Interesting memoir from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The chapters in which he discusses the company that made him billions are, predictably, the most interesting, but Allen has been involved in a variety of projects since he left Microsoft in the '80s. His adventures as a pro sports owner (Trailblazers, Seahawks), involvement in private space exploration and funding of genetic brain research, among others, are enjoyable reads, even if they do have a glossed over gee-whiz element to them. Allen is most compelling when discussing the things he can't control, such as his complex relationship with Microsoft and Bill Gates, the time he lost billions in the cable industry, and his struggles with cancer. Those chapters and their honesty make up for some of the overly earnest entries. Allen might not be a emotionally complex and dynamic genius like Steve Jobs, or even Gates, but he deserves more credit for the world we live in than he's given. His intense curiosity for a diverse range of subjects speaks to a deep intelligence and sets him apart from the generation of tech founders he emerged grew up with. He writes just as confidently and knowledgeably about mapping the brain's genes, tackling payload specifications for spaceflight or developing a draft day strategy as he does writing about BASIC and Windows. It's hard to imagine many iconoclasts in his field walking so comfortably in so many different pairs of shoes. What an awesomely great memoir for a such an influential man! I went into this book thinking it would only be about Microsoft. Once the discussion shifted away from Microsoft, I started to wonder what the other half of the book would be like. I was incredibly surprised at how awesome this man really is. He has had his hands in everything from basketball and football franchises to music museums to human genome research and everything in between. This guy makes me want to go out and conquer the world. Definitely a must-read for anyone interested!
What do You think about Idea Man (2011)?
If you are curious about how modern computing came about this is an interesting read.
—pajoje
For someone that knows little about Paul Allen, the book was quite fascinating!
—Sandy
really good - great background on how an amazing company was founded
—Elila
