Walter Isaacson’s much-awaited biography of Steve Jobs hits the stands today. But it is by no means the only book about the man. We dig out six others that do a super job of telling us what Jobs was like. Pun intended.
Not all of them have Jobs as their central figure. None of them flatter him. Heck, many of them might even seem outdated, if all one wants is a “birth-to-death” biography. But what they do deliver a great picture of a man, who for all his faults, did change our lives a fair bit. If you are not in the mood to line up or dish out extra cash for a hardcover edition (hey, even the Kindle edition costs a fair bit), you could try reading these.
Accidental Empires: How the Boys of Silicon Valley Make Their Millions, Battle Foreign Competition, and Still Can’t Get a Date
By Robert X. Cringley
No, this is not just about Steve Jobs, but the sheer wealth of detail, gossip, and humour running through this book make it the one must-read title for all techies, in our ever so humble opinion. Cringley draws a picture of Silicon Valley from the seventies to the nineties that will make you shake your head in amazement even while you try not to giggle. And yes, Gates and Jobs are very much there. Incidentally, the book was the foundation of the much-hyped series “Triumph of the Nerds.”
The Second Coming of Steve Jobs
By Alan Deutschman
Jobs might have refused to grant any interviews to Deutschman for this book, but the Vanity Fair contributing editor still manages to serve up a very engrossing image of Jobs, warts and all, based on interviews with several people who have been associated with him. No, we do not agree with all of Deutschman’s conclusions but the book offers a stirring perspective of Jobs from many angles.
Return to the Little Kingdom: How Apple and Steve Jobs Changed the World
By Michael Moritz
The first really great book about Apple and Jobs remains as readable as it was when it was first written. The updated portion honestly does not read as well as the original one, but if you want to get a snapshot into what made Apple and Jobs great in the beginning, this is THE book to read, we think.
Infinite Loop: How Apple, the World’s Most Insanely Great Computer Company, Went Insane
By Michael S Malone
Has a book on Apple ever been more critical and yet better written? Honestly, we don’t think so. From the very outset, it is clear that the author is no fan of Steve Jobs, and aligns strongly (like many did) with Wozniak, but in terms of fluent writing and covering the facts about Apple from its existence until Jobs’ comeback, this is a very readable book. A bit out of date? Perhaps. A must-read? We think so.
Insanely Great: The Life and Times of Macintosh, the Computer that Changed Everything
By Stephen Levy
Many readers might take umbrage at Levy’s less-than-obsequious look at Jobs whom he at times dismisses as nothing more than a slick marketer, but rarely has a book captured the man’s way of working and near magical handling of products as this one has. What makes it really special is its highlighting of Jobs’ rather eccentric ways of management in his first phase in Apple. MBA types will learn stacks on how to present a product by reading this. Jobs fans will smile at how their idol proved Levy wrong in the end. But even they would be hard pressed to put this book down.
iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business
By Jeffrey Young and William Simon
The perfect book for the Steve Jobs beginner. If you are among those who is wondering why so many people have been moved by Jobs’ demise, then this is the book for you. Once again, Jobs did not collaborate with the authors, but in terms of outlining the life of the man, from his childhood till the era of the iPod, there is perhaps no better single title. It is also the most updated one in our list, so you will have lesser catching up to do with what happened afterwards. No, it does not break any new ground in terms of information and analysis but serves up a very succulent summary of the man, especially for those who knew him not.
