University News | October 7, 2011

Walter Isaacson, Harvard Overseer, wrote the official biography of Steve Jobs

Walter Isaacson ’74 wrote the official biography of the Apple co-founder, to be released October 24.

The authorized biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, to be released October 24, is written by Walter Isaacson ’74, CEO of the Aspen Institute, the former managing editor of Time magazine, and a Harvard Overseer.

After Jobs died October 5 of complications from pancreatic cancer, the book climbed to the top spot on the Amazon.com bestseller list.

Time canceled its previously scheduled print run this week and instead published a tribute to Jobs. A reflection by Isaacson is available to subscribers; it was quoted around the Web, including Jobs's explanation to Isaacson of why he wanted the biography to be written:

“I wanted my kids to know me,” he said. “I wasn’t always there for them, and I wanted them to know why and to understand what I did.”

Isaacson is also the author of biographies of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger ’50, Ph.D. ’54, Albert Einstein, S.D. ’35, and Benjamin Franklin, A.M. 1753, the last reviewed by Baird professor of science emeritus Dudley Herschbach for Harvard Magazine.

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