Apple CEO Jobs greenlights official biography

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs broke with expectations on Sunday after Simon & Schuster said he had agreed to participate in an authorized biography. Aspen president chief and former Time managing editor Walter Isaacson is penning iSteve: The Book of Jobs with an expected shelf date of early 2012. The official access gave him rare access to a direct interview with Jobs as well as his family, coworkers, and also challengers.

Rumors had emerged of an official biography coming but hadn't seen further substantiation until now.

Isaacson is known for having written biographies of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin. He may have been approved both for longstanding experience in journalism as well as a tendency to write neutral but bestselling profiles.

Jobs has repeatedly been the subject of biographies and profiles, but all of them have been unofficial and have at times run afoul of Apple. The well-known unofficial biography iCon was ejected from Apple retail stores not long after it arrived after Jobs disliked its portrayal of him, although he largely hesitated from pursuing any further action. Unofficial biographies can sometimes be more accurate than "safe" official biographies but also carry the risk of being sensationalist or having their own omissions.

The approval, while a rare opening for a CEO known for his secrecy, may fuel speculation that Jobs is concerned about leaving a legacy, even if he expects to live for much longer. His ongoing third medical leave has kept him in the CEO spot but has raised fears he might not stay in the top position at Apple for much longer.

By Electronista Staff