National Bestseller!
New York Times • USA Today • Publishers Weekly
In time for Apple’s 50th anniversary, “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent David Pogue tells the iconic company’s entire life story: how it was born, nearly died, was born again under Steve Jobs, and became, under CEO Tim Cook, one of the most valuable companies in the world.
The 600-page book features 360 full-color photos, new facts that correct the record and illuminate Apple’s subversive culture, and 150 fresh interviews with the legendary figures who shaped Apple into what it is today.
Publication date: March 10, 2026
Simon & Schuster
Apple: The First 50 Years
AVAILABLE NOW
Praise for “Apple: The First 50 Years”
“The most in-depth, well-researched, and well written tome on Apple’s history.” —Forbes
“While tech media tends to focus on hot new products and strong personalities, Mr. Pogue’s book is resolutely a biography of Apple Inc. itself—one of the most distinctive characters in American business history...To write a biography of a corporation that has lived numerous lives in its 50 years is a huge task, and Mr. Pogue’s easy style fits with the enthusiastic culture that has surrounded Apple’s products from the very beginning.” —The Wall Street Journal
“A richly illustrated history of the computer giant as it enters its sixth decade...Just the thing for MacHeads, especially collectors of Apple goodies over the years.” —Kirkus Reviews
“As a person who was inside the washing machine when the washing machine was running, I learned a shitload of stuff about the company I was at. And I had no idea. I am telling you: Everybody who uses an Apple product, and cares about Apple, you absolutely should read this definitive history of Apple. You gotta read this book.” —Guy Kawasaki
“It’s just the right amount of detail and depth … an easy and highly entertaining read. And there are hundreds of full-color pictures. Apple: The First 50 Years is now the definitive all-encompassing book for anyone interested in the company that changed the world—at least three separate times.” —Cult of Mac
“The reason Pogue has endured is that he speaks to a very specific audience: human beings. He knows how not to get bogged down in obsessive detail, and he revels in all the cool stuff as much as we do. In his hands, Apple’s 50-year journey can be enjoyed by the casual observer as well as those who have followed the company for decades. Given Pogue’s professional history, it’s as if his entire career led to this book.” —Ken Segall, writer of the “Think Different” ad
“Written in a conversational voice and punctuated with throwback photos of people, products and events, plus intriguing text boxes highlighting key players and groundbreaking ideas that influenced the evolution of personal computing.” —AARP
“Apple: The First 50 Years is a refreshing history packed with nostalgia, accessible for casual readers, and detailed enough for tech heads. Apple changed everything. This is the definitive account of exactly how.” —Amazon Editors’ Pick
New Song Parody for Apple’s 50th Anniversary
“Pogue’s Posts” is back!
After a 12-year break, I’m back to writing a weekly column! This time, it's free—and free of ads, too. (It’s on Substack.)
The column can come to you by email. It covers topics like:
Tech. Design, reviews, developments in AI…
Behind-the-scenes stories from my “CBS Sunday Morning” work…
Scenes and interview excerpts from the creation of "Apple: The First 50 Years."
Enjoy the Return... of Pogue’s Posts!
Click here to read my latest columns—or to sign up!
The Book Has Landed!
About the Book
On April 1, 1976, two scruffy twentysomethings, both named Steve, founded a startup. Their goal: To bring the revolutionary power of computers to everyone.
Over the next five decades, Apple reshaped the technology and cultural landscapes, introducing the public to breakthroughs like the mouse, laser printing, CD-ROM, WiFi, digital video, home networking, touchscreen phones, and tablets. Steve Jobs’s obsessive eye for detail set the stage for products—Mac, iMac, iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch—that married advanced technology with beauty, simplicity, and fine design.
Deeply researched and lavishly illustrated in color, Apple: The First 50 Years includes new interviews with 150 key people who made the journey, including Steve Wozniak, John Sculley, Jony Ive, and many current designers, engineers, and executives. The book busts long-held myths; goes backstage for both the titanic successes (450 million iPods, 700 million iPads, 2.2 billion iPhones) and the instructive failures (Lisa, Apple III, MobileMe); and assesses the forces that challenge Apple’s dominance as it enters its second half century.
Bursting with tales of frenetic all-nighters, engineering genius, and creative rebellion, this book is a true testament to Apple’s unique and innovative vision, and a must read for anyone whose life Apple has touched.
The Book Tour
Come say hello! I’ll tell you the story of Apple (and the story of writing this damn book), armed with hilarious tales, amazing true facts, and song parodies at the piano!
March 11: Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA)
The tour kicks off with this star-studded special evening! Joining me onstage: former Apple CEO John Sculley; key OS architect Avie Tevanian; iMac/iPod/iPhone hardware chief Jon Rubinstein; 50-year Apple veteran Chris Espinosa; and surprise special guests! The event is sold out, but there’s a waiting list and a watch-remotely option right here.
March 12: The Commonwealth Club (San Francisco, CA)
Thrilled to speak about Apple’s culture and its impact. You can attend in person, or watch online. Details here.
March 13: Kepler’s Books (Menlo Park, CA)
Come say hello for a funny, fascinating hour long talk about my journey through Apple’s innards and its history! Details here.
March 15: Powell’s Bookstore (Beaverton, OR)
I’ll be bringing my keyboard and my stories to Portland! Details here.
March 16: Seattle Town Hall (Seattle, WA)
Yep, right here in Microsoft’s backyard! In conjunction with Elliott Bay Books. Details here.
March 18: South by Southwest (SXSW) (Austin, TX)
At this Featured Session, I’ll be joined by a VERY special guest: Apple Fellow, and former VP of Global Marketing, PHIL SCHILLER! He’ll share some fantastic stories and insights of working side-by-side with Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, launching iconic products over several decades! Details here.
March 24: Cooper Union (New York City)
A powerhouse panel! Joanna Stern (the Wall Street Journal) and Lauren Goode (WIRED) will join me for a deep dive into Apple: Its culture, its products, its influence, and its first 50 years. Register here (free event).
March 25: Bedford Playhouse (Bedford, NY)
Just me, some great slides and videos, and a fascinating and entertaining tour through Apple’s history. Details here.
March 27: City Club of Cleveland (Cleveland, OH)
I’ll review what I learned about Apple, its triumphs, and its flops—and the business lessons we can learn from them. Details here.
March 30: Politics & Prose Bookstore (Washington, D.C.)
Say hello, and let me entertain you with 50 years of Apple history in an hour! Details here.
April 16: The 92nd Street Y (New York City)
I’ll be joined onstage by a dream moderator: "CBS Sunday Morning’s” own Lee Cowan! Yes, it’s two of your favorite correspondents, talking about Apple, tech, and the future. Details here.
April 25: Mimms Museum of Technology and Art (Atlanta)
A lively musical journey through the book—and through Apple’s life! Details here.
June 2: Westport Library (CT)
More dates coming soon.
Want me to speak at your bookstore, city, or event? Shoot me a note!
I can also visit your group over Zoom, if you buy a few books. Write me for details!
Top 10 Surprises in Apple: The First 50 Years
Apple didn’t start in a garage.
Apple was Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs’s fourth business venture.
There was a third founder.
Steve Jobs was not Apple’s first CEO—nor its second, third, or fourth.
Steve Jobs did not originate or name the Macintosh; in fact, he forced out the man who did.
John Sculley did not fire Steve Jobs.
The tablet came before the phone.
Jobs never fired anyone he’d just met in the elevator.
And he didn’t write the “Think Different” ad.
The Newton saved Apple.
David Pogue is a seven-time Emmy Award winner for his stories on “CBS Sunday Morning,” a five-time TED speaker, host of 20 “NOVA” specials on PBS, and a New York Times bestselling author.
He’s written about Apple for his entire career, including 13 years as a Macworld columnist, 13 more as the New York Times tech columnist, and 20 years as the #1 bestselling author of books about Macs and iPhones.
He lives with his family in New York.
Apple through the years.
Watch David moderate the “Apple Mac at 40” event at the Computer History Museum in 2024. And sing along to his “iPhone: The Music Video,” which went viral in 2007.