Blake Schwendiman's Blog and Blook

I've been interested in biographies and similar types of books lately, so when I saw a book called The Second Coming of Steve Jobs, I was intrigued. I'm not sure I'd call it a biography -- and I don't think the author did, either. It's really a view on Steve from various outside sources.

If you're a computer nerd or if you just want to understand what's the big deal with Apple, you should read this book. Steve Jobs isn't just a computer nerd, he's an icon. He's always been an icon. In fact, not too many normal people know that there was another Steve at the beginning of Apple. Personally, I've always been a big fan of the other Steve, Steve Wozniak (Woz) -- the real brains behind the original Apple computers. I read a biography of Woz when I was a kid and I've always liked him.

The Second Coming of Steve Jobs covers the period of time essentially from the ousting of Jobs from Apple until his re-emergence as its CEO. It's a travel through some of the darkest times in his life and how he pulled through it. If you're looking for an inspirational book, though, this is not it. This is a book about guts, hard work, luck and a lot of toughness, but it's not a story. You won't connect with Steve and you won't be cheering him on through the pages. It's more like a travelogue -- you see the ups and downs, but you don't get involved.

So, would I recommend it? It depends. If you're looking for a model or inspiration, probably not. If you want to learn more about one of the most important people and companies ever in Silicon Valley, then definitely yes.