Customer Reviews for

Idea Man: A Memoir by the Co-Founder of Microsoft

Average Rating 3.5
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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 9, 2012

    this is an very intriguing book from a tech visionary and billio

    this is an very intriguing book from a tech visionary and billionaire. i bought this book primarily because i used to work for microsoft, the company mr allen co-founded 37 years ago. mr allen's writing was surprisingly engaging in this book, and you can still see his insight on tech still very relevant even to this day.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 29, 2011

    A good read for an entrepreneur

    A throughly enjoy book about a man with a vision

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  • Posted September 7, 2011

    A Great American

    Not only did I learn how an "idea" can change one's life, I discovered a man who honestly wants to make a difference to future generations. From rapping on his guitar with friends to working with world leaders, Paul Allen is making his "mark" on society. Jack Vax Mt. Pleasant, SC

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  • Posted July 3, 2011

    Highly recommended

    I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It was clearly organized and easy to read, even if you are not a huge techie!

    How does one person accomplish all that Paul Allen has done in one life? His work ethic is admirable, and as a parent, I have to say that the root of his success is a result of the great job his parents did in raising him. Some might say he was lucky, but this book showed me that he created his own luck through basic hard work and determination.

    It was great to see that his money not only allowed him to pursue his interests, but that doing so also enabled him to contribute to society in such positive, meaningful ways.

    I'm now a huge fan!

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  • Posted May 6, 2011

    What a reader can accomplish

    Paul Allen's Idea Man demonstrates what a reader (of any age) can accomplish once he puts his imagination and his hands to a problem. I'd recommend its purchase to every public library. I'm writing a check to the Town of Acton's (MA) library, along with this recommendation. My copy's copiously annotated, so I'm buying another for my 12 year old Leggo-loving nephew. I already gave a copy to my Ron Chernow-loving brother-in-law. This isn't an "I, then I" memoir. Allen credits many team players to whom he's indebted. This is for anyone who's interested in computers, team building in basketball and football, brain research, outer space, and the list continues. WOW!

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  • Posted May 1, 2011

    Buy the hardcover version if you want to see the photos!

    I really liked this book, at least the first half which covers his stint as Microsoft co-founder.

    However, when I checked out the hardcover print edition in the store it had a dozen pages of photos which are not in the e-book!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 29, 2011

    The First Accidental Billionaire

    Paul Allen is a visionary who was not afraid to dream big. Had Allen not continually push Gates to abandon his 'sure thing' at Harvard, how different would our world be today? Allen tells a story not so different from the 1999 movie 'Pirates of Sillicon Valley'. He paints a surprisingly personal and borderline bias image of his tattered relationship with Gates during his tenure at Microsoft. Allen seems to blame Gates for his erratic, explosive, and controlling behavior and its role on his departure from Microsoft. It becomes apparent that Allen, while being a founder of a business empire, doesn't fit in with the hard-nose corporate culture. His shortcomings in corporate America were the product of his big heart. Allen is simply a lover and not a fighter. He plays fair, follows the rules, and is genuine to his core. This is half a story about the founding of the largest software vendor in the world and half a story about a simple man, with little desire for power, who stumbles into one of the world's largest fortunes and struggles to stave off boredom. This is an epic story about a nice guy who finishes first while following his heart.

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  • Posted April 25, 2011

    Great book, a must read !

    Just started the book and so far I am so enveloped in it, great book,

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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    Posted April 23, 2011

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    Posted April 23, 2011

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    Posted July 29, 2011

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    Posted July 4, 2011

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    Posted July 4, 2011

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    Posted April 23, 2011

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    Posted April 24, 2011

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    Posted August 18, 2011

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    Posted April 18, 2011

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    Posted April 24, 2011

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    Posted August 27, 2011

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    Posted May 3, 2011

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