Alan Deutschman

A portrait of the co-founder of Apple Computer covers his departure from the company, his business dealings with Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Eisner, the return to Apple, and his management philosophies.

The Second Coming of Steve Jobs

The must-read summary of Alan Deutschman's book: "The Second Coming of Steve Jobs". This complete summary of the ideas from Alan Deutschman's book "The Second Coming of Steve Jobs" tells the story of Apple Computer CEO and co-founder, Steve Jobs. After interviewing nearly 100 colleagues and friends, the author presents this unprecedented portrait of the world-successful businessman. This summary provides readers with an insightful view into the life and career of Steve Jobs and is a must-read for all those who want to know more about his success. Added-value of this summary: • Save time • Understand key concepts • Expand your knowledge To learn more, read "The Second Coming of Steve Jobs" and discover the story behind the iconic CEO.

Review and Analysis of Deutschman's Book

Summary: The Second Coming of Steve Jobs

From the acclaimed Vanity Fair and GQ journalist--an unprecedented, in-depth portrait of the man whose return to Apple precipitated one of the biggest turnarounds in business history. From the emergence of Apple Computer in the late 1970s and early 1980s to its current resurgence, charismatic leader Steve Jobs has captivated the public. Both revered and reviled for his dictatorial manner and stunning successes, Jobs has transcended his legend in Silicon Valley to take on some of the heaviest hitters in Hollywood. Now, in The Second Coming of Steve Jobs, Alan Deutschman presents the most revealing portrait yet of this fascinating, complex character--an in-depth look at the many layers of Steve Jobs, a man who is at turns a brilliant cult figure and an abusive, egomaniacal kid. This story begins back in 1985 when Jobs was exiled from Apple, and then it goes on to chronicle the rise and fall of his own company, NeXT; the enormous success of Jobs's film animation studio, Pixar; and finally his triumphant return to Apple in the late 1990s, with Jobs taking the title of CEO in January 2000. Displaying an uncanny skill at the negotiation table and an intuitive sense of brilliant design that could capture the public's fascination with products like the iMac, along with a celebrity's ability to command the spotlight, Jobs has been able to catapult himself to the top of the Silicon Valley and Hollywood establishments. Based on interviews with scores of people--rivals, colleagues, friends--who have worked with Jobs over the years, The Second Coming of Steve Jobs gets under the hood of this extraordinarily complex man: how and why he almost gave up on his career; the details of his negotiations with Disney's Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Eisner, and of the culture clash between Silicon Valley and Hollywood; his methods of leadership, management, creativity, and innovation; his friendship and rivalry with Bill Gates--and much more. In an unsentimental and powerful voice, Deutschman reveals a man who suffered his midlife crisis at thirty, compressing it into just three months; struggled between self-imposed exile and the allure of public life; and became the baby boomer icon who was constantly blurring the lines between businessman, rock star, and beatnik. The Second Coming of Steve Jobs is a compelling look at an individual who has changed the face of technology and entertainment for the twenty-first century. This candid account of Steve Jobs's tumultuous and provocative career will answer the many questions left unanswered by this incredibly private character who has come to represent the Silicon Valley American dream.

When acclaimed journalist Alan Deutschman came to the California wine country as the lucky house guest of very rich friends, he was surprised to discover a raging controversy. A civil war was being fought between the Napa Valley, which epitomized elitism, prestige and wealthy excess, and the neighboring Sonoma Valley, a rag-tag bohemian enclave so stubbornly backward that rambunctious chickens wandered freely through town. But the antics really began when new-money invaders began pushing out Sonoma’s poets and painters to make way for luxury resorts and trophy houses that seemed a parody of opulence. A Tale of Two Valleys captures these stranger-than-fiction locales with the wit of a Tom Wolfe novel and uncorks the hilarious absurdities of life among the wine world’s glitterati. Deutschman found that on the weekends the wine country was like a bunch of gracious hosts smiling upon their guests, but during the week the families feuded with each other and their neighbors like the Hatfields and McCoys. Napa was a comically exclusive club where the super-rich fought desperately to get in. Sonoma’s colorful free spirits and iconoclasts were wary of their bohemia becoming the next playground for the rapacious elite. So, led by a former taxicab driver and wine-grape picker, a cheese merchant, and an artist who lived in a barn surrounded by wild peacocks, they formed a populist revolt to seize power and repel the rich invaders. Deutschman’s cast of characters brims with eccentrics, egomaniacs, and a mysterious man in black who crashed the elegant Napa Valley Wine Auction before proceeding to pay a half-million dollars for a single bottle. What develops is nothing less than a battle for the good life, a clash between old and new, the struggle for the soul of one of America’s last bits of paradise. A dishy glimpse behind the scenes of a West Coast wonderland, A Tale of Two Valleys makes for intoxicating reading.

Wine, Wealth and the Battle for the Good Life in Napa and Sonoma

A Tale of Two Valleys

"One of the best leadership books of the year." -strategy+business Leadership is the art of transforming how people think, feel, and act. Though some experts make it seem complicated, it really has only two elements: what you say and what you do. And according to Alan Deutschman, most leaders focus too much on words and not nearly enough on setting an example. Deutschman profiles a wide range of leaders (in business, education, the military, and nonprofits) who always walked the walk, especially when times got tough. In a skeptical world, that gave them more credibility than even the best possible speeches. Deutschman also shows the devastating consequences of not walking the walk, even on seemingly minor matters. Consider how the CEOs of GM and Chrysler hurt their chances of a government bailout by flying their private jets to Washington. The eye-opening examples in Walk the Walk will inspire leaders at all levels.

The #1 Rule for Real Leaders

Walk the Walk

Change or Die. What if you were given that choice? If you didn't, your time would end soon—a lot sooner than it had to. Could you change when change matters most? This is the question Alan Deutschman poses in Change or Die, which began as a sensational cover story by the same title for Fast Company. Deutschman concludes that although we all have the ability to change our behavior, we rarely ever do. From patients suffering from heart disease to repeat offenders in the criminal justice system to companies trapped in the mold of unsuccessful business practices, many of us could prevent ominous outcomes by simply changing our mindset. A powerful book with universal appeal, Change or Die deconstructs and debunks age-old myths about change and empowers us with three critical keys—relate, repeat, and reframe—to help us make important positive changes in our lives. Explaining breakthrough research and progressive ideas from a wide selection of leaders in medicine, science, and business (including Dr. Dean Ornish, Mimi Silbert of the Delancey Street Foundation, Bill Gates, Daniel Boulud, and many others), Deutschman demonstrates how anyone can achieve lasting, revolutionary changes that are positive, attainable, and absolutely vital.

The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life

Change or Die

"One to one, no one is as compelling, as charismatic, as seductive as Steve Jobs. It's just magic." – Alan Deutschman on "Bloomberg West" in August 2011 In this original e-essay, part of the forthcoming book Why Steve Jobs Matters, veteran Silicon Valley journalist Alan Deutschman describes how Jobs changed the world we live in forever. Steve Jobs' far-reaching vision of what technology was capable of rescued the American Dream while creating one of the most influential companies in the world, Apple Computer. Epic early career highs and lows, unwavering persistence and a relentless work ethic transformed him into the mythical hero he is today. His life story combined elements of contemporary legend, and the brilliant products he brought us—the iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone and iPad—anticipated needs we never knew we had. Now, Alan Deutschman brings together the intersecting stories of Steve Jobs—his personal life and the truly great corporation he created—to show readers "How Steve Jobs Changed Our World."

Alan Deutschman

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