Authorized Steve Jobs biography to arrive in early 2012
Publishing house Simon & Schuster announced Sunday that an authorized biography on Steve Jobs will be released in early 2012, providing readers with an unprecedented look at the life of Apple's CEO and co-founder.
The biography, entitled "iSteve: The Book of Jobs," will be written by Walter Isaacson, a former Time executive who has written best-selling biographies about Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein, as noted by the Associated Press. Last year, reports emerged that Isaacson was working on the book, but Sunday's news comes as the first official confirmation of the project.
"This is the perfect match of subject and author, and it is certain to be a landmark book about one of the world's greatest innovators," Jonathan Karp, publisher of Simon & Schuster, said in a statement. "Just as he did with Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, Walter Isaacson is telling a unique story of revolutionary genius."
Isaacson began work on the book in 2009 and has interviewed Jobs himself, as well as his family members, coworkers and competitors. He has also reportedly been invited by Jobs to tour his childhood home.
While this isn't the first biography written about Jobs, this is the first time that Jobs has cooperated with one. In 2005, an unauthorized biography of Jobs entitled "iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business" resulted in Apple pulling all titles by publisher John Wiley & Sons from the company's retail stores. The resulting publicity prompted Wiley to double the book's initial press run and move the release date forward by several weeks.
It has been suggested that Jobs' recent health issues have contributed to his willingness to collaborate on the biography. "Cooperation with Mr. Isaacson could be a sign that Mr. Jobs has emerged from his recent health battles with more of an interest in shaping his legacy," said a New York Times report last year.
Jobs is currently on his second medical leave in two years. Though Jobs has asked for privacy during his leave, public appearances by him have generated significant buzz due to speculation about his health.
In February, Jobs was photographed at a dinner with President Obama and other business leaders.
In March, surprised attendees by taking the stage at the iPad 2 event. "We've been working on this product for a while and I just didn't want to miss today," said Jobs after receiving a standing ovation.
The biography, entitled "iSteve: The Book of Jobs," will be written by Walter Isaacson, a former Time executive who has written best-selling biographies about Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein, as noted by the Associated Press. Last year, reports emerged that Isaacson was working on the book, but Sunday's news comes as the first official confirmation of the project.
"This is the perfect match of subject and author, and it is certain to be a landmark book about one of the world's greatest innovators," Jonathan Karp, publisher of Simon & Schuster, said in a statement. "Just as he did with Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, Walter Isaacson is telling a unique story of revolutionary genius."
Isaacson began work on the book in 2009 and has interviewed Jobs himself, as well as his family members, coworkers and competitors. He has also reportedly been invited by Jobs to tour his childhood home.
While this isn't the first biography written about Jobs, this is the first time that Jobs has cooperated with one. In 2005, an unauthorized biography of Jobs entitled "iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business" resulted in Apple pulling all titles by publisher John Wiley & Sons from the company's retail stores. The resulting publicity prompted Wiley to double the book's initial press run and move the release date forward by several weeks.
It has been suggested that Jobs' recent health issues have contributed to his willingness to collaborate on the biography. "Cooperation with Mr. Isaacson could be a sign that Mr. Jobs has emerged from his recent health battles with more of an interest in shaping his legacy," said a New York Times report last year.
Jobs is currently on his second medical leave in two years. Though Jobs has asked for privacy during his leave, public appearances by him have generated significant buzz due to speculation about his health.
In February, Jobs was photographed at a dinner with President Obama and other business leaders.
In March, surprised attendees by taking the stage at the iPad 2 event. "We've been working on this product for a while and I just didn't want to miss today," said Jobs after receiving a standing ovation.
Comments
I see the 2012 as the perfect announcement of his retirement. To many it will really be the end of the world as we know.
i watched the "pirates of the silicon" valley couple of times, it was ok.
when is the movie coming out?
i watched the "pirates of the silicon" valley couple of times, it was ok.
I'll buy this. In iBooks no doubt.
I'd love to see an update to "Pirates". Billy and Melinda doling out their cash for causes, while Ballmer runs Microsoft into the ground. Paul Allen running his sports teams. Woz in the background doing "Dancing with the Stars." Steve and Tim and all the others reload and take over the world.
This will be the only biography of Steve Jobs you'll be able to buy from the iBooks Store, I assume?
Since it is an authorized Autohagiography of the man's life to date, it's the only one you would really want.
Personally, I'm glad I had the opportunity to have him as a boss, not once but twice.
As an AAPL shareholder, I'm definitely concerned after reading this. Looks like SJ is moving to the background and that just can't be good for the company. I don't want to hold MSFT without Bill and the same applys to AAPL without Steve.
If you're concerned about Steve leaving Apple, there are a lot better signs that it will happen than him authorizing a bio.
Like the fact that, for the most part, he's already gone.
Changing times the last two have shut down in the shopping centre I work in.
I'd like to see what Steve's guiding hand can achieve with an iBook on an iPad, it could end up as something that could blow the concept of traditional books away.
I will definitely buy this, however what I really want to hear is Steve's thoughts on the future. Sort of like Bill Gates wrote The Road Ahead.
I hope that it will be in no way or no how similar to The Road Ahead.
I recall serious reviewers panning it.
So when will anyone be publishing any of the highlights from the book? Looking forward to a few as advance copies get perused later this year (hopefully).
As an AAPL shareholder, I'm definitely concerned after reading this. Looks like SJ is moving to the background and that just can't be good for the company. I don't want to hold MSFT without Bill and the same applys to AAPL without Steve.
Then sell today. Nobody lives forever and any company that can't survive without the founder isn't worth owning anyway. Apple will go on after Jobs and will continue to be successful. Today is different than the post-Jobs era in the early 90s. Jobs has his people trained and ready to take over. I'm sure of it.
Then sell today. Nobody lives forever and any company that can't survive without the founder isn't worth owning anyway. Apple will go on after Jobs and will continue to be successful. Today is different than the post-Jobs era in the early 90s. Jobs has his people trained and ready to take over. I'm sure of it.
Perhaps he should team up with the unions and that governance outfit (I forget their name) to bring a shareholder suit against Apple since SJ is a mere mortal.
To me, the idea that Jobs cooperated with the author of this book and that its release is in 2012 signifies that he may be stepping down then. Other than health reasons, why allow the release a biography before your time is up?
I see the 2012 as the perfect announcement of his retirement. To many it will really be the end of the world as we know.
I confess I had the exact same thoughts. Hopefully SJ goes into a semi retirement and stays with Apple as a 'guru' and concept engineer for another few decades.