Steve Jobs Books: 9 Fascinating Reads About Apple And Its Co-Founder

Even before Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs passed away at the age of 56 on October 5 of last year, the whole world was fascinated not only with the man who helped transform Silicon Valley but also by the mystery surrounding the company he helmed.

Biographies like Walter Isaacson's best-seller, "Steve Jobs," published last October, have already uncovered much about Jobs. But other works, like Adam Lashinsky's "Inside Apple: How America's Most Admired -- And Secretive -- Company Really Works" and Ken Segall's soon-to-be-published "Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple's Success," strive to explain all there is to know about Apple itself and how other companies may learn from Jobs' successful leadership.

Fortune editor Adam Lashinsky's book was just recently released on January 25 and has already captured attention with what it has unveiled about Apple's methods. While the company has thrived on super-strict secrecy, Lashinsky told the New York Times that this strategy might not work for every business out there. "There's definitely a don't-try-this-at-home aspect to it," he explained. "You don't want to flip a switch and be like Apple. But could most companies do a better job of keeping secrets? I think so. Could they restrict the number of people authorized to speak for the company? I think so."

As former Apple agency creative director under Steve Jobs, Ken Segall's book promises to be another good read, this time a thorough explication of Apple's notorious simplistic principles from a unique insider perspective. "Apple's devotion to Simplicity is the one constant that can be traced from the first apple II computer all the way to today's iPad," wrote Ken Segall on his blog. "Though the company's success is built upon engineering and design skills, it's the love of Simplicity that truly powers Apple, revolution after revolution."

While these books are sure to be an education in and of themselves, there are a variety of others on Steve Jobs and Apple published in the last several months that appeal to all ages and are just waiting to be read. Check out the slideshow below to learn a little more about them, and tell us: Which ones are you dying to read or share?

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Comments

[David Lockard]

08:52 AM on 02/22/2012

I'll grow a bushel by comparing my basket to yours. And these seeds of mine? They'll never sow the earth because they won't get past my beautiful basket. I'll never be soiled by the dirt. I'll rot in this pretty basket, which happens to be better than yours. Apple smapple.. OK Snapple. That's the latest and where my fruit juice will be sold because my juice is pure and so am I.

Ugh.

I wanted to meet him in person, privately and just have a conversation. There were things I wanted to discuss. I think I made him laugh once ~

[Serin09]

11:42 AM on 02/19/2012

I liked Isaacson's book best, It was a very personal and endearing, People are still missing this man. Some people can't leave and just be forgotten, and this is one.

[agrwal amit]

01:25 AM on 02/19/2012

Steve jobs extensive Biography in pdf doc. Free Download. http://investorzclub.blogspot.com/2011/10/steve-jobs-biography-pdf-free-download.html

[agrwal amit]

01:22 AM on 02/19/2012

Apple without Jobs, what could be the future. Steve Jobs extensive Biography in a pdf doc. http://investorzclub.blogspot.com/2011/10/steve-jobs-biography-pdf-free-download.html

[stwobie]

09:35 AM on 02/18/2012

They missed a major one. "The Journey is the Reward". Published in the mid 80's it really gives great insight into the early years of Jobs up to his departure.

[nofriendofrepublicans]

08:38 AM on 02/18/2012

Interesting article about Jobs by Eric Alterman.http://www.thenation.com/article/164499/agony-and-ecstasy-and-disgrace-steve-jobs

[Al Schrader]

04:46 AM on 02/18/2012

I can understand the need for secrecy. All I did was talk about the graviton in a chat and three years later they had 90% of the 10 billion dollar Large Hadron Collider built. Only, the Collider doesn't work. They never detected a graviton. Why ? I didn't mention the secret part....Alfie-

[Charismatron]

01:56 AM on 02/18/2012

Not a single person here complaining about Apple not 'bringing jobs home to America' in the endless stream of HP Apple ads/articles has ever cited another company for not doing the same thing. Not one. Whatever altar you choose to worship at, it's both ridiculous and tiresome. Make a wish list of *all* the companies you oppose doing it or just please stop doing it.

[ur2nutty4me]

09:32 PM on 02/17/2012

All i can say is his legacy would have read a lot better if stated American entrprenear and visionary made billions while bringing thousands of jobs to the US economy. And those who claim he would not have made a profit can suck wind with that out and out lie.

[mlambush]

07:00 PM on 02/17/2012

You forgot number 10: The HuffPo tech section.

[ILoveGreatDanes]

08:14 PM on 02/19/2012

Agreed. This Apple hero worship is so tiring. Can we have a REAL tech section someday?

[adika3z]

06:13 PM on 02/17/2012

how come steve jobs send apple / mac to asia,
why he do that,
he know better and let apple / mac is MADE IN AMERICA and not need asia

[Pectin]

08:36 PM on 02/17/2012

He need to stay in business, that why.

[adika3z]

08:46 PM on 02/17/2012

he need to keep AMERICA make it apple / mac,
dont need to depend on asia

[SoulOfWit]

01:11 PM on 02/17/2012

You really only need the authorized biography. The author had exhaustive access and presents a warts-and-all view. The Lashinsky book might be interesting. A lot of people don't understand how secrecy is a powerful marketing tool for Apple.

[Charismatron]

01:58 AM on 02/18/2012

Isaacson's book is nice, but far from ideal: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdaringfireball.net%2F2012%2F02%2Fwalter_isaacson_steve_jobs&h=nAQFWh-s3AQGowMTWnbz8_KNLq2a8znMvWY1bRauvE7PL-A

[SoulOfWit]

05:23 PM on 02/18/2012

I do agree that Isaacson fails to fully grasp the "Apple way". Apple does all of the other things that it does (including software and convenient app stores) in order to sell hardware. That's the source of the huge profits. On the surface, it looks like marketing hype to sell the latest shiny gadget. That is dead wrong, of course.

Steve Jobs was the master of resolving conflict between engineering and design. Frequently, he was able to drive the engineers to find a way to make the function come to the form. It's usually the other way around. The designers have to wrap the form around a pre-existing function. Gruber captures the end result concisely: "engineering became a component of the design process."