Steve Jobs and the NeXT Big Thing

About the book

Published in 1993, this critical business biography follows Jobs after leaving Apple as NeXT spends heavily on design, manufacturing, and higher-education sales, then pivots toward software. It is a close study of how a gifted founder can repeat management and market mistakes.

Why read it

Best if you want the Steve Jobs story as a rigorous failure case rather than another account of Apple's victories

Evidence and original sources

David calls it a fantastic book every entrepreneur should read.

• William Randolph Hearst — Host references Steve Jobs and the NeXT Big Thing to compare Hearst's unconstrained spending to Steve Jobs's financial indiscipline at NeXT.
• Steve Jobs (Inside Steve's Brain) — David identifies the NeXT book through its exact title and Founders #77 while placing it in his Steve Jobs reading order.
• Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography — David references this book, previously covered in full at Founders No. 77.
• Steve Jobs (The Pixar Story) — Notes the book was covered on Founders episode 77, about Steve Jobs's NeXT years.
• Steve Jobs In His Own Words — The official Episode 249 notes include the book in the Steve Jobs reading list and identify Founders #77.
• Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader — David identifies the book as Founders episode 77.