should not miss the last chapter where Steve puts his thoughts on products and how he and his team at Apple and Pixar made it happen. Here are some points to learn from:

1. Great companies make great products and not run after money. For Steve money was a means of recognition and not the need to work for something great.
2. Great products come from great people and A team player prefer working with A team players. You cannot keep a mix of A and B team players.
3. Market research really cannot bring in new products. It only tells you with the limits or horizons the mass is exposed to. 
4. Great innovations are created off existing ideas already in the market. Interestingly, one of the early days in my career I had seen a great chip designer from Digital Corp had made a similar remark. Really great ideas come only when there is a critical mass of great thinkers. 

I think if you have worked for a great product ever, you will realise how brutally true some of these viewpoints are. Management literature can only suggest how to bring in operational efficiency to a well oiled machinery but great products are built when the beast is unleashed from human creativity. Some of the reactions and emotions in Steve Jobs life is testament to the same. 

Overall great read. But not your quick coffee table read. Involved and needs some patience.