TL;DR
In Lisa Brennan-Jobs' memoir Small Fry, she recounts repeated cruelty from her father, Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, and describes how others around him enabled that behavior. The book adds detailed personal anecdotes to long-standing accounts of Jobs' difficult conduct toward employees, partners and family.
What happened
Lisa Brennan-Jobs' new memoir, Small Fry, revisits long-known reports that Steve Jobs could be harsh and difficult, but adds personal episodes that portray him as actively cruel toward his eldest daughter. The book recounts that Jobs initially denied paternity, only accepting it after a DNA test and a court order that forced him to begin paying child support. Brennan-Jobs says she saw him infrequently as a child; while he avoided involvement, she and her mother lived in poverty on welfare, low-paying work and charity. She also describes instances of emotional and sexualized teasing as a child, and says that when she later moved in with Jobs as a teenager he forbade contact with her mother for six months. Brennan-Jobs reports that, when she asked to be told goodnight, her stepmother replied, "We're cold people." The memoir frames these incidents alongside prior reports of Jobs' harshness toward colleagues and partners.
Why it matters
- Adds first-person detail to existing accounts of Steve Jobs' difficult behavior toward family and associates.
- Highlights the personal cost of conduct previously discussed mainly in business and media contexts.
- Raises questions about how personal behavior intersected with Jobs' public success and the safeguards (or lack thereof) around it.
- Signals renewed public scrutiny of high-profile leaders through intimate memoir testimony.
Key facts
- The memoir is titled Small Fry and is authored by Lisa Brennan-Jobs.
- Brennan-Jobs says Jobs initially denied he was her father and only began paying child support after a DNA test and court order.
- She reports seeing Jobs rarely when she was young, even after paternity was acknowledged.
- While Jobs avoided involvement, Brennan-Jobs and her mother lived on welfare, low-paying jobs, and charity.
- Brennan-Jobs alleges he arranged for the child-support case to be closed days before Apple went public.
- She describes an episode in which a then-9-year-old Brennan-Jobs was questioned and teased about her sexual attractions.
- When she moved in with Jobs as a teenager, she says he forbade contact with her mother for six months.
- Her stepmother, Laurene Powell Jobs, reportedly told her, "We're cold people," after she asked to be told goodnight.
- The article places these personal stories alongside long-standing reports of Jobs' harshness toward employees and partners.
What to watch next
- Public reaction to the memoir and any further accounts from other family members or Apple colleagues (not confirmed in the source).
- Whether the memoir prompts new archival disclosures or responses from people who worked with Jobs (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Memoir: A written account in which an author recounts personal experiences and reflections, often focused on specific periods or relationships.
- DNA test: A laboratory analysis used to compare genetic material, commonly applied to establish biological relationships such as paternity.
- Child support: Court-ordered financial payments from a noncustodial parent to assist in raising a child.
- Apple Lisa: An early personal computer developed by Apple; previously linked in accounts to Steve Jobs' daughter, though specifics vary by report.
Reader FAQ
Did Steve Jobs deny paternity of Lisa Brennan-Jobs?
According to the memoir and reporting cited, Jobs initially denied paternity and only began paying child support after a DNA test and court order.
What is the memoir's title?
The book is called Small Fry.
Was the Apple Lisa named for Lisa Brennan-Jobs?
The article says Jobs had denied the connection for years before later acknowledging it; further details are not provided in the source.
Did Lisa Brennan-Jobs live in poverty as a child?
The account states that she and her mother lived on welfare, low-paying jobs, and charity while Jobs avoided involvement.
The memoir by Steve Jobs' daughter makes clear he was a truly rotten person whose bad behavior was repeatedly enabled by those around him (AAPL) Troy Wolverton Updated August 26,…
Sources
- Steve Jobs was “a truly rotten person” (2018)
- In 'Small Fry,' Steve Jobs Comes Across as a Jerk. His …
- Steve Jobs exposed as an abusive creep by his daughter
- Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs – growing up as Steve …
Related posts
- Debate Grows Over Adding TSO Memory-Model Support to Arm CPUs
- Apple confirms Chase takeover of Apple Card and outlines next steps
- Lisa Brennan-Jobs’ memoir depicts Steve Jobs as ‘a truly rotten person’