# Steve Jobs and the NeXT Big Thing by Randall Stross

7 Hacker News commenters recommended Steve Jobs and the NeXT Big Thing by Randall Stross and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended for its detailed, in-period account of Jobs's years at NeXT, though critics call it a one-sided hit piece on Jobs.

## Why people recommend it

- Detailed coverage of the NeXT years (3 comments): "I remember liking it quite a bit and thinking it was a really interesting look at NeXT" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48153983)) "To see the mindset of Steve at NeXT there are a few biographies on that subject" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45876533)) "covers the NeXT years extensively and in period. Highly recommended" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48150805))
- Candid look at Jobs as manager (2 comments): "It's a really interesting book because it was essentially saying that Steve Jobs was a terrible manager and NeXT was a disaster." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48153972)) "Though it's essentially a long hit piece. The author really had it out for Jobs." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48147363))

## What people warn about

- Read as a one-sided hit piece (1 comments): "Though it's essentially a long hit piece. The author really had it out for Jobs." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48147363))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [The Man from the Future by Ananyo Bhattacharya](https://hackerapproved.com/p/man-from-the-future.md): 9 recommend
- [Steve Jobs in Exile by Geoffrey Cain](https://hackerapproved.com/p/steve-jobs-in-exile.md): 7 recommend
- [The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro](https://hackerapproved.com/p/years-of-lyndon-johnson.md): 6 recommend
- [The Infinity Machine by Sebastian Mallaby](https://hackerapproved.com/p/infinity-machine-demis-hassabis-deepmind-and-the-quest-for-superintelligence.md): 6 recommend
- [Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mountains-beyond-mountains.md): 6 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0689121350?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780689121357) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Steve Jobs and the NeXT Big Thing by Randall Stross", https://hackerapproved.com/p/steve-jobs-and-the-next-big-thing/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).