Insanely Simple, by Ken Segall is a book about “The Obsession That Drives Apple’s Success.”
Insanely Simple is an easy-to-read book that shares lessons from Segall’s career working with Steve Jobs – the king of simplicity himself.
So you should know:
Insanely Simple is entirely focused on how to use the values of simplicity to improve your business. And by the end of reading Insanely Simple I had a profoundly different appreciation for what simplicity is, how you can use it and why it works in your favour no matter what you use it on.
In this book review I’ll give you a summary of what to expect from Ken Segall’s Insanely Simple. I’ll also share the best parts of Insanely Simple so you can get a feeling for if Insanely Simple is a book you’ll benefit from. Sound good?
By the way, while Insanely Simple isn’t exactly an investment book, it is definitely focused on business. And the lessons of simplicity can be applied by investors and traders alike, so I thought it was worth including this book review on the StockIdeas.org blog.
What You Should Know About Insanely Simple:
Insanely Simple is exactly what you would expect: It’s straightforward, easy to understand and incredibly illustrative. The book has a short introduction and then shares 10 types of thinking that help foster simplicity. But I must warn you…
Don’t let the simplicity of Insanely Simple trick you into letting your guard down. The book is packed with valuable information. And while the laws of simplicity can be neatly summed up in 10 short chapter, Insanely Simple makes it clear that simplicity is something you must always be open to embracing.
Because the truth is:
Complexity is lurking around every corner. This is especially true in the dynamic world of modern business. And one of the neat things about Segall’s book is he shares his experiences at Apple as well as other tech companies like Dell and Intel. Insanely Simple provides start insights into the hidden costs of complexity. Since the examples are from contemporary Fortune 500 technology companies they are incredibly compelling and illustrative.
And that leads me to my favourite part of Insanely Simple…
The Best Part About Insanely Simple:
The best part about Insanely Simple is how the book is largely anecdotal. Ken Segall has obviously had a very successful career in marketing and advertising. So we are lucky when he lets us in on his private meetings and personal outlooks.
More specifically…
Insanely Simple gives unrivalled insight into what working with Steve Jobs was like. Ken Segall shares story after story about being in meetings with Steve Jobs, or receiving late night phone calls from the Apple CEO and founder where they would throw around “The Simple Stick.”
As you can tell, I really enjoyed this anecdotal aspect of Insanely Simple. It really helps you see how the lessons of simplicity were applied by the world’s brightest business minds. Seeing how the barefooted Steve Jobs did things in stark contrast to the suit-clad execs at Intel makes it painfully obvious how Apple was destined to do so well.
Another interesting part of Insanely Simple is that it was published after the death of Steve Jobs. From Segall’s description in his book, it seems like the culture of simplicity is well-embedded in the culture of Apple and should continue to live on for years to come.
Now given all my excitement for Insanely Simple, you might be wounding if the book left anything out… so…
Did Insanely Simple Come Up Short?
Usually this is the part of the book review where I try find a part of the book that I didn’t like. But with Insanely Simple I’m having a really tough time thinking of any constructive criticism. The truth is…
I really liked this book and it was quite easy to read. Segall does a pretty good job of turning the anecdotes into actionable insights. And while you might have to read the book a few times to absorb all of the lessons, it’s simple to understand.
Insanely Simple – The Final Word:
Insanely Simple was a fantastic book. I picked it up after a colleague recommended it to me. And boy am I glad I did. So if you’re looking for a business book to help you cut through the noise and focus in on what matters, then Insanely Simple is the book for you. I suggest you buy Insanely Simple on Amazon to save a few bucks from your local bookstore.
If you’re already read Insanely Simple, let me know what you thought about it in the comments below. If you’re still on the fence about it you can also watch my short video book review of Insanely Simple below.