Apple

The First 50 Years

De: David Pogue

Narrado por: David Pogue

Instant New York Times Bestseller

In time for Apple’s 50th anniversary, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent David Pogue tells the iconic company’s entire life story: how it was born, nearly died, was born again under Steve Jobs, and became, under CEO Tim Cook, the most valuable company in the world. The book features new facts that correct the record and illuminate its subversive culture and fresh interviews with the legendary figures who shaped Apple into what it is today.

On April 1, 1976, two scruffy twentysomethings, both named Steve, founded a startup. Their goal: To bring the revolutionary power of computers to everyone.

Over the next five decades, Apple reshaped the technology and cultural landscapes, introducing the public to breakthroughs like the mouse, laser printing, CD-ROM, WiFi, digital video, home networking, touchscreen phones, and tablets. Jobs’s obsessive eye for detail set the stage for products—Mac, iMac, iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch—that married advanced technology with beauty, simplicity, and fine design.

Deeply researched, Apple: The First 50 Years includes new interviews with 150 key people who made the journey, including Steve Wozniak, John Sculley, Jony Ive, and many current designers, engineers, and executives. The book busts long-held myths; goes backstage for both the titanic successes (450 million iPods, 700 million iPads, 2.2 billion iPhones) and the instructive failures (Lisa, Apple III, MobileMe); and assesses the forces that challenge Apple’s dominance as it enters its second half century.

Bursting with tales of frenetic all-nighters, engineering genius, and creative rebellion, this book is a true testament to Apple’s unique and innovative vision, and a must read for anyone whose life Apple has touched.

Excellent audiobook!

Comprehensive history of Apple with lots of behind the scenes stories and snippets. Fantastic reading by the author. Highly recommend!

Comprehensive and a lot of fun

I wish it had a companion PDF with illustrations from the book, the author sings in the audiobook, that could be consider a very modest compensation.

Still, I just ordered the hardcover…

The Apple Story Told by the People Who Were There

I’ve been reading David Pogue’s coverage of Apple since the days of his writing at MacWorld. He was the right person for this job.

If, like me, you’ve been an Apple fan, user, and self-confessed nerd, many of these stories will be familiar, but Pogue’s knowledge, research, and interviews really help give you the context of those events. There are also tons of great tales that I knew nothing about.

If you aren’t so steeped in Apple lore, you’ll probably be surprised by how many technologies that we take for granted today were developed and realized by the Apple team.

In some ways, it’s a bitter sweet story of triumph and loss, of the best intentions and the obstacles that get in the way of bringing those ideas to life. I’m certainly a person who longs for the days when Apple really seemed to have a moral stance that I don’t believe it can claim anymore.

But listening to Mr. Pogue’s words took me back to my days growing up alongside the Mac, a time when my creativity was sparked and supported by these new technologies. It was a fantastic and I appreciate the work that was obviously put into this project. Also, bonus points for the author (also a CBS news contributor) for an excellent reading!

One more thing

What an incredible book by David Pogue. The 50 years of Apple gives you a new appreciation for all the products and how they changed our lives. Well done Apple. Can’t wait for the next 50.

The ultimate chronicle

I’ve read nearly every book on Apple’s history. I bought this one mostly to support the author who I have followed for many years. Given its length I expected it to be a slog but I found myself enthralled. I wish it was longer.