- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 14, 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0471787841
- ISBN-13: 978-0471787846
Product Description
iCon takes a look at the most astounding figure in a business era noted for its mavericks, oddballs, and iconoclasts. Drawing on a wide range of sources, Jeffrey Young and William Simon provide new perspectives on the legendary creation of Apple, detail Jobs’s meteoric rise, and the devastating plunge that left him not only out of Apple, but out of the computer-making business entirely. This unflinching and completely unauthorized portrait reveals both sides of Jobs’s role in the remarkable rise of the Pixar animation studio, also re-creates the acrimony between Jobs and Disney’s Michael Eisner, and examines Jobs’s dramatic his rise from the ashes with his recapture of Apple. The authors examine the takeover and Jobs’s reinvention of the company with the popular iMac and his transformation of the industry with the revolutionary iPod. iCon is must reading for anyone who wants to understand how the modern digital age has been formed, shaped, and refined by the most influential figure of the age–a master of three industries: movies, music, and computers.
From the Inside Flap
According to F. Scott Fitzgerald, there are no second acts in American life. Apparently he forgot to tell Steve Jobs.Jobs rose from an outcast high school electronics nerd to become the driving force behind Apple and avatar of the computer revolution, only to be driven from the company in failure and disgrace. Then, having endured repeated personal and professional disasters, he went on to make an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, reclaim the throne at Apple, and, with the extraordinary success of the iPod, regain his reputation as arguably the greatest innovator of the digital age.
iCon takes a look at the most astounding figure in a business era noted for its mavericks, oddballs, and iconoclasts. Drawing on a wide range of sources in Silicon Valley and Hollywood, Jeffrey Young, author of the first-ever Jobs biography, and coauthor William Simon provide new perspectives on the legendary creation of Apple in a Silicon Valley garage and detail Jobs's meteoric rise as the prototypical digital wunderkind and the devastating plunge that left him not only out of Apple, but out of the computer-making business entirely.
Act two begins with Jobs displaying his talent for bedeviling business associates and making enemies along the way. Still stinging with embarrassment after his crash from the heights, he waged a tough negotiation with George Lucas for the purchase of the legendary filmmaker's computer animation business—at one-third of the asking price—and pressured his "partners" into settling for a modest percentage of what would become Pixar, keeping the remainder for himself.
This unflinching and completely unauthorized portrait reveals both sides of Jobs's role in the remarkable rise of the Pixar animation studio, from Toy Story and the string of hit movies that delighted audiences around the world to his rocky alliance with Disney. It also re-creates the acrimony between Jobs and Disney's Michael Eisner, which ended the once-close relationship between the two companies.
The most dramatic, and, no doubt, most satisfying of Jobs's achievements during his rise from the ashes was his recapture of Apple, ten years after being booted out of the company, in a coup that only he could have orchestrated. The authors examine the takeover and Jobs's reinvention of the company with the very popular iMac and his transformation of the industry, and again the culture, with the revolutionary iPod.
Complete with a preview of Jobs's third act, iCon is must reading for anyone who wants to understand how the modern digital age has been formed, shaped, and refined by the most influential figure of the age—a master of three industries: movies, music, and computers. It is about understanding the future by understanding the past and present of the Digital King, Steve Jobs. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
iCon takes a look at the most astounding figure in a business era noted for its mavericks, oddballs, and iconoclasts. Drawing on a wide range of sources in Silicon Valley and Hollywood, Jeffrey Young, author of the first-ever Jobs biography, and coauthor William Simon provide new perspectives on the legendary creation of Apple in a Silicon Valley garage and detail Jobs's meteoric rise as the prototypical digital wunderkind and the devastating plunge that left him not only out of Apple, but out of the computer-making business entirely.
Act two begins with Jobs displaying his talent for bedeviling business associates and making enemies along the way. Still stinging with embarrassment after his crash from the heights, he waged a tough negotiation with George Lucas for the purchase of the legendary filmmaker's computer animation business—at one-third of the asking price—and pressured his "partners" into settling for a modest percentage of what would become Pixar, keeping the remainder for himself.
This unflinching and completely unauthorized portrait reveals both sides of Jobs's role in the remarkable rise of the Pixar animation studio, from Toy Story and the string of hit movies that delighted audiences around the world to his rocky alliance with Disney. It also re-creates the acrimony between Jobs and Disney's Michael Eisner, which ended the once-close relationship between the two companies.
The most dramatic, and, no doubt, most satisfying of Jobs's achievements during his rise from the ashes was his recapture of Apple, ten years after being booted out of the company, in a coup that only he could have orchestrated. The authors examine the takeover and Jobs's reinvention of the company with the very popular iMac and his transformation of the industry, and again the culture, with the revolutionary iPod.
Complete with a preview of Jobs's third act, iCon is must reading for anyone who wants to understand how the modern digital age has been formed, shaped, and refined by the most influential figure of the age—a master of three industries: movies, music, and computers. It is about understanding the future by understanding the past and present of the Digital King, Steve Jobs. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From the Back Cover
Now updated to cover the acquisition of Pixar by Disney
"An interesting and engaging tale. Warts and all, for better or worse, Steve Jobs is undisputedly an American business icon."
—The Miami Herald
This unflinching and completely unauthorized portrait reveals how Steve Jobs staged the greatest second act in the history of business. Taking us back to the heady days of Silicon Valley in the 1970s, iCon shows how Jobs achieved his first great success, rising from an outcast high school electronics nerd to become the driving force behind Apple and avatar of the computer revolution, only to be driven from the company in failure and disgrace. It then takes us behind-the-scenes as Jobs works his way toward an astounding comeback, revolutionizing the entertainment industry with Pixar, reclaiming the throne at Apple, and, with the extraordinary success of the iPod, regaining his reputation as arguably the greatest innovator of the digital age. As the book ends, Disney has just acquired Pixar, making Jobs Disney's largest shareholder—and setting the stage for act three.
"Provides insight into inner business strategies and power plays between larger-than-life personalities such as Disney boss Michael Eisner."
—USA Today
"A fascinating tale of an imaginative genius."
—BookPage
"One of the most captivating business biographies of recent years. Young and Simon have done a masterful job."
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"An interesting and engaging tale. Warts and all, for better or worse, Steve Jobs is undisputedly an American business icon."
—The Miami Herald
This unflinching and completely unauthorized portrait reveals how Steve Jobs staged the greatest second act in the history of business. Taking us back to the heady days of Silicon Valley in the 1970s, iCon shows how Jobs achieved his first great success, rising from an outcast high school electronics nerd to become the driving force behind Apple and avatar of the computer revolution, only to be driven from the company in failure and disgrace. It then takes us behind-the-scenes as Jobs works his way toward an astounding comeback, revolutionizing the entertainment industry with Pixar, reclaiming the throne at Apple, and, with the extraordinary success of the iPod, regaining his reputation as arguably the greatest innovator of the digital age. As the book ends, Disney has just acquired Pixar, making Jobs Disney's largest shareholder—and setting the stage for act three.
"Provides insight into inner business strategies and power plays between larger-than-life personalities such as Disney boss Michael Eisner."
—USA Today
"A fascinating tale of an imaginative genius."
—BookPage
"One of the most captivating business biographies of recent years. Young and Simon have done a masterful job."
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
About the Author
JEFFREY S. YOUNG, one of the founding editors of Macworld magazine, first met Steve Jobs in 1983. He is the author of the classic unauthorized biography Steve Jobs: The Journey Is the Reward. Young worked for Forbes in the 1990s as its contributing editor from Silicon Valley, writing profiles and business pieces, and, in 1997, he cofounded Forbes.com. He is also the author of Forbes® Greatest Technology Stories (Wiley).
WILLIAM L. SIMON is the coauthor of Kevin Mitnick's The Art of Deception and The Art of Intrusion (both published by Wiley) as well as the award-winning author of more than twenty other books.
WILLIAM L. SIMON is the coauthor of Kevin Mitnick's The Art of Deception and The Art of Intrusion (both published by Wiley) as well as the award-winning author of more than twenty other books.
From AudioFile
Alan Sklar's skills as an actor and professional narrator rescue Young and Simon's glossy tribute to Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers. Sklar's polished delivery and familiar voice keep the listener interested in the recording. Without a trace of sarcasm, he is able to deliver the fawning prose sculpted by the authors. While the doting praise heaped on the entrepreneur is excessive, the book is an entertaining, nostalgic review of the pre-Internet computer industry. Sklar gives a performance superior to the quality of the text. R.F. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine -
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