cover image West of Eden

West of Eden

Frank Rose. Viking Books, $19.95 (368pp) ISBN 978-0-670-81278-3

Rose ( Into the Heart of the Mind ) tells in interesting detail how two blue-jeaned Californians, electronic hobbyists Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, developed the desktop computer in a home laboratory; founded Silicon Valley's Apple Computer Co.; became Wall Street darlings and multimillionaires; then were ousted, once Apple became big business, by the very management they had recruited. Garrulous and emotional, Jobs commanded staff loyalty and a public following, but when competing with mighty IBM he vacillated among product, management and marketing ideas, claims the author. Covering more than a decade, this lengthy all-American saga, populated with many major and supporting characters, becomes dense at times. Yet Jobs, who viewed his professional mission as a ``crusade,'' remains a riveting figure. 35,000 first printing; $35,000 ad/promo; author tour. (Mar . )