Jony Ive

The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products

By: Leander Kahney

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The best-selling author of Inside Steve's Brain profiles Apple's legendary chief designer, Jonathan Ive.

Jony Ive's designs have not only made Apple one of the most valuable companies in the world; they've overturned entire industries, from music and mobile phones to PCs and tablets.

But for someone who has changed the world as much as he has, little is widely known about Apple's senior vice president of industrial design. Unlike his former boss and creative partner Steve Jobs, Ive shuns the spotlight. Naturally shy and soft-spoken, he lets his work speak for itself and concerns himself only with his craft.

In the first book to focus on Ive, Leander Kahney offers a rigorous and systematic examination of a remarkably creative career and provides insight into the principles underlying Ive's success.

Having covered Apple as an editor since the 1990s and interviewed Ive on numerous occasions, Kahney offers a unique perspective on how this man designs killer products that attract fanatically loyal customers.

©2013 Leander Kahney (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"An adulating biography of Apple’s left-brained wunderkind, whose work continues to revolutionize modern technology.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Hint Ive and Apple

Fascinating behind the scenes look on impact on Apple by Ives. Many of Apple’s successful product successes were created by Ives.

Better than Walter Issacson's

Any additional comments?

This book gave me better idea of who Apple is as a company than Walter Issacson's book on Steve Jobs. It didn't get bogged down in the minutiae or become boring like Issacson's book either. It kept a good pace throughout, keeps you intersted, and is insightful. If you like Apple, this is a must read. If you don't care for Apple, then this book will at least explain the philosophy of their products and help you understand why Apple sometimes makes the trade-offs it does.

Very interesting!

I love reading about people who influence society, particularly in the world of technology. I had never heard of Jony before reading this. I will say, a great majority seemed to be about Apple, and how it was influenced by Jonny, rather than focusing on Jony's experience at Apple. it seemed to go on a lot about Apple quite a lot when I wanted to hear more about Jony, but nonetheless, it's still a really good book. 4/5

boring a few tid bits of useful info

This book was very boring with a few tidbits of useful information. It could have been written more concisely and to the point. Again this is another book of about 50 pages of real information hidden in 300 pages of fluff.

Loved it

I am a user experience designer and wanted to hear how a truly design driven organization can work. It is very inspiring to hear how things change get for apple over time, and trust in the right people can go so far. super interesting even if you're not an apple fan-boy.

Insightful

It was very interesting to learn not only about the life of Jony Ive and his design genius but also the culture at Apple and what went into making their great products.

The narrator was excellent.

Fascinating

Fascinating historical perspective into one of the most unknown but widely recognized industrial designers in the world. Jony's story sheds light on the thought behind many of the great Apple products the world has grown to love.

Great book

It was a great buck, I was a little skeptical at first because it wasn’t Steve Jobs or Tim Cook but I ended up being glued. It made a 6 Hour Dr. go fast.

A history of apple though the lens of design

I was hoping for more bio about Johnny. This read like a typical history of Apple covered by the many Steve Jobs biographies.

It does offer some new insight, but the secrecy of Apple and lack of direct interviews with Ive was disappointing.

The book is also very sterile, a linear narrative of the history of Ive and apple.

Narration is solid and well preformed. It expresses the calm British tone i've heard from interviews with Ive.

Great bio

What a great bio on the most influential designer of our time. Narration was a delight to listen. Great work that gives inspiration