Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Computer in 1976 and served as CEO during two separate periods, transforming the company into one of the world's most valuable corporations. He pioneered the personal computer revolution with the Macintosh, and later led Apple's resurgence with the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Jobs was known for his obsessive attention to design, product simplicity, and the intersection of technology with liberal arts.
31 Books Recommended by Steve Jobs
Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site
Atlas Shrugged
23 people recommendedSteve Wozniak said he thinks Steve Jobs mentioned this book and it really was a guide in his life.
Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, Peter Thiel, Brian Armstrong, Ev Williams, Ray Dalio, Travis Kalanick, Amelia Boone, Bob Metcalfe, Austen Allred, Blake Scholl, Patrick Bet David, Fred Wilson, Gabby Reece, Joe De Sena, John Carmack, Paul Krugman, Peter Diamandis, Phil Jackson, Rand Paul, Russell Brunson, Shah Rukh Khan
Walter Isaacson said Steve Jobs was deeply influenced by this book.
Also recommended by: Mark Cuban, Jeff Bezos, Drew Houston, Ev Williams, Marc Andreessen, Marc Benioff, Michael Bloomberg, Aaron Levie, Ben Horowitz, Bill Gurley, Caterina Fake, Blake Scholl, Chris Dixon, Guy Kawasaki, Max Levchin, Steve Blank, Tim Oreilly
Autobiography of a Yogi
11 people recommendedMarc Benioff said everyone at Steve Jobs' memorial service got a copy of this book.
Also recommended by: Ankur Warikoo, Marc Benioff, Virat Kohli, Dan Engle, Jay Shetty, Phil Jackson, Richa Chadha, Sahil Lavingia, Travis Brewer, Ranveer Allahbadia
Only the Paranoid Survive
9 people recommendedThis book is about one super-important concept. You must learn about Strategic Inflection Points, because sooner or later you are going to live through one.
Also recommended by: Balaji Srinivasan, Bill Gates, Jamie Dimon, Marc Andreessen, Vinod Khosla, Balaji S. Srinivasan, Ben Horowitz, Charlie Munger
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
7 people recommendedBrent Schlender said Steve Jobs reread this book several times.
Also recommended by: Marc Benioff, Andy Puddicombe, Garry Tan, Kevin Rose, Leo Babauta, Sharon Salzberg
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
6 people recommendedMichael S. Malone said the first time he sat down with Steve Jobs, Steve immediately asked him if he had read this book. Michael thinks Steve was assimilating into this personality, this notion that he found in this book.
Also recommended by: Mark Zuckerberg, Brad Delong, David Deutsch, Paul Graham, Stanislav Grof
On the Road
6 people recommendedDaniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Also recommended by: Ev Williams, Bob Dylan, Josh Waitzkin, Lex Fridman, Walter Isaacson
Moby Dick
6 people recommendedWalter Isaacson said this was one of Steve Jobs' favorite books growing up.
Also recommended by: Barack Obama, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jack Edwards, Penn Jillette, Pewdiepie
Be Here Now
3 people recommended[This book] was profound. It transformed me and many of my friends.
Also recommended by: Jack Kornfield, Travis Brewer
The Way of Zen
3 people recommendedDaniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Also recommended by: Osho, Naval Ravikant
The Dhammapada
3 people recommendedDaniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Also recommended by: Osho, Dr Gabor Mate
Meetings with Remarkable Men
2 people recommendedInc.com said this book influenced Steve Jobs.
Also recommended by: Osho
Meditation in Action
2 people recommendedDaniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Also recommended by: Duncan Trussell
The Dharma Bums
2 people recommendedDaniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Also recommended by: Josh Waitzkin
High Fidelity
2 people recommendedGuys can get an illness in which they believe there can always be a better girl around the next corner. [In this book, the author] calls it 'death by small increments.'
Also recommended by: Tim Ferriss
The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Mucusless Diet Healing System
Walter Isaacson said Steve Jobs' dietary habits became even more obsessive when he read this book.
Cosmic Consciousness
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
Steve Jobs shared this book with Daniel Kottke.
Diet for a Small Planet
[After reading this book] I swore off meat pretty much for good.
The Essene Gospel of Peace
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Hindu Mysticism
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Das Energi
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Ramakrishna and His Disciples
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
The Diamond Sutra and The Sutra of Hui-neng
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
The Way of White Clouds
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas
Walter Isaacson said this was one of Steve Jobs' favorite books growing up.
Songs of Milarepa
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.