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! Lots of information, stories and a look behind the scenes.

It was really well researched. The narration is great. The book is very informative and entertaining.

Fantastic history of one of the world’s most innovative companies

David Pogue, the former reviewer of Apple products for Mac world in later than New York Times, is written a thorough and even delightful history of Apple. There’s probably no one else so qualified to write this book. The pros is witty and engaging the book as well researched without feeling like an academic slog. It’s also one of the best audiobooks, I’ve listened to, with mini interspersed sound bites and audio. David Wright that this book was written because his wife had the idea for him to write this book in a dream in the middle of the night. Thank you, Natalie!

Loved every second of it. It just works

Apple: The First 50 Years is exactly what it promises to be, a 50-year clear and detailed journey on how Apple grew from a small idea into one of the most influential companies in the world. With Apple turning 50 on April 1st, this audiobook feels perfectly timed and it takes you through the key moments, the people, and the decisions that shaped Apple, in a way that is easy to follow.

For me, this story is personal, because I’m totally blind, and Apple is the only company in this world that truly makes a huge difference in my everyday existence. Their products allow me to live a life that is as close to normal as possible. I can pick up an iPhone or a Mac, turn on VoiceOver, and use it independently from the very first minute. No extra tools, no special versions, no workarounds. As the tagline goes, it just works. That level of accessibility is built into everything they do, and it’s something I rely on every single day and I even have a job teaching other blind, low vision, or students with other disabilities on how to make the best of Apple products. Although I already knew a lot of the stories, I was pleasantly surprised by the high-quality audio production and excellent narration by David Pogue.

The audiobook is performed by the author himself, David Pogue, and his journalistic experience and love for Apple really show. He’s been covering the company from Cupertino for decades, following its evolution from the early days to where it is now. His narration is enthusiastic, engaging, entertaining, clear, and easy to follow. The audio production feels natural and Mr. David Pogue‘s reading feels like someone who knows this story inside out is simply guiding you through it.

The structure of the audiobook works really well. It starts with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak looking for ideas on how to build something new, then moves through the early success of the Apple II and the ambition behind the Macintosh. From there, it gets into the more difficult years, when Apple struggled to find its direction, followed by the return of Jobs and the shift into what we now think of as modern Apple. The big successes are all here, the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, but the book also makes space for the failures like the Lisa, the Newton, and MobileMe. That balance makes the whole story feel honest and complete.

Another welcome addition to the audiobook is the inclusion of real recorded interviews. You hear directly from people who were part of Apple’s journey, and that adds a lot of depth. There are also musical cues used for side notes. They’re fine, but they stand out a bit too much. A simpler, more minimal sound would have worked better here. Something subtle and clean, more in line with Apple’s own design philosophy. It’s a small detail that doesn’t detract from the experience in any way, but worth mentioning in case the author wants to make the listening even more immersive and seamless.

David Pogue has done a tremendous job with writing, gathering all the interviews, chronicling all the events, and last, but definitely not least, with bringing to life in his own voice Apple: The First 50 Years in audiobook format. If you, like me, love Apple and want to know everything about the company and the people behind it, then I highly recommend you to pick up Apple: The First 50 Years.

Like I already said in the beginning of this review, Apple has changed the world for the better, so I can’t wait but be excited for the future. Listen to this and get your extremely entertaining history lesson, and here is to the next 50 years!

For flawless writing and perfect narration, Apple: The First 50 Years by David Pogue receives my highest praise: the Editor’s Choice Award for Excellence in Entertainment.

A golden ribbon with the site's logo and the text Editor's choice award for excellence in entertainment.

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.

A Phenomenal (Oral) History

Pogue tells so many wonderful stories and reads his words with care and enthusiasm that this is the easiest 5-star review I’ve ever given.