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Cracking the Steve Jobs Code

Author peers into the brain of Apple's elusive guiding force

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 21, 2008 6:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – Though it’s near impossible to get an interview with Steve Jobs, author Leander Kahney’s book Inside Steve’s Brain gives a “fresh, noble perspective” on the Apple icon’s impenetrable mind, Jon Swartz writes in USA Today. Like most who try, Kahney couldn’t score facetime, but his book illustrates the opposing traits that make his subject—equal parts Disney and Barnum—who he is.

“Jobs has embraced the personality traits that some consider flaws—narcissism, perfectionism, total faith in his intuition—to lead Apple and Pixar to triumph against steep odds,” Kahney writes, noting Apple’s uncanny ability to give customers, in Swartz’s words, “what they want before they know they want it.” In the “rich, essential read,” Kahney paints the idiosyncratic picture of the wizard behind a “messianic” company.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks during a news conference in Berlin on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks during a news conference in Berlin on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007.   (AP Photo/Herbert Knosowski)
The original iPod is displayed after its introduction by Apple Computer Inc. chief executive officer Steve Jobs during a news conference in Cupertino, Calif. in this Oct. 23, 2001 file photo.
The original iPod is displayed after its introduction by Apple Computer Inc. chief executive officer Steve Jobs during a news conference in Cupertino, Calif. in this Oct. 23, 2001 file photo.   (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, file)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds up the new MacBook Air after giving the keynote address at the Apple MacWorld Conference in San Francisco, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds up the new MacBook Air after giving the keynote address at the Apple MacWorld Conference in San Francisco, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs gestures during an iPhone announcement at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Thursday, March 6, 2008.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs gestures during an iPhone announcement at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Thursday, March 6, 2008.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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