The Best Books About Apple

Steve Jobs, written by Walter Isaacson, is widely regarded as one of the best books about Apple. Based on extensive interviews with Jobs, as well as interviews with family members, friends, and colleagues, the book offers a unique and personal look at the life and career of one of the most influential figures in the tech industry. Isaacson’s writing is engaging and his research is meticulous, making Steve Jobs a captivating read for anyone interested in Apple, technology, or business.

In addition to exploring Jobs’s personal life and relationships, the book delves into the key moments in Apple’s history and the creative processes behind some of the company’s most iconic products, such as the iPod and iPhone. At a time when America is seeking ways to sustain its innovative edge, Jobs stands as the ultimate icon of inventiveness and applied imagination. He knew that the best way to create value in the 21st century was to connect creativity with technology, and he built a company where leaps of the imagination were combined with remarkable feats of engineering.

Although Jobs cooperated with Isaacson for the book, he asked for no control over its content and encouraged those he knew to speak honestly. The result is an unvarnished view of the passions, perfectionism, obsessions, artistry, devilry, and compulsion for control that shaped Jobs’s approach to business and the innovative products that resulted. His tale is instructive and cautionary, filled with lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values. Steve Jobs is not only a must-read for those interested in Apple, but also for anyone looking to gain insight into the mind and strategies of a successful entrepreneur.

Insanely Simple by Ken Segall offers an inside look at the value of simplicity at Apple and how it played a crucial role in the company’s success. Segall, a former creative director at Apple’s ad agency, was involved in the creation of iconic marketing campaigns such as “Think Different” and the naming of the iMac. In the book, he shares previously untold stories from behind the scenes at Apple and provides insight into the company’s quest for simplicity under the leadership of Steve Jobs.

Through Segall’s wit and insight, readers will learn how simplicity helped Apple perform better and faster, sometimes even saving the company millions of dollars. The book offers a unique perspective on the inner workings of Apple and the role that simplicity played in the company’s turnaround and continued success. Insanely Simple is a must-read for anyone interested in Apple or the power of simplicity in business.

iWoz, written by Steve Wozniak and Gina Smith, is a New York Times bestseller that offers a firsthand account of the life and times of the co-founder of Apple. In the book, Wozniak tells the story of his journey from a mischievous and brilliant young inventor to a technological and business leader.

Before the era of slim laptops and portable computers, computers were large and complex machines that seemed out of reach for the average person. However, Wozniak changed all that with the creation of the first true personal computer, a feat that BusinessWeek referred to as “the most staggering burst of technical invention by a single person in high-tech history.” When he teamed up with Steve Jobs to co-found Apple, the company sparked a revolution in the tech industry and transformed the world.

In iWoz, Wozniak shares the details of his life and career in his own voice, offering a unique and entertaining perspective on the early days of Apple and the birth of the personal computer. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of technology or the story of Apple.

After Steve by Tripp Mickle is the dramatic and untold story of what happened inside Apple after the passing of Steve Jobs. The book follows the journeys of two of Jobs’s top lieutenants, Jony Ive, the Chief Design Officer, and Tim Cook, the COO-turned-CEO, and examines how the fading of Ive and the rise of Cook led to Apple losing its innovative spirit.

Ive, who was known as Jobs’s “spiritual partner at Apple,” was the creative force behind some of the company’s most iconic products, including the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. After Jobs’s death, Ive struggled with grief and threw himself into his work designing the new Apple headquarters and the Watch before losing his motivation in a company that was increasingly focused on margins rather than inspiration.

Cook, on the other hand, was Ive’s opposite. He rose through the ranks from the supply side of the company and was known for his ability to maximize margins and streamline operations. Cook was selected by Jobs as his successor, and under his leadership, Apple experienced tremendous revenue growth that lifted its valuation to $2 trillion. However, Cook’s focus on operational excellence came at a cost, and Apple has not designed a new category of device in years. Ive’s departure in 2019 marked a culmination in Apple’s shift from a company of innovation to one of operational excellence, and the price is a company that has lost its soul.

Tim Cook by Leander Kahney is a book that explores how CEO Tim Cook has led Apple to continued success after the death of Steve Jobs in 2011. When Jobs passed away, many people were unsure if anyone could fill his shoes and lead the company to the same level of success. However, seven years later, Apple’s stock has nearly tripled, making it the world’s first trillion dollar company.

Under Cook’s leadership, Apple has made a strong push into renewable energy, labor and environmentally-friendly supply chains, user privacy, and highly-recyclable products. The company has seen growth in various areas, including the massive success of the iPhone and the lesser-known triumph of the Apple Watch. Through strong and humane leadership, supply chain expertise, and a commitment to his values, Cook has succeeded in leading Apple into a new era of success.

Kahney’s book is based on interviews with several Apple insiders and provides an in-depth look at Cook’s leadership style and the decisions he has made to keep the company thriving. It is an inspiring story of how one person was able to step into an irreplaceable role and lead a global megabrand to continued success.

Inside Apple by Adam Lashinsky offers a unique look at the inner workings of Apple and the leadership strategies that have allowed the company to produce hit after hit and inspire a cult-like following for its products. Based on numerous interviews, the book provides exclusive new information about how Apple innovates, deals with its suppliers, and is handling the transition into the post-Jobs era.

Lashinsky, a senior editor at Fortune, is well-versed in the subject of Apple and was able to predict in a 2008 cover story that Tim Cook would eventually succeed Steve Jobs as CEO. Inside Apple introduces readers to concepts like the “DRI,” or the practice of assigning a directly responsible individual to every task, and the Top 100, an annual event in which 100 up-and-coming executives are selected for a secret retreat with Steve Jobs.

Although the book primarily focuses on Apple, the lessons about leadership, product design, and marketing are universal and can be applied to any company or creative endeavor. Whether you are hoping to bring some of that Apple magic to your own business or simply want to learn more about the inner workings of one of the world’s most successful companies, Inside Apple is a must-read.

Jony Ive by Leander Kahney is a biography of the talented British designer who has played a crucial role in the creation of some of the world’s most iconic technology products. In 1997, Steve Jobs discovered Ive working at Apple’s headquarters surrounded by hundreds of sketches and prototypes. Their collaboration would lead to the development of products like the iMac, iPod, iPad, and iPhone, which helped reverse Apple’s decline and revolutionized entire industries.

Despite his significant contributions to the tech world, little is known about Ive, who is known for being shy and soft-spoken. In this detailed portrait, Kahney draws on interviews with Ive’s former colleagues and Apple insiders to offer insight into the life and work of the designer, who has been referred to by Jobs as his “spiritual partner.” Jony Ive is a must-read for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes stories of how some of the world’s most iconic technology products were created.

The Apple Revolution by Luke Dormehl is the true story of the rise of the world’s largest technology company, told through exclusive insider interviews. The book traces the origins of Silicon Valley and the key players who helped shape it, including the hippies who founded the Homebrew Computer Club, the ad executive who created Apple’s iconic logo, and the engineers who met in a cardboard geodesic dome at Stanford University.

At the center of it all is Steve Jobs, whose singular vision and leadership helped turn Apple into the world-changing company it is today. The book also profiles other key figures in the company’s history, including Steve Wozniak, who built the first breakthrough Apple computers, and Jony Ive, who designed the iPod.

The Apple Revolution is a must-read for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes stories of the people and events that shaped the tech industry and helped create the Silicon Valley we know today.

Becoming Steve Jobs by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli is the #1 New York Times bestselling biography of the iconic CEO and co-founder of Apple. It breaks down the traditional one-dimensional view of Steve Jobs as a genius but difficult leader and instead presents a more nuanced portrayal of the man. Drawing on extensive and sometimes exclusive access to those who knew Jobs best, including his family, former executives, and top executives at Apple, Pixar, and Disney, the book offers a rich, compelling narrative that tells the story of how a young man with a tumultuous past became the most effective visionary business leader of our time.

In addition to offering insight into the personal and professional life of Steve Jobs, Becoming Steve Jobs also provides context about the technology revolution of the past few decades and the ways in which Jobs changed the world. Schlender, who knew Jobs personally for 25 years, combines his own interviews with the CEO with those of other key players to present a well-rounded view of the man and explain his behavior.

Through this rich and revealing account, readers will come to understand how Jobs was able to combine his unrelenting passion with an evolution in management style to achieve unparalleled success and create some of the most innovative and influential products in the world. The book also explores the lessons that can be learned from Jobs’ successes and failures, and how they can be applied to business and life. Overall, Becoming Steve Jobs is a must-read for anyone interested in the life and career of Steve Jobs, the history of technology, or simply seeking inspiration for their own pursuits.

Revolution in the Valley is a captivating and deeply personal account of the development of the Macintosh computer, one of the most iconic and influential products in the history of technology. Written by Andy Hertzfeld, a core member of the team that built the Macintosh and a key contributor to its innovative user interface, the book offers an insider’s perspective on the birth of the personal computer revolution.

Through Hertzfeld’s first-hand accounts and a wealth of period photos and illustrations, readers are transported back to the early 1980s, when the Macintosh was just a vision in the minds of a small group of passionate and sometimes eccentric engineers working within the walls of Apple. The book traces the journey of the Macintosh from its inception as an underground skunkworks project to its triumphant introduction in 1984 and beyond, offering a unique look at the people, challenges, and triumphs that shaped the development of this revolutionary product.

In addition to its portrayal of the Macintosh’s development, Revolution in the Valley also provides insight into the culture and personalities of Apple during this pivotal period in its history. Through Hertzfeld’s engaging and often humorous writing, readers get to know the talented and dedicated individuals who brought the Macintosh to life, and how their work has impacted the way we live and work today. Whether you’re a technology enthusiast, a business leader, or simply someone interested in the history of innovation, Revolution in the Valley is a must-read.