Release of Authorized Steve Jobs Biography Bumped Up to November 21st

Back in February 2010, it was revealed that former Time managing editor Walter Isaacson was working on the first authorized biography of Apple CEO Steve Jobs, a book that earlier this year was announced as set to be released in early 2012 under the title "iSteve: The Book of Jobs". But the planned title proved unpopular with a number of people, and last month it was noted that Isaacson had received approval to change the title to a simpler "Steve Jobs", with publication set for March 6, 2012.

steve jobs book cover
It now appears, however, that publication may have been moved up a bit, as the book's page at Barnes & Noble has been updated with a release date of November 21, 2011, as noticed by AllThingsD. An image of the book's cover has also been added to the page. The photo of Jobs used for the cover is a black-and-white version of of the image found on Jobs' page in Apple's recently-revamped company leadership pages.

Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues this book chronicles the rollercoaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing.

According the book's overview as submitted by the publisher, Jobs has cooperated with the book and has not asked for any control over the final product. He has reportedly left no topic off-limits for the book and has not even requested the right to read it before publication, suggesting that the book will yield the most open look at Jobs' personal and professional life yet published.

Amazon is also offering pre-orders for the book and showing the cover, although the book's page there continues to show the previous March 6, 2012 release date.

Popular Stories

m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3

Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says These 7 U.S. States Plan to Offer iPhone Driver's Licenses

Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Apple Expected to Launch These 10+ Products Over the Coming Months

Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more. Apple is expected to release/update the following products...

Top Rated Comments

189 months ago
This may be the first book I purchase from iBooks.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TimUSCA Avatar
189 months ago
I rarely read books for pleasure, but I will be buying this on Day 1. As sad as it is, it makes me wonder if Jobs finally approved of a biography because he knew his final days were on the horizon.

Should be an excellent read.

I would hope that it becomes available in the iBook Store.

Edit: looks like it is available for preorder on iBooks!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/steve-jobs/id431617578?mt=11
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mave1969 Avatar
189 months ago
As sad as it is, it makes me wonder if Jobs finally approved of a biography because he knew his final days were on the horizon.
Everyone's final days are "on the horizon". It's just a question of how far away that horizon is, and what you do before you get there.
I'm willing to bet Jobs still has more to give than most will manage in their whole lifetime.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
189 months ago
I'm not a voracious book reader either, but I will be buying it on day one.

Also, is it some sorta indication that Steve Jobs as Apple CEO early next year no more? :(

Ya the grammar on that second sentence was painful. But voracious is a good word.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FroMann Avatar
189 months ago
Will it be on Kindle?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Veinticinco Avatar
189 months ago
Authorized biogs are never as juicy as the unauthorized half-siblings...

All the best anecdotes we've read on MR (most recently, the ESPN CEO/Disney board meeting) are ones where Steve is acting like an Aspergic prize tool and thus, those are the types we won't be seeing included in this book sadly.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)