Synopses & Reviews
Steve Jobs has turned his personality traits into a business philosophy. Heres how he does it. Its hard to believe that one man revolutionized computers in the 1970s and 80s (with the Apple II and the Mac), animated movies in the 1990s (with Pixar), and digital music in the 2000s (with the iPod and iTunes). No wonder some people worship him like a god. On the other hand, stories of his epic tantrums and general bad behavior are legendary.
Inside Steves Brain cuts through the cult of personality that surrounds Jobs to unearth the secrets to his unbelievable results. It reveals the real Steve Jobsnot his heart or his famous temper, but his mind. So whats really inside Steves brain? According to Leander Kahney, who has covered Jobs since the early 1990s, its a fascinating bundle of contradictions.
Jobs is an elitist who thinks most people are bozosbut he makes gadgets so easy to use, a bozo can master them.
Hes a mercurial obsessive with a filthy temperbut he forges deep partnerships with creative geniuses like Steve Wozniak, Jonathan Ive, and John Lasseter.
Hes a Buddhist and anti-materialistbut he produces mass-market products in Asian factories, and he promotes them with absolute mastery of the crassest medium, advertising.
In short, Jobs has embraced the traits that some consider flawsnarcissism, perfectionism, the desire for total controlto lead Apple and Pixar to triumph against steep odds. And in the process, he has become a self-made billionaire.
In Inside Steves Brain, Kahney distills the principles that guide Jobs as he launches killer products, attracts fanatically loyal customers, and manages some of the worlds most powerful brands.
The result is this unique book about Steve Jobs that is part biography and part leadership guide, and impossible to put down. It gives you a peek inside Steves brain, and might even teach you something about how to build your own culture of innovation.
Review
ôThroughout his storied Silicon Valley career, Apple CEO and Pixar Studiosfounder Steve Jobs has been labeled, among other things, an egomaniac, a Zen Buddhist, a business mastermind, a sociopath and a music mogul. Blogger, author and Wired News editor Kahney, who has chronicled Apple in previous books (The Cult of Mac), attempts to plumb the depths of JobsÆs prodigious mind in this engrossng biography. The author devotes much time to the sensational aspects of JobsÆ ife, including his demeaning and ferocious interactions with employees, his relentless high-mindedness and fanatical attention to detail, clearly demonstrating how his tyrannical and perfectionist impulses have have shaped the award-winning designs and consumer-friendly products that have made Apple a juggernaut. Though it doesnÆt penetrate the Mac manÆs psyche too deeply, and sections on tangenal figures like Apple design guru Jonathan Ive and Apple Store visionary Ron Johnson can meander, those searching for a telling portrait of JobsÆs management syle and its impact on Apple will not be left wanting.ö
--PublisherÆseekly(Apr.)
Synopsis
Kahney offers an insider's guide to the unique leadership style of Steve Jobs, the driving force behind the success of Apple and Pixar.
Synopsis
Steve Jobs has turned his personality traits into a business philosophy. Hereas how he does it.
Itas hard to believe that one man revolutionized computers in the 1970s and a80s (with the Apple II and the Mac), animated movies in the 1990s (with Pixar), and digital music in the 2000s (with the iPod and iTunes). No wonder some people worship him like a god. On the other hand, stories of his epic tantrums and general bad behavior are legendary.
Inside Steveas Brain cuts through the cult of personality that surrounds Jobs to unearth the secrets to his unbelievable results. It reveals the real Steve Jobsanot his heart or his famous temper, but his mind. So whatas really inside Steveas brain? According to Leander Kahney, who has covered Jobs since the early 1990s, itas a fascinating bundle of contradictions.
Jobs is an elitist who thinks most people are bozosabut he makes gadgets so easy to use, a bozo can master them.
Heas a mercurial obsessive with a filthy temperabut he forges deep partnerships with creative geniuses like Steve Wozniak, Jonathan Ive, and John Lasseter.
Heas a Buddhist and anti-materialistabut he produces mass-market products in Asian factories, and he promotes them with absolute mastery of the crassest medium, advertising.
In short, Jobs has embraced the traits that some consider flawsanarcissism, perfectionism, the desire for total controlato lead Apple and Pixar to triumph against steep odds. And in the process, he has become a self-made billionaire.
In Inside Steveas Brain, Kahney distills the principles that guide Jobs as he launches killer products, attracts fanatically loyal customers, and manages some of the worldas mostpowerful brands.
The result is this unique book about Steve Jobs that is part biography and part leadership guide, and impossible to put down. It gives you a peek inside Steveas brain, and might even teach you something about how to build your own culture of innovation.
Synopsis
The bestselling author of Inside Steveand#8217;s Brain profiles Appleand#8217;s legendary chief designer, Jonathan Ive and#160;
Jony Iveand#8217;s designs have not only made Apple one of the most valuable companies in the world; theyand#8217;ve overturned entire industries, from music and mobile phones to PCs and tablets.
and#160;
But for someone who has changed the world as much as he has, little is widely known about Appleand#8217;s senior vice president of industrial design. Unlike his former boss and creative partner Steve Jobs, Ive shuns the spotlight. Naturally shy and soft-spoken, he lets his work speak for itself and concerns himself only with his craft.
and#160;
In the first book to focus on Ive, Leander Kahney offers a rigorous and systematic examination of a remarkably creative career and provides insight into the principles underlying Iveand#8217;s success.
and#160;
Having covered Apple as an editor since the 1990s and interviewed Ive on numerous occasions, Kahney offers a unique perspective on how this man designs killer products that attract fanatically loyal customers.
About the Author
Leander Kahney has covered Apple for more than a dozen years and has written three popular books about Apple, including Inside Steveand#8217;s Brain. The former news editor for Wired.com, he is currently the editor and publisher of CultofMac.com. He lives in San Francisco.