It's been a while since I discovered a new read through the Richer, Wiser, Happier podcast, although that's primarily down to the frequency of episodes and the fact that not every guest is an author. Whilst I've read several books on Steve Jobs and Apple over the years, I got the impression from the interview with Michael Moritz that Return to the Little Kingdom was going to offer something slightly different. Having finished the book, I was happy to have my suspicions confirmed.
Whilst plenty of books have covered Jobs and Apple from different angles, there was something about this one that made it feel more expansive than many of the others I've read. Perhaps that's because so many are biographies or business books written with the benefit of hindsight, whereas this is an updated version of The Little Kingdom, originally published in 1984, when Apple's extraordinary journey was still in its relatively early stages.
By Jobs' own words, Moritz was brought in to 'be our historian', and he certainly seems to have met that brief. Rather than simply documenting the business side of Apple's early years and subsequent rise, Moritz spends considerable time exploring the backgrounds, personalities and experiences of both Jobs and Steve Wozniak. It's an approach that brings a different dimension to the story and one that, in my opinion, some other books on the subject haven't quite captured in the same way.
The relatively detailed look at both Jobs' and Wozniak's early lives helps weave together the circumstances, influences and personalities that ultimately led to Apple's creation. Both men, along with many of the company's earliest employees, were cut from a different cloth to those you'd typically associate with the corporate giants of the time. As the book progresses, however, you begin to see some of the familiar symptoms of bureaucracy gradually creeping into a business that had emerged from such unconventional beginnings.
At points, you can almost forget that much of this was originally written in 1984, when Apple's future was far from assured and its eventual rise to become one of the world's most valuable companies was certainly no foregone conclusion. That's perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of reading it today. You're experiencing the story through the eyes of someone documenting events as they unfolded, whilst knowing what the following decades would eventually bring.
Even when Moritz returned to the book in 2009, reflecting on what the future might hold for Apple, there was still so much of the company's eventual success yet to unfold. Reading those reflections today, with the benefit of knowing just how far Apple would go, adds another interesting perspective to an already compelling story.
Whilst the Apple of Jobs' era isn't necessarily the Apple we see today, it's difficult to come away from this book without feeling a sense of awe at how such relatively humble and unconventional beginnings could eventually give rise to the enormous company we now know.
For me, Return to the Little Kingdom stands out not simply because it's another telling of Apple's origins, but because of when and how much of the story was originally captured. Having read several books on the company and its founders, I still came away feeling I'd gained a different and more complete appreciation of those early years.
Who's It For?
Anyone with an interest in Steve Jobs or Apple will almost certainly enjoy this, and even if you've already read several books on either, I wouldn't let that deter you. There's enough here to make it a worthwhile addition rather than simply another retelling of familiar events.
For anyone less familiar with Apple's history, I'd also consider this an excellent starting point among the many biographies and business books available on the company. It provides a fascinating account of the people, circumstances and early decisions behind what would eventually become one of the most successful businesses in history.