Insanely Simple

The Obsession that Drives Apple's Success

By: Ken Segall

Narrated by: Ken Segall

Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

To Steve Jobs, Simplicity was a religion. It was also a weapon.

Simplicity isn’t just a design principle at Apple - it’s a value that permeates every level of the organization. The obsession with Simplicity is what separates Apple from other technology companies. It’s what helped Apple recover from near death in 1997 to become the most valuable company on Earth in 2011.

Thanks to Steve Jobs’ uncompromising ways, you can see Simplicity in everything Apple does: the way it’s structured, the way it innovates, and the way it speaks to its customers. It’s by crushing the forces of Complexity that the company remains on its stellar trajectory.

As ad agency creative director, Ken Segall played a key role in Apple’s resurrection, helping to create such critical marketing campaigns as Think Different. By naming the iMac, he also laid the foundation for naming waves of i-products to come.

Segall has a unique perspective, given his years of experience creating campaigns for other iconic tech companies, including IBM, Intel, and Dell. It was the stark contrast of Apple’s ways that made Segall appreciate the power of Simplicity - and inspired him to help others benefit from it.

©2012 Ken Segall (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A blueprint for running a company the Steve Jobs way...should be required reading for anyone interested in management and marketing." (The Times, London)

"Gets inside Apple’s branding and marketing to explain its directness and power." (Financial Times)

"Required reading." (The Observer)

Insane!

What did you love best about Insanely Simple?

One of the best book I listen to in a long time. A lot of insights and tidbits to learn from. I thoroughly enjoyed the narration and information on the book. It was a pleasant surprise after listening to it for a few minutes that it's not another Steve Jobs glorification or biographical book. It's a very straight forward of how Steve focus on "Simplicity" on everything he touches and thought off.
This book, I would highly recommend and won't mind listening to it over and over again.

What does Ken Segall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

First hand experience with the "Master" himself.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely, if I have all the time in the world.

Any additional comments?

Love the book, love it, love it, love it!

Incredible

This book is honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read. It has clarified and changed the way I look at marketing and business, I’ve started applying the concepts to my own business while reading and things have drastically changed! Thank you!

An inspiration to be simple

What about Ken Segall’s performance did you like?

The voice wasn't as smooth as a professional reader in some parts, but it was okay.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The author worked with Steve Jobs for over a decade on marketing campaigns, so he has had a lot of interactions with him. The book illustrates how Steve Jobs was able to push people to create simply elegant products. He didn't waste his time in dressing up how to say or do something to avoid hurting someone's feelings. He had laser focus on simplicity and quality. While it's not the most comforting situation to be the recipient of Job's tirade, at the end it usually lead to a superior product.

inspiring!!!

wonderful simple ideas been shared in the book. looking forward to applying them to my life.

listen every day, innovate your day!

i read this book while listening to audible! it could not be better! it is more comfortable than reading books.

Must read to understand the Apple philosophy

Great look at the driving values behind the Apple success story. Very easy to listen to, entertaining at times and to the point. I am not a big Job's fan but came away with a lot more respect for the guy

Insanely Excellent

What made the experience of listening to Insanely Simple the most enjoyable?

Narration by the author.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Insanely Simple?

Too many to list - excellent book whether you're an Apple fan or not.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

Insanely Good Read

What made the experience of listening to Insanely Simple the most enjoyable?

There has been so much hype around Apple in recent years. I have been a long time Apple fan and always interested in what drove the business forward. I have worked in the technology industry since the early 80s and Steve Jobs has always been a person of interest for so many.

I read his autobiography published shortly after his death, but as it was intended, it was a story more about Steve's life than Apple. Insanely Simple by Ken Segall paints of clear picture of the driving forces behind Apple's success, but also discusses how the concepts could be beneficial to our own businesses.

It was a great read, very enlightening and enjoyable. I highly recommend this book to others.

Simply remarkable listening...

No one who listens to this will not have their lives altered in a good way.

The inner workings of Apple revealed

Would you listen to Insanely Simple again? Why?

This book reveals the inner workings of Apple like no other book I've come across and it can be really useful for your own business. Ken Segall gives lots of hands on tips and references that are well worth a relisten and summarize the most important aspects again in the end of the book. Learn how to avoid the traps of complexity and how to gain from the power of simplicity.