Small Fry
by Lisa Brennan-Jobs · first published 2018
9mentions
3recommended by
7HN commenters
2018–2025first – last mentioned
43% recommend57% neutral
Born on a farm and named in a field by her parents -- artist Chrisann Brennan and Steve Jobs -- Lisa Brennan-Jobs's childhood unfolded in a rapidly changing Silicon Valley. When she was young, Lisa's father was a mythical figure who was rarely present in her life. As she grew older, her father took an interest in her, ushering her into a new world of mansions, vacations, and private schools. His attention was thrilling, but he could also be cold, critical and unpredictable. When her relationship with her mother grew strained in high school, Lisa decided to move in with her father, hoping he'd
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
…I am definitely someone who would fall into the category of “zealous Apple fan” but Steve Jobs was clearly an asshole of the highest order. Read the Walter Isaacson biography or his daughter’s memoir, Small Fry. Lisa Brennan Jobs has no reason to peddle “anti-Apple rhetoric”. She has a vested interest in the opposite! But her book tells her story about growing up with a massive asshole for a father.
on “Steve Jobs emails himself (2010)” ↗…their way in. Says a lot about the actual signalling value vs. educational value of the universities (and the lottery that is admissions). On a tangential note, Lisa Brennan-Jobs' really great memoir "Small Fry" talks about her experience with this a bit. She dreamed of going to Harvard and during the admissions interview it didn't seem to be going anywhere until she quietly mentioned that her dad founded a…
on “Lori Loughlin and husband sentenced in college bribery scandal” ↗…cheating their way in” news cycle, the schools were angry they were getting a discount on the fee. Schools like Harvard also hold spots that help their own prestige, in Lisa Brennan-Jobs (great) book Small Fry she talks about her Harvard interview and the woman was basically an ass ignoring her until she mentioned her dad founded a computer company. When the interviewer realized her dad was Steve Jobs she literally…
on “Maybe the problem is that Harvard exists” ↗I’d also add Small Fry to this list - Lisa Brennan-Jobs’ memoir. Very different in style, but very good and focused on the family life part rarely talked about.
on “Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books?” ↗If you want to read more about that room and the context in which it existed, I recommend reading Lisa Brennan-Jobs’ “Small Fry”.
on “The Objects of Our Life (1983)” ↗His daughter recently published a memoir portraying Steve and his wife as creepy in the extreme. There's a number of excerpts out there as well. https://www.amazon.com/Small-Fry-Lisa-Brennan-Jobs/dp/080212...
on “Stories of Steve Jobs in Safari Design Reviews (2014)” ↗…Thumbs Up] Creative Selection - Ken Kociend [Neutral. Blog post in book form. ] Achtung Baby - Sara Zaske [Thumbs Up] The Reason I Jump - Naoki Higashida [Been in my queue for years. Two thumbs up] Small Fry - Lisa Brennan-Jobs [Neutral] Gut - Giulia Enders [Two thumbs up] Born a Crime - Trevor Noah [Two thumbs up. Learned more about the nuances of apartheid than I thought] I'm Proud of You - Tim Madigan…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗IMO it makes more sense to judge people by their worst than their best behavior. A monster who's deeply loved by his family is still a monster. I didn't read "Small Fry" by Lisa Brennan-Jobs, but the picture painted in the reviews of that memoir is scathing and heart breaking. He was a terrible father to her and he knew it.
It's mostly about the author, though her father necessarily features large - with Lisa Brennan-Jobs' 'Small Fry'. From 2018 https://www.booktopia.com.au/small-fry-lisa-brennan-jobs/boo...
on “Ask HN: Why aren't there other biographies of Steve Jobs?” ↗