It took me months to get a library copy of Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs. While many have talked about this book, I think School Library Journal's review did a good job of putting it in context, and explaining why teens should read it, too. I decided not to buy my own copy, and I'll nudge the debate about eBooks by saying that even though it's 600+ pages long, I can't imagine reading it on a device.
In an earlier post, I wrote about how smart people do dumb things. Well, Steve Jobs was that: creative, obnoxious AND a "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma". Isaacson says that Jobs stood at that nexus between the humanities and science, the arts and technology. While he was always fascinated by electronics, he went to liberal arts Reed College. If he hadn't dropped out, he wouldn't have audited a calligraphy course which influenced the fonts (typefaces) in the first Macintosh, and those in all other computers. As an aside, Reed is one of the handful of schools I considered applying to.
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I'm also reading "Darth Paper Strikes Back" the sequel to "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" by Tom Angleberger, about folded paper and middle school. Why? It's fun!
And I'm reading "Runny Babbit" by Shel Silverstein, because the next storytime is August 18th, National Bad Poetry Day. Writing bad poetry, I've discovered, is very hard. So we'll concentrate on rhyming words, visual rhymes, Spoonerisms and the creative process. And I love to tickle children's minds!
Read this: Anil Gupta and his search for innovation - I love this! There is creativity and invention everywhere. Now, if only they could find innovaton for their power needs.
See? In my universe, it's all related, circular - comes back around!
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I picked up a copy of Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs at the local Goodwill for $1.50. Haven't read it yet? My nephew was crazy about Origami once upon a time. Bet that's a good book. Gupta sounds like an interesting guy. ENJOY your reads.
ReplyDeleteI'm 1/3 of the way through - it's a good read. And a reminder that we're not special, any of us, and to treat each other with respect instead of arrogance. Too much of that in this world. I have no time for snobs, either, that's insecurity. Or people who think they know it all. Can you tell I have to deal with some of these types? Angleberger is an engaging writer for kids; adults will enjoy his writing, too. Gupta is in that small group of folks - more men than women - who are passionate, obsessed and the fact that they help others is such a positive by-product of that. I'm fascinated by him and others like him.
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