Get Your Free Audiobook
Insanely Great
Non-member price: $28.94
Publisher's Summary
The creation of the Mac, in 1984, catapulted America into the digital millennium, captured a fanatic cult audience, and transformed the computer industry into an unprecedented mix of technology, economics, and show business. Veteran technology writer and Newsweek senior editor Steven Levy zooms in on the great machine and the fortunes of the unique company responsible for its evolution. Loaded with anecdote and insight, and peppered with sharp commentary, Insanely Great is the definitive book on the most important computer ever made. It is a must-have for anyone curious about how we got to the interactive age.
More from the same
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars2
-
4 Stars3
-
3 Stars1
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Performance
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars3
-
4 Stars2
-
3 Stars0
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Story
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars2
-
4 Stars3
-
3 Stars0
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael
- 12-01-2015
Not your typical Jobsian apotheosis
Good thing it was written way back in the 90s (then updated, then updated some more). Had it been written today, it wouldn't have seen the light of day.
This is story of the real Apple, the real Steve Jobs, and the real origins of the ideas that have shaped the way we interact with technology. It credits the right people for the right things, and by this it does a great historical justice.
Must read for anyone who ever worked on, or interested in UX/UI, and computer-human interfaces in general.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jeffrey
- 03-02-2013
Insanely? Maybe.
The book is well done and I felt like I was reading about the history of a great company and a great technology. Levy did not whitewash how Mr. Jobs really was nor how kind of lucky the whole thing was to have actually got up and running. Those were weird times, how weird nobody knew until now. The book's ending is understandable, but certainly makes Levy out to be a sycophant. There's nothing wrong with that I suppose, but came off a bit gratuitous as well. Levy is actually a really good narrator.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tim
- 30-10-2012
Mac Aficionado (and a request to Audible)
Any Mac aficionado will love this book. I am very aware of Steven Levy's writing. He is one of the best technology chronologist of our time. Even though I am not a Mac User, I really enjoyed listening about how Apple got started. There is a secret hidden gem about Apple and their stories.
This company is like a blockbuster movie, lights, action, and drama. There is no other tech company out there like Apple that keep their consumers wanting more. I don't see multiple books about Intel, but there is always an new plot on Apple.
I really wish that Audible will record more books from Steven Levy, like "Hackers." Please record this book. We are missing out one of the best tech titles in audio. I would pay 2 credits for Hackers without a doubt!
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- MelvinUdall
- 23-06-2019
Not what I expected
This book has mainly great reviews. To me, the story seemed to jump all over the place. I did realize that this book is old and maybe they added content for the audiobook and maybe that’s why it felt that way to me.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed other Apple based books: Jony Ive book and Second Coming of Steve Jobs, but this one didn’t do it for me. If you haven’t read a lot of Books about the early Apple days already, you’ll probably enjoy it.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Skunkbunny
- 18-01-2015
What a remarkable experience. Thank you Mr. Levi.
Steven Levy should have allowed a more talented reader narrate his excellent journalism. I loved the book and plan to read all of Levi's work now.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Peter
- 30-07-2016
What really happened
Really enjoyed this. I'm a techie anyway and have a general interest in computing and the Mac. I especially like it when the author narrates their own work as they don't misinterpret the text and how it is inferred.
This book is not another Steve Jobs biography but more an in-depth examination of what it took to build something new from scratch (apart from the results of the raid on Xerox PARC). Some good decisions were made and also some really bad ones. Indeed, the greatest cause of the problems for the first Mac was Apple's own Lisa project.
Moreover, this book uncovers the emotion and personal toll experienced by the development team. A really nice addition is the interview with two of them at the end including Andy Hertzfeld - System software.
You will definitely look at a computer display (especially a Mac) in a different way and then you will know why rounded rectangles remain.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mr
- 23-01-2017
Reality distortion book
Written by an Apple/MAC zealot which means it twists and distorts history. Also the narration is bad, sometimes I could not understand what was being said, the guy reading the book has a thick American accent which I struggled with.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful