| Books covering the history of Apple Computer, Inc. |
Books Published in the 1980s

Page 2 of 2 [Back]
So Far: The First Ten Years of a Vision
| by Apple Creative Services (Bob Price, Jill Savini) February, 1987; Apple Computer; ISBN: 1556939744; 172 pages Scans from book: front | back | page 96 | employee list This rare, oversized hardcover book was given to Apple employees on the company's 10th anniversary. It contains a running text, many photos, pullouts and a timeline of Apple's history and products. In the back are the names of every employee that worked at Apple the first 10 years.
Human Interface Guidelines: The Apple Desktop Interface
| by Apple Computer October, 1987; Addison-Wesley; ISBN: 0201177536; 144 pages Amazon reviews | Search for a used copy While not a history book per se, the philosophy, rationale and history of the the fundamental design of the Apple Desktop (first seen in Lisa and on into the Macintosh line) is well-worth reading if you want to investigate the concepts underlying the interaction between a user and their computer. The ten fundamental design principles of the interface are a highlight. An updated version (384 pages) was published in 1993.
Odyssey: Pepsi to Apple - A Journey of Adventure, Ideas and the Future
| by John Sculley, John A. Byrne 1987; Harper & Row; ISBN: 0060157801; 450 pages Amazon reviews | Another review | Search for a used copy John Sculley was Apple's CEO from 1983 to 1993. He apparently gave each Apple employee a copy of his book with this note attached. Steven Jobs successfully tempted Sculley into leaving his position as Pepsi's president and CEO to lead Apple. Sculley ended up ousting Jobs from Apple within a few years!
The Third Apple: Personal Computers and the Cultural Revolution
| by Jean-Louis Gassée 1987; Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; ISBN: 0151898502; 212 pages Amazon reviews | Search for a used copy From the bookflap: "In this wide-ranging collection of non-technical essays, Gassée, the former head of Apple's southern European division and current vice-president in charge of product development at the firm's California headquarters, reflects on the PC revolution from within. Gassée teaches us the computer business from the inside, explaining how (and how not) to nurture entrepreneurs, how to finance a growing company, how new products are researched and developed, how competition is met by strategies brilliant or stupid. The future of work, and how personal computers will shape it, is explored. And Apple Inc. - past, present, and future - is closely examined."
Steve Jobs: The Journey is the Reward
| by Jeffrey S. Young 1988; Glenville, Scott, Foresman; ISBN: 0673188647; 440 pages Softcover: December, 1988; Lynx Books; ISBN: 155802378X; 467 pages Amazon reviews | Search for a used copy Puts an equal emphasis on both how Steve drives people nuts, and how people who have been driven nuts can do great things. [Amazon]
Accidental Millionaire: The Rise and Fall of Steve Jobs at Apple Computer
| by Lee Butcher 1988; Paragon House; ISBN: 0913729795; 224 pages Amazon reviews | Search for a used copy
Inventors At Work: Interviews with 16 Notable American Inventors
| by Kenneth A. Brown 1988; Tempus Books (Microsoft Press); ISBN: 1556151233; 388 pages Search for a used copy The highlight of this book is the 20 page interview with Steve Wozniak. Even contains several 1979 Apple computer patent drawings. Worth seeking out.
West of Eden: The End of Innocence at Apple Computer
| by Frank Rose 1989; Penguin Books; ISBN: 0140093729; 356 pages Amazon reviews | Another review | Author's page | Search for a used copy Detailed history of the 1983-1986 period at Apple. Covers Apple's strategies for taking on IBM, the rise of Lisa and the Macintosh and more.
The Macintosh Way
| by Guy Kawasaki August, 1989; Addison-Wesley Pub Co.; ISBN: 0673461750; 210 pages Amazon reviews | About the author | Author's page | Search for a used copy Guy's keen sense of humour and reference to examples of what did and didn't work for the Apple Computer Corporation, while he worked there in the early 80s, is a fascinating perspective. [Amazon]
Page 2 of 2 [Back]
Main Page | Books - 1990s | Books - 2000s | Biographies | History Links | What's New Site (c) 1998-2010 by Andy Molloy