{"id":21813,"date":"2011-10-11T22:51:07","date_gmt":"2011-10-11T17:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=21813"},"modified":"2026-10-13T13:40:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T08:10:06","slug":"steve-jobs-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Steve Jobs Books to Read in 2026 (Biographies &#038; More)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Looking for the best Steve Jobs books? In October 2011, just after Steve Jobs died, we listed five Steve Jobs books that give an insight into the Apple co-founder, his working style and the genius behind the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Several were new or not yet released then, including Walter Isaacson&#8217;s authorised biography. Since then, more good books have appeared, including one in Jobs&#8217;s own words from the Steve Jobs Archive. Here are the best Steve Jobs books to read in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-63853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/best-steve-jobs-books-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"Best Steve Jobs books\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/best-steve-jobs-books-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/best-steve-jobs-books-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/best-steve-jobs-books-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/best-steve-jobs-books-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/best-steve-jobs-books.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> The best Steve Jobs books are Walter Isaacson&#8217;s <em>Steve Jobs<\/em> (the authorised biography), <em>Becoming Steve Jobs<\/em> by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli, and <em>Make Something Wonderful<\/em>, a collection of Jobs&#8217;s own speeches, emails and interviews from the Steve Jobs Archive. For leadership and presentation lessons, read Jay Elliot&#8217;s <em>The Steve Jobs Way<\/em> and Carmine Gallo&#8217;s books.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad9281aaafd9\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad9281aaafd9\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/#Best_Steve_Jobs_biographies\" >Best Steve Jobs biographies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/#Steve_Jobs_in_his_own_words\" >Steve Jobs in his own words<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/#Books_on_Steve_Jobss_leadership_and_presentations\" >Books on Steve Jobs&#8217;s leadership and presentations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/#Which_Steve_Jobs_book_should_you_read_first\" >Which Steve Jobs book should you read first?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/#Our_original_2011_list\" >Our original 2011 list<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/#What_is_the_best_Steve_Jobs_biography\" >What is the best Steve Jobs biography?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/#Did_Steve_Jobs_write_a_book\" >Did Steve Jobs write a book?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/#Is_there_a_Steve_Jobs_book_for_students\" >Is there a Steve Jobs book for students?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/10\/steve-jobs-books\/#Which_Steve_Jobs_movie_is_based_on_a_book\" >Which Steve Jobs movie is based on a book?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_Steve_Jobs_biographies\"><\/span>Best Steve Jobs biographies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/steve-jobs-walter-isaacson-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\"><em>Steve Jobs<\/em><\/a> by Walter Isaacson (2011):<\/strong> the authorised biography, based on more than forty interviews with Jobs over two years and interviews with over a hundred family members, friends, rivals and colleagues. Jobs asked for no control over what was written. It is still the most complete account of his life.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/becoming-steve-jobs-schlender-tetzeli-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\"><em>Becoming Steve Jobs<\/em><\/a> by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli (2015):<\/strong> written by a journalist who knew Jobs for 25 years, it focuses on how he grew as a leader, from his early mistakes to his return to Apple. Many Apple insiders preferred it to the official biography.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/small-fry-lisa-brennan-jobs-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\"><em>Small Fry<\/em><\/a> by Lisa Brennan-Jobs (2018):<\/strong> a memoir by his daughter about growing up with Steve Jobs, giving a personal and complicated view of him.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Steve_Jobs_in_his_own_words\"><\/span>Steve Jobs in his own words<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stevejobsarchive.com\/book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Make Something Wonderful<\/em><\/a> (2023):<\/strong> a curated collection of Jobs&#8217;s speeches, interviews and emails, published by the Steve Jobs Archive. You can read it free online on the Archive&#8217;s website or buy the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/make-something-wonderful-steve-jobs-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">print edition<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/i-steve-jobs-in-his-own-words-beahm-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\"><em>I, Steve: Steve Jobs in His Own Words<\/em><\/a> edited by George Beahm (2011):<\/strong> more than 200 quotations from three decades of interviews, which was on our original list. Good for quick inspiration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Books_on_Steve_Jobss_leadership_and_presentations\"><\/span>Books on Steve Jobs&#8217;s leadership and presentations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/steve-jobs-way-jay-elliot-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\"><em>The Steve Jobs Way: iLeadership for a New Generation<\/em><\/a> by Jay Elliot:<\/strong> written by a former Apple Senior Vice President who worked closely with Jobs, about his product focus and leadership style.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/presentation-secrets-of-steve-jobs-gallo-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\"><em>The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs<\/em><\/a> by Carmine Gallo:<\/strong> breaks down how Jobs planned and delivered his famous keynotes, with lessons anyone can use.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/innovation-secrets-of-steve-jobs-gallo-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\"><em>The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs<\/em><\/a> by Carmine Gallo:<\/strong> explains his principles of innovation and why &#8220;Think Different&#8221; was more than a slogan.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/insanely-simple-ken-segall-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\"><em>Insanely Simple<\/em><\/a> by Ken Segall:<\/strong> by the ad agency creative who named the iMac, about Apple&#8217;s obsession with simplicity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Steve_Jobs_book_should_you_read_first\"><\/span>Which Steve Jobs book should you read first?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>For the full life story:<\/strong> Walter Isaacson&#8217;s <em>Steve Jobs<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>For a more balanced view of how he changed:<\/strong> <em>Becoming Steve Jobs<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>For his own thoughts, free:<\/strong> <em>Make Something Wonderful<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>For work lessons:<\/strong> Carmine Gallo&#8217;s presentation book.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Want to see where it all began? Read about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/01\/first-macintosh-computer\/\">first Macintosh computer<\/a>, launched by Jobs in 1984.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Our_original_2011_list\"><\/span>Our original 2011 list<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In 2011 we recommended Isaacson&#8217;s biography (then on preorder for 24 October 2011), <em>I, Steve<\/em>, <em>The Steve Jobs Way<\/em>, <em>The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs<\/em> and <em>The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs<\/em>, plus the older <em>iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business<\/em>. All are still worth reading, and the list above adds the best books published since.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_best_Steve_Jobs_biography\"><\/span>What is the best Steve Jobs biography?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Walter Isaacson&#8217;s <em>Steve Jobs<\/em> is the authorised and most detailed biography. <em>Becoming Steve Jobs<\/em> is a strong second choice.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Did_Steve_Jobs_write_a_book\"><\/span>Did Steve Jobs write a book?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No, but <em>Make Something Wonderful<\/em> collects his own words from speeches, interviews and emails.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_there_a_Steve_Jobs_book_for_students\"><\/span>Is there a Steve Jobs book for students?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><em>Make Something Wonderful<\/em> and his 2005 Stanford commencement speech are short, inspiring places to start.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Steve_Jobs_movie_is_based_on_a_book\"><\/span>Which Steve Jobs movie is based on a book?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The 2015 film <em>Steve Jobs<\/em> was based on Walter Isaacson&#8217;s biography.<\/p>\n<p>Which Steve Jobs books have you read? Tell us in the comments.<\/p>\n<p><em>Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, QuickOnlineTips earns from qualifying purchases.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking for the best Steve Jobs books? In October 2011, just after Steve Jobs died, we listed five Steve Jobs&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":63853,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apple"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21813"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65417,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21813\/revisions\/65417"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}