Steve Jobs' new biography, entitled "Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader," is set to hit shelves on March 24 and reveals that the Apple founder was not in favor of Apple TV and was considered purchasing Yahoo.
"Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader" went up for pre-order on Amazon on Friday, March 14 and is authored by Rick Tetzeli (Fast Company editor) and Brent Schlender ex-WSJ/Fortune reporter.
"A rich and revealing account that will change the way we view Jobs, "Becoming Steve Jobs" shows us how one of the most colorful and compelling figures of our times was able to combine his unchanging, relentless passion with a more mature management style to create one of the most valuable and beloved companies on the planet," notes the book's description.
The impending book has already become Amazon's best-selling pre-order in the Management book category.
Jobs' biography gives rare glimpses into the psyche of the CEO of the most valuable company in the world. It also divulges the Apple co-founder's plans of acquiring Yahoo.
The book sheds light on Jobs' close friendship with The Walt Disney Company's Bob Iger and how the two would speak to each other "three or four times a week." The two shared such a strong bond that Jobs even wanted Iger to join Apple's board, which he eventually did but after Jobs' demise. Due to their close friendship Iger even turned down offers from Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Eric Schmidt to join Google's board as Jobs would become jealous.
Iger even recalls Jobs' lofty aspirations of purchasing Yahoo along with Iger.
"We would stand at a whiteboard brainstorming," recollects Iger. "We talked about buying companies. We talked about buying Yahoo together."
Over the years, speculation has been rife whether Apple looked into acquiring Yahoo, and Iger's revelation is the first to confirm that Steve Jobs considered that possibility.
The book also sheds light on the relationship between Jony Ive — Apple's designer — and Steve Jobs. It discloses how Ive made the eMate — his variant of the Newton Message Pad — as well as the 20th Anniversary Macintosh, both of which were axed by Jobs as they did not fit into his "quadrants."
Jobs' contempt for TV was also clear when he told Ive that the company would never make the same.
"I just don't like television. Apple will never make a TV again," said Jobs to Ive per excerpts from the biography.
"Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader" is now available for pre-order on Amazon, with the hardcover costing $18.
