The Steve Jobs Way

iLeadership for a New Generation

By: Jay Elliot, William L. Simon

Narrated by: Christopher Hurt

In iLeadership, Jay Elliot gives the listener the opportunity of seeing Steve Jobs as only his closest associates have ever seen him, and to learn what has made him - and the mystique of his management style - capable of creating tools so extraordinary that they have remade three industries and have transformed the way we create, consume, and communicate with each other.

Jay Elliot worked side by side with Steve as Senior Vice President of Apple and brings us his deep insider perspective of Steve's singular iLeadership style - which encompasses four major principles: product, talent, organization, and marketing.

Jay shares the lessons that come out of Steve's intuitive approach to show how the creative and technological brilliance of iLeadership can be utilized to drive breakthroughs in any organization, irrespective of size.

©2011 Jay Elliot and William L. Simon (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“There have been so many books about Steve Jobs but none that have the vantage point of an insider like this one. The narrative is very engaging and I could not stop reading.... Jay has done a fantastic job to provide insights that we all can use from the man who has inspired two generations of entrepreneurs.” (Naeem Zafar, Lecturer, Entrepreneurship, University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business)

"Steve Jobs is a revolutionary leader and thinker who has been written about by many people. But for the first time, in The Steve Jobs Way, Jay Elliot brings a deep, insider perspective of Steve Jobs' unique leadership style, which has forever changed our everyday lives and the world around us.” (Howard Behar, former president of Starbucks Coffee International and author of It's Not About the Coffee)

“Christopher Hurt gives an outstanding narration of this insider’s analysis of Steve Jobs’s one-of-a-kind leadership at Apple. Hurt’s casual gravitas is perfect for an analytic business biography; he’s superb at using his vocal tone and phrasing to emphasize crucial points.” ( AudioFile)

Good read, nothing new, somewhat inaccurate

What did you like best about The Steve Jobs Way? What did you like least?

The best part was the new facts that haven't been revealed before, which (in the era after the official biography) are few and far between. The worst part was that there's a lot of factual statements in this book that is contradicted by either Steve Jobs himself, other authors or witnesses which brings into question the earlier novel facts. All in all, it's a decent introduction but pales in comparison to it's more recent competition.

Would you recommend The Steve Jobs Way to your friends? Why or why not?

I would recommend it to everyone interested in Steve Jobs or Apple, and perhaps even "The Steve Jobs Way", but *not* to anyone looking for "lessons" about this way, because there's very little insight or analysis. That part of the books name seems to have been tacked on after it was written.

Do you think The Steve Jobs Way needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I think there's ample way to both update this book to bring it up to par with it's own name (there's not many leadership lessons to be learned here) but first and foremost, Apple is now in the post-Jobs era, and the company he co-founded are entering it's most interesting period ever. Now is the time to write a book about life after Jobs.

Great book

very good book, you would definitely learn something for your life, especially if your s manager, father or even a school teacher

Very Inspiring

This is a must read or listen :) to book. Its really motivating and inspiring.

I loved the intimate Steve Jobs touch!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Steve Jobs Way to be better than the print version?

Yes - the audio definitely added a dimension which I loved!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well - Steve Jobs...who else..

Have you listened to any of Christopher Hurt’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Any additional comments?

I am CEO of a software company and found this book full of practical advice and very inspirational stories! Thanks Jay!

Very good insight

Would you consider the audio edition of The Steve Jobs Way to be better than the print version?

Not better, but gives you a chance to review the book before purchasing the hard copy.

What did you like best about this story?

The author made me feel like I was there while the decisions and innovation was being happening. A great book written with heart.

What about Christopher Hurt’s performance did you like?

He personalized the story of Steve Jobs. The ups and downs and ups again. The inspiration the Steve Jobs spread where ever he was. It felt like I was hearing the story about the real Steve Jobs.

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

The REAL Steve Jobs.

It's Steve Job's Way

Any additional comments?

This is a book written by someone that worked for Jobs and had a lot of interaction with him as well as a lot of respect for him. You get to see a lot of insight into how Jobs operated, showing his attention to detail and enthusiasm for what he was doing. I think anyone that has made great advances in technology and ideas as Jobs did must operate in a similar fashion.

Not bad.. but not Isaacson

Any additional comments?

In a way, Jay Elliott is the most ideal biographer of Jobs having worked by his side for so many years, but the subjectivity that comes along with that oozes through the cracks here. Not nearly as comprehensive as Isaacson's Steve Jobs, this book nonetheless presents an insightful portrayal of the man.

Excellent book about an icon

This is an excellent book about an icon in the technology and consumer products world. I have watched Apple and Steve Jobs since I bought my first Apple product in the 80's (Apple IIC & Macintosh). A few of the items discussed in the book clarified misconceptions and questions not only about Steve Jobs but about Apple and its products and services. Overall, not only was it enjoyable but it was enlightening. In addition, I learned different key points about entrepreneurship and leadership.

It is written from the perspective of a friend, employee, and co-worker. Much different than other books and articles that were written from a media perspective only.

The book held my interest to the end and I highly recommend it!

A Great Audiobook on Leadership

This is my favorite audiobook so far as it brings us up close and personal on how Apple runs its business and particularly how Steve Jobs waves his baton as the ultimate conductor of Apple.

The details & lessons one can pick up from The Steve Jobs Way is helpful to aspiring entrepreneurs of all races and ages.

The Steve Jobs Way has great insights on leadership, the value of the customer, human relations and the importance of a business vision to name a few and is definitely a must listen and a must read.

Most of us aspire to have an organization of Apple's caliber and quality and this is the measuring stick we should level up to.

I will definitely be listening to this over and over again as a reference.

Great job Jay Eliot!

An inspiring man. An uninspired book.

I was intrigued by this title because of the author's early connection with Jobs at Apple. I hoped for some new and seldom-before-heard information. There is some of that here, but hardly what one would wish for and often frustratingly short of details. The book seems dashed off with little to no editorial oversight and is consequently rife with errors that even the most cursory fact-checking would have brought to light. Steve Jobs gave the Commencement Address at Stanford University in 2005, yet the author repeatedly refers to this event as having taken place in 2009. Video of that address was uploaded to YouTube by the 'StanfordUniversity' account on March 7, 2008, so draw your own conclusions. Just one example, but it seriously undermines the author's credibility. If he can't get this right, what else is just plain wrong? I had to keep fighting off the feeling that this was just an opportunistic exercise intended to cash-in on the well-deserved fame of Mr. Jobs by way of a long-ago association. Had it been released subsequent to his death, my distaste at this would have kept me away. As it was, it nagged at me throughout. Also, worth noting that the book is fawning toward Mr. Jobs in the extreme. It borders on the saccharine throughout.

Finally, worth noting that the narration is only adequate. Sometimes I felt the reader's intonation or cadence was jarringly different than what I perceived the writer's tone to be.

All-in-all, a mediocre affair and a slight disappointment.