Book review: Steve Jobs in Exile by Geoffrey Cain

TL;DR Steve Jobs in Exile: The Untold Story of NeXT and the Remaking of an American Visionary, written by Geoffrey Cain, published in 2026 by Penguin Random House, recounts the life and career of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs between his stints at Apple, starting with his departure in 1985 and ending with his return in 1997, a period spent mostly at NeXT, another company cofounded by Jobs, ultimately acquired by Apple. The book includes a number of stories that I had never heard before and provides key insights into the psyche of Steve Jobs, as much it’s possible understand that. In many ways, it’s a myth-busting book: the long journey of Jobs from losing a power struggle with former Apple CEO John Sculley to becoming Apple CEO himself was more like wandering lost in the desert and stumbling upon an oasis than following a clear, paved road. For anyone interested in Apple history, I highly recommend Steve Jobs in Exile. Geoffrey Cain is a longtime technology journalist, also author of…