Key Takeaways
- David Pogue’s Apple Book, titled ‘Apple: The First 50 Years’, explores Apple’s journey and corrects common myths.
- The book features 360 full-color photos and interviews with key figures, revealing new insights about Apple’s culture.
- It highlights pivotal moments, including successes and failures, illustrating Apple’s resilience and innovation.
- Scheduled for release on March 17, 2026, it coincides with Apple’s 50th anniversary, making it a significant cultural event.
- Ultimately, this book appeals to anyone interested in creativity, risk, and the evolution of technology.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
When a company changes the world, its story deserves more than facts. David Pogue’s new book is that story, told with heart.
Every so often, a book arrives that you instantly know will outlast the headlines. Apple: The First 50 Years by David Pogue is one of those rare books. It is not just about Apple’s products—it is about how an idea born in 1976 grew into the most influential tech company on Earth.
David Pogue has written the Apple story we didn’t even know we needed. Myths corrected. Truths revealed, and moments that feel as fresh as today. Only he could make Apple’s 50-year journey this alive, surprising, and unforgettable. As Apple celebrates its golden anniversary, this book stands as the essential record for anyone who loves innovation, design, and culture. — Mitch Goldstone, CEO & Chief Photo Archivist, ScanMyPhotos.com
About the Book
Published by Simon & Schuster, this 600-page volume will be released on March 17, 2026 — perfectly timed to mark Apple’s golden anniversary. It features 360 full-color photos and draws from 150 new interviews with the people who actually built Apple’s story. These aren’t recycled quotes; they are the voices of engineers, designers, and leaders who shaped the culture from inside the walls of Cupertino.
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, the most valuable company in the world. The book features full-color photos, new facts that correct the record and illuminate its subversive culture, and fresh interviews with the legendary figures who shaped Apple into what it is today. [Amazon review].
Why It Matters
David Pogue is not a casual observer. For decades, he has been at the center of Apple’s journey — first as a columnist at Macworld (mid-1980s and was a regular columnist there through the 1990s), then at The New York Times. Today, he is a correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning and even plays “Techno-Claus” each Christmas, showing the coolest tech gadgets. He was even one of the journalists trusted by Steve Jobs to first review the iPhone in 2007. That level of trust matters. It shows why he is uniquely qualified to tell this story now.
What’s Inside
The book promises to surprise even die-hard Apple fans:
- Apple didn’t actually start in a garage.
- There was a third founder you may not know.
- The “Think Different” campaign wasn’t Steve Jobs’ idea.
- Apple had a tablet concept before the iPhone.
And it doesn’t shy away from the failures either — Lisa, MobileMe, and the Apple III are all part of the truth that shaped Apple’s resilience.
Why It Will Be the Top Tech Book of 2026
It resets the record. For decades, Apple has been wrapped in myth. This book untangles the legend from the facts.
- It’s vivid. With rare photos and firsthand stories, it feels alive.
- It’s balanced. Success and failure both get their due. That honesty makes the story even more powerful.
- It’s universal. This isn’t just about Apple; it’s about how innovation survives setbacks and how design can change culture.
CBS Connection
As Pogue continues his work with CBS Sunday Morning, the timing is ideal. Expect this book to be part of the broader national conversation in 2026 as Apple turns 50. CBS has the reach to bring this history to millions, making this book not only influential in tech circles but in American culture at large. Everyone attending CES in January should pre-order.
A Clarification About the iPhone
Some people believe Steve Jobs personally handed David Pogue the first iPhone before anyone else. What we know for sure is this: in June 2007, Apple provided Pogue with one of the very first review units, alongside Walt Mossberg, Steven Levy, and Ed Baig. It was an extraordinary gesture of trust, but the “Jobs handing it off” story is best considered folklore.
Where to Get It and Pre-Order Today
Pre-orders are already live at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other major retailers. The ISBN is 978-1982134594. Don’t wait — first printings of landmark books like this often sell out fast.
Final Word
This isn’t just a book for Apple fans. It’s a book for anyone who wants to understand how creativity, risk, and persistence shape the world. Pogue has written many bestsellers, but this one feels different. It feels definitive. It feels timeless. If Apple is the story of innovation, Apple: The First 50 Years is the story of how we got here—and why the next chapter matters.
ScanMyPhotos also has a personal connection to David Pogue’s work. In 2008, his The New York Times column highlighted the emerging world of photo scanning, profiling ScanMyPhotos, and explaining to readers why digitizing their old prints was important. That feature didn’t just explain a service — it helped put photo scanning on the national map. For us, it was a turning point that confirmed what we had believed from the start: that preserving family memories is just as vital as creating new ones.
