Steve Jobs

Walter Isaacson, the former chairman of CNN and managing editor of Time magazine, was personally tapped by Jobs himself to write his biography. Isaacson has also written biographies on Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, and Henry Kissinger, all men who were notable historical figures during their time. The biographies on Einstein and Franklin in particular were enough to convince Jobs that he was the right person for the job. At first, Isaacson was reluctant to write the biography, having known Jobs since 1984 and witnessed the oscillating nature of his professional trajectory.

Eventually, when Isaacson asked Jobs outright why Jobs wanted him specifically to write his biography, Jobs answered, “I think you’re good at getting people to talk” (xix). The deciding factor for Isaacson, however, was when he learned that Jobs was facing his second round of cancer treatments—if ever this project were to exist, it would have to happen soon. More than forty interviews and conversations later, plus countless interviews with people who knew Jobs well, Isaacson shaped Steve Jobs, which would eventually become a New York Times bestseller.

Steve Jobs (1955-2011) is regarded as one of the most influential people of the 21st century. His name has become synonymous with creative thinking and innovation, particularly within the