Cracking the Steve Jobs Code

Though it’s near impossible to get an interview with Steve Jobs, author Leander Kahney’s book Inside Steve’s Brain gives a “fresh, noble perspective” on the Apple icon’s impenetrable mind, Jon Swartz writes in USA Today. Like most who try, Kahney couldn’t score facetime, but his book illustrates the opposing traits that make his subject—equal parts Disney and Barnum—who he is.

“Jobs has embraced the personality traits that some consider flaws—narcissism, perfectionism, total faith in his intuition—to lead Apple and Pixar to triumph against steep odds,” Kahney writes, noting Apple’s uncanny ability to give customers, in Swartz’s words, “what they want before they know they want it.” In the “rich, essential read,” Kahney paints the idiosyncratic picture of the wizard behind a “messianic” company. (More Steve Jobs stories.)