iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon

iWoz is Steve Wozniak's first-person account of his life, focusing on the path that led him to co-found Apple Computer. The autobiography traces his early years as a young engineer through the creation of the Apple I and Apple II computers. Wozniak details his deep connection to technology, his pranks and innovations at HP, and the friendship with Steve Jobs that would change computing history. The narrative provides technical explanations of his breakthrough designs while maintaining accessibility for non-technical readers. The book covers the meteoric rise of Apple Computer and Wozniak's experiences during the personal computing revolution of the 1970s and 80s. His later pursuits in education, philanthropy, and technology are also explored. This memoir speaks to themes of innovation, intellectual independence, and the intersection of art and engineering. The text serves as both a historical document of the digital revolution and a testament to the power of following one's passion with integrity.

Readers appreciate Wozniak's direct, conversational tone and technical explanations of early computer innovations. Many note his passion for engineering shines through, particularly when describing pranks and projects from his youth. Likes: - Details about Apple I and II development - Behind-the-scenes stories of early Silicon Valley - Focus on engineering over business - Honest portrayal of relationship with Jobs Dislikes: - Repetitive writing style - Defensive tone about his achievements - Too much focus on childhood stories - Limited coverage of post-Apple life "Feels like Woz is sitting next to you telling stories," notes one Amazon reviewer. Others criticize the "constant self-congratulation" and wish for more depth on technical innovations. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (500+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (300+ ratings) The audiobook version receives additional praise for capturing Wozniak's personality, though some find narrator Patrick Lawlor's delivery too enthusiastic.

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🔹 Steve Wozniak wrote this memoir with journalist Gina Smith, spending over 280 hours in interviews to ensure accuracy and capture his authentic voice. 🔹 The book reveals that Wozniak designed the Apple I computer while still working at Hewlett-Packard and offered it to them first—they rejected it five times. 🔹 Wozniak's early pranks, detailed in the book, included building a "blue box" device that allowed free long-distance phone calls and creating a fake bomb for a school project that led to his brief detention. 🔹 The revolutionary floppy disk controller he designed for the Apple II used only 8 chips instead of the usual 50-100 chips, saving significant production costs while improving reliability. 🔹 Despite being worth hundreds of millions after Apple's IPO, Wozniak returned to UC Berkeley under an alias to finish his electrical engineering degree, which he had abandoned earlier to co-found Apple.