Insanely Simple

The Obsession that Drives Apple's Success

By: Ken Segall

Narrated by: Ken Segall

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’s 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.

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

“Ken Segall has literally captured lightning in a bottle. Insanely Simple reveals the secret of Steve Jobs’s success with such clarity, even we non-geniuses can make use of it. Ken shows us how to cut through the cobwebs of fuzzy thinking, bureaucracy and mediocrity, and clearly see what’s most essential—and therefore most important.”

—Steve Hayden, legendary Apple creative director, author of the “1984” Super Bowl commercial

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!

Motivational

This book was a great read. It explains how simplicity is golden

Steve Jobs was a genius.

Follow your instincts

It's simple

Interesting insight into the way of thinking of Apple and Steve Jobs. A simple review.

Best insight into Apples success

This was such an incredible audiobook to listen to! I have definitely come away with ideas and stories that I have never heard before. And it has instilled in me a spark to simplify things in my business and in my life. I would very much recommend this audiobook!

Great book

This is a must read book for product developers and business leaders. Cannot recommend enough