Idea Man: A Memoir by the Cofounder of Microsoft

by Paul Allen Narrated by Sean Runnette

Overview

By his early thirties, Paul Allen was a world-famous billionaire-and that was just the beginning.

In 2007 and 2008, Time named Paul Allen, the cofounder of Microsoft, one of the hundred most influential people in the world. Since he made his fortune, his impact has been felt in science, technology, business, medicine, sports, music, and philanthropy. His passion, curiosity, and intellectual rigor-combined with the resources to launch and support new initiatives-have literally changed the world.

In 2009 Allen discovered that he had lymphoma, lending urgency to his desire to share his story for the first time. In this classic memoir, Allen explains how he has solved problems, what he's learned from his many endeavors-both the triumphs and the failures-and his compelling vision for the future. He reflects candidly on an extraordinary life.

The book also features previously untold stories about everything from the true origins of Microsoft to Allen's role in the dawn of private space travel (with SpaceShipOne) and in discoveries at the frontiers of brain science. With honesty, humor, and insight, Allen tells the story of a life of ideas made real.

Editorial Reviews

JUNE 2011 - AudioFile

This memoir highlights the eclectic adventures of the endlessly curious, highly imaginative, and wildly innovative Allen. Details of his early life and his creative and business activities with Bill Gates predominate, but his post-Microsoft charitable and “special interest” businesses and activities are thoroughly explored as well. Allen’s writing style is impersonal, and Sean Runnette's narration reflects the author’s chilly, somewhat arrogant tone. While Runnette employs precise enunciation, his tone is flat, bordering on the mechanical. While that tone may be appropriate for Allen’s personality, it does little to engage listeners. Those interested in the history of the personal computer, rock music lore, and world travel to unusual locales will learn much from this production. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2011 - AudioFile

This memoir highlights the eclectic adventures of the endlessly curious, highly imaginative, and wildly innovative Allen. Details of his early life and his creative and business activities with Bill Gates predominate, but his post-Microsoft charitable and “special interest” businesses and activities are thoroughly explored as well. Allen’s writing style is impersonal, and Sean Runnette's narration reflects the author’s chilly, somewhat arrogant tone. While Runnette employs precise enunciation, his tone is flat, bordering on the mechanical. While that tone may be appropriate for Allen’s personality, it does little to engage listeners. Those interested in the history of the personal computer, rock music lore, and world travel to unusual locales will learn much from this production. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172075803
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	04/19/2011
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos