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Insanely Simple: The Obsession that Drives Apple's Success | [Ken Segall]
Play Insanely Simple: The Obsession that Drives Apple's Success

Insanely Simple: The Obsession that Drives Apple's Success

  • UNABRIDGED
  • by Ken Segall
  • Narrated by Ken Segall
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  • Regular Price :$24.50
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  • Average Customer Rating
  • Overall
    (128)
    Performance
    (102)
    Story
    (102)
 
  • LENGTH
    7 hrs and 5 mins
  • RELEASE DATE
    05-01-12
  • AUDIO FORMATS
    About Audio Formats
    2 3 4 Enhanced Audio
 

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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

What Members Say

Average Customer Rating

4.4 (128 ratings)
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4.4 (102 ratings)
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Performance
  •  
    Stefan Johanneshov, Sweden 05-28-12
    Stefan Johanneshov, Sweden 05-28-12
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "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.


    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
  •  
    M. Southakakoumar Washington, DC 06-16-12
    M. Southakakoumar Washington, DC 06-16-12 Member Since 2012
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "Interesting if You're a Fan of Apple"
    Would you try another book from Ken Segall and/or Ken Segall?

    Its hard to say. While I liked the content of the book, Ken Segall spends way too much time explaining and reminding us of:
    1. Proximity to Steve Jobs
    2. How long he worked with Steve Jobs
    3. Basking in the after-glow of Steve Jobs

    The intro and Chapter 1 was enough, we get it. Now get on with the actual "meat" of the book.


    What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

    Insight into the Steve Job's mentality and the war stories of those who worked/lived with his "genius." The least interesting was the amount of time the author spent repeating how long and intimately he worked with Steve Jobs.


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Martin MiamiTrinidad And Tobago 06-08-12
    Martin MiamiTrinidad And Tobago 06-08-12 Member Since 2009
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    "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


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Andy Auckland, New Zealand 04-25-13
    Andy Auckland, New Zealand 04-25-13 Member Since 2012
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    "Better than the reviews I read.."
    What did you love best about Insanely Simple?

    It has some great principles and a great core principle. It also has some interesting stories.


    Who was your favorite character and why?

    Steve Jobs


    Any additional comments?

    Better than the reviews I read - A lot of criticism about mentioning Steve Jobs a lot (which he does) but Apple and Jobs provide such a good example of what he's trying to put across.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Matt Rosemount, MN, United States 02-24-13
    Matt Rosemount, MN, United States 02-24-13 Member Since 2012
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    "Very Well Done"

    This was a great follow up to listening to Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. It seemed to get into a specific component of the Steve Jobs story and add to it in a way that was compelling and different.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Gary NORTH ADAMS, MA, United States 01-12-13
    Gary NORTH ADAMS, MA, United States 01-12-13 Member Since 2012
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    "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

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Harvey Toronto, ON, Canada 01-02-13
    Harvey Toronto, ON, Canada 01-02-13 Member Since 2012
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    "Very enjoyable and insightful."
    What made the experience of listening to Insanely Simple the most enjoyable?

    This was a great book. I really enjoyed it. I am biased as a big fan of Apple and also President of an advertising agency. I do however think the principles of simplicity are well articulated by Ken and they can be applied to any business. The story also moves along well and is very engaging.


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

    When Ken decides to bring forward a colleagues idea which he knows is weak (to be nice) and it puts him in the difficult position of defending it when he does not believe in it.


    Which scene was your favorite?

    The repeated efforts to keep the name iMac.


    Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

    No. It did make me want to apply the principles in the book to my business.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Nilakantheswar Gurgaon, India 12-18-12
    Nilakantheswar Gurgaon, India 12-18-12 Member Since 2010
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    "Importance of simplicity in life & business"
    What did you love best about Insanely Simple?

    The examples & stories of Ken Segall's interaction & decision making in Apple.


    What did you like best about this story?

    How much impact "Simplicity" has in every day working and how 'Simple' is is also a difficult objective to achieve. Once achieved, 'simple' can do wonders to life, customers and business


    What about Ken Segall’s performance did you like?

    The narration of stories & live examples


    If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

    Passion for simplicity


    Any additional comments?

    This book is wonderful essay on the vision and product portfolio of Apple based on "simplicity". Probably, this is the greatest secret behind Apple's great success in business and peoples' great satisfaction on Apple products. I was surely able to relate the simplicity in my iPhone as i listened to the audio. Unfortunately, I find iTunes is not so simple to use. Three features in iPhone that I felt missed in iPhone was: (i) Reply to all attendees of a meeting from the calendar meeting request (ii) Saving specific SMSes and emails permanently in iPhone (iii) iPhone as a tourch light application

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    kevin Charlotte, NC, United States 10-23-12
    kevin Charlotte, NC, United States 10-23-12 Member Since 2008
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    "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.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Ramona Fishers, IN, United States 10-09-12
    Ramona Fishers, IN, United States 10-09-12 Member Since 2008
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    "Excellent book!"
    If you could sum up Insanely Simple in three words, what would they be?

    Interesting, captivating, informative.


    Which scene was your favorite?

    Steve Jobs asked a person who they were. When they answered something like "accounting", he replied: "Oh, you're overhead!"


    Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

    Made me laugh at times.


    Any additional comments?

    I'm very glad I got this book!

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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