iWoz

How I Invented the Personal Computer and Had Fun Along the Way

By: Steve Wozniak, Gina Smith

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

The mastermind behind Apple Computer 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.

©2006 Steve Wozniak (P)2006 Tantor Media, Inc.

Fascinating Individual and Great Message

As an engineering type, I really appreciated the theme/story and the life observation/commentary presented. All of the technical discussions are very well presented so readers of all backgrounds can enjoy the story behind this very facsinating indivdual; the type of individual who would be great to meet and know. I was glued to every minute of this book.

The Engineer’s Engineer

Steve Wozniak sets the record straight on many false facts about repeated Apple lore in this refreshing memoir. Unfettered by the drive of fame and fortune, Wozniak shows how he wanted to make good things and make people’s day better. Guided by the morals instilled by his father and support from teachers, Wozniak repeatedly proves that “doing the right thing,” even if it involves personal loss, is the best way to go. Even for a non-technical person, you will enjoy the enthusiasm of the eureka moments and the frustration of committee politics. Woz shares the most important lessons he has learned and hopes they will help anyone who has an idea because “the world needs more inventors.”

Loved It, Iron Eagle of Bios(plural, not system)

I came to understand a few years back that taste in subject matter is subjective. How much is my opinion really worth on: other people's opinions(meta-pinions), a performance, or anything else for that matter? If the answer is 2¢, read on... It was one of those stories that I was hanging on every word. Like when you tell your kids to go play in traffic, so you could stop rewinding a movie to hear what a character said. If I had to stop listening, I always rewound it 5 minutes just to ensure I remembered where I left off. I often set it on a chapter I already heard at bed time to fall asleep to, only to stay up half the night enjoying the content again. In my formative years(early 80's), I was lucky enough to have access to home computers. It shaped almost every aspect of my future. The content doesn't feel written, it flowed like he has told this story a thousand times. This should be a text book. It's filled with great: history, comp science definitions, how-to explanations, pen testing(phone systems), and marital advice. This manifesto(what you call a memoir from a guy with a beard) filled in gaps I didn't know I had.

Woz is the man

If you could sum up iWoz in three words, what would they be?

Too many movies about Steve Jobs. Where's our movie about Steve Wozniak?

What did you like best about this story?

Its a colorful story about an engineer, good dude and yes the man that made the PC what it is today.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Heck yeah!

fantastic book

The writing wasn't eloquent or inspired, but it was very entertaining to listen to. The writing style is approachable at almost any level and the life of Steve Wozniak was shared in an informative and fun way.

A great listen - authentic & real l, without hyperbole

Not your usual 'Apple Story' book, it focuses on all the details usually brushed over, & it brushes over the hyperbole.

It feels authentic & real, like Wos is right there in your lounge room👍🏻👌

Expectations met and more

I will be honest when I buy books on the two for one list I'm not always expecting much. I LOVED the jobs book and was hoping this would be similar.
Woz is a wonderful person. Hearing his perspective gave me so much respect for him. He explains complex things in an easy enough way. I felt like I learned a lot from this book and want to be a better person.

Love Woz

This was a really great book in the beginning and middle, but the ending gets a little fluffy and disorganized. It was great hearing all about the founding of Apple, but the end of the book could be tightened up in some places and needs to be expanded in other places, I think. Would read again.

Great story with plenty of tech talk!

Where does iWoz rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Its not the best, but its far from bad.

What did you like best about this story?

Woz manages to put a very positive spin on everything, and encourages the reader (listener?) to also have a positive outlook. Some of it gets bogged down by the tech talk, but I personally love computer science and that aspect only added enjoyment for me.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The reader did a good job. The only thing I had a problem with was the editing. You could clearly hear the punch in points.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Many parts were very funny, especially the recounting of Woz's many pranks and jokes.

Any additional comments?

It's well worth your time to listen to this if you have any interest whatsoever about computer science, or electrical engineering. Even if your not a fan of Apple (like myself).

Very interesting

What made the experience of listening to iWoz the most enjoyable?

It was great getting to hear his side of the story for the development of Apple.

What did you like best about this story?

Hearing the history of Apple from Woz's side of things.

Have you listened to any of Patrick Lawlor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.