Finding the Next Steve Jobs: How to Find, Keep, and Nurture Talent
, subject: Hiring, retaining, and managing creative talent
A fast, maxim-driven hiring book from Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, built around spotting, backing, and managing creative people who do not fit conventional hiring filters.
About the book
First published in 2013, the book draws on Bushnell's experience at Atari and with a young Steve Jobs to argue for nontraditional recruiting, autonomy, tolerance for difficult personalities, and rapid action on ideas.
Why read it
Best if you want an unconventional, aphoristic guide to finding, managing, and retaining creative talent
Key themes
- Creative arrogance
- Back unconventional talent
- Action over deliberation
Evidence and original sources
Host says Nolan Bushnell's book contains many useful ideas on creativity and business building and recommends it highly.
- Jim Simons (Money Printer) — David cites a Nolan Bushnell quote on creative arrogance from Bushnell's book, which he previously covered on the podcast.
- David Geffen — David points listeners to Founders #36 and explains the book's origin.
- Sid Meier (Computer game designer) — David names Finding the Next Steve Jobs while connecting Atari's role in Sid Meier's story to prior Founders #36 coverage.
- Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Bill Gates, Andy Grove, Bill Hewlett — David identifies Nolan Bushnell as the author and says he previously covered this book.
- Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography — David references this Nolan Bushnell book, previously covered in Founders No. 36.
- Charlie Munger — David gives the full title and returns to a favorite passage from books covered on Founders.
Unofficial listener-built companion, not affiliated with or endorsed by David Senra or Founders Podcast.