7 Books That Made Steve Jobs A Genius

Here are 7 books that profoundly shaped Steve Jobs’ thinking and, by extension, the world he helped create:

1. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

This was arguably the most personally significant book for Jobs. He first read it as a teenager and re-read it annually in India and later in life.

2. The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen

Jobs directly referenced this book in the iconic moment he unveiled the Intel-based iMac. It provided a theoretical backbone for his instinctual understanding of market dynamics.

3. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Jobs identified deeply with Captain Ahab’s relentless, almost obsessive pursuit of the white whale.

4. King Lear by William Shakespeare

Jobs had a deep and lifelong appreciation for Shakespeare, particularly the tragedies.

5. The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas

Jobs was particularly moved by the famous villanelle “Do not go gentle into that good night.” It was about the passion and intensity he brought to every aspect of life and work.

6. Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé

This book, which he read in his early, counterculture years, didn’t just make him a vegetarian for a period.

7. Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki

This book is a cornerstone of Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of an open, “beginner’s” mind—free from preconceptions. This philosophy was the bedrock of Apple’s design ethos: simplicity, clarity, and a focus on the essential.