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Finding the Next Steve Jobs: How to Find, Keep, and Nurture Talent
A celebrated visionary and iconoclast, Nolan Bushnell founded the groundbreaking gaming company Atari before he went on to found Chuck E. Cheese's and two dozen other companies. He also happened to launch the career of the late Steve Jobs, along with those of many other brilliant creatives over the course of his five decades in business. With refreshing candor, keen psychological insight, and robust humor, Bushnell explains in this audiobook how to think boldly and differently about companies and organizations ? and specifically the people who work within them. For anyone trying to turn a company into the next Atari or Apple, build a more creative workforce, or fashion a career in a changing world, this book will enlighten, challenge, surprise, and amuse.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2014
43 people are currently reading
663 people want to read
About the author
Nolan Bushnell
12 books24 followersNolan Key Bushnell is an American engineer and entrepreneur who founded both Atari, Inc. and the Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza-Time Theaters chain. Bushnell has been inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame and the Consumer Electronics Association Hall of Fame, received the BAFTA Fellowship and the Nations Restaurant News “Innovator of the Year” award, and was named one of Newsweek's "50 Men Who Changed America." Bushnell has started more than twenty companies and is one of the founding fathers of the video game industry. He is currently on the board of Anti-Aging Games, but his latest venture is an educational software company called Brainrush that is using video game technology in educational software, incorporating real brain science, in a way that Bushnell believes will fundamentally change education. Nolan, who is co-founder and Chairman of Brainrush, believes that Brainrush will be his biggest success.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 22, 2025
1.5 stars
I found the author to be very out of touch and unrelatable. Using a sailboat to interview potential employees or renting a 727 for a company wide Disneyland trip for a day did not resonate with me - instead it read like a list of either the author's own accomplishments / opportunity to toot his own horn, or just a list of interesting people he's had the pleasure of meeting / hiring / working with.
Some of the big misses for me included the brazen lack of awareness (or acknowledgement) of the realities of hiring. Many of us do not have the luxury of time or freedom from our superiors to hire creatives. (I also believe my field does not support creatives). Additionally, many of the examples provided felt either very obvious (to the point they didn't need to be stated) or deeply one sided, with no acknowledgement the author was only presenting the best possible scenario or what to do should the best outcome not occur.
I found the author to be very out of touch and unrelatable. Using a sailboat to interview potential employees or renting a 727 for a company wide Disneyland trip for a day did not resonate with me - instead it read like a list of either the author's own accomplishments / opportunity to toot his own horn, or just a list of interesting people he's had the pleasure of meeting / hiring / working with.
Some of the big misses for me included the brazen lack of awareness (or acknowledgement) of the realities of hiring. Many of us do not have the luxury of time or freedom from our superiors to hire creatives. (I also believe my field does not support creatives). Additionally, many of the examples provided felt either very obvious (to the point they didn't need to be stated) or deeply one sided, with no acknowledgement the author was only presenting the best possible scenario or what to do should the best outcome not occur.
March 30, 2014
I got this book as a Christmas gift when the secret Santa event was organized in my last company. I was so happy that i got a "book" (probably the happiest person on the floor) and now after reading it i am happier that i got "this book".
I am almost sure that i myself would not have picked up this book, not that i only read fiction but the "How to ...' stuff generally does not appeal me and yes this book is not those usual management lessons types.
Thanks to my secret Santa for the book.
The book is amazing, by the time you finish the introduction which is nothing but a conversation between Nolan and Steve Jobs, you know that there's a good read ahead and you are definitely learning something. The authors have done a great job, Nolan has shared his secrets (yes, for a large number of people in leadership they are still secrets) generously and they have been put in a very simple yet effective manner.
Do not expect the book to be about Steve Jobs, the book is simply about hiring and keeping talent or creatives. Few things are repetitive and few might not seem to be applicable at all but i would give it 5 stars for showing that risk and creativity go hand in hand and that its OK to fail.
The book is also not an autobiography, though written in a biographical way its only about business but through this book you get to know Nolan Bushnell as a person too. All the suggestions, pongs in his language comes from his own experience and experiments and one can feel that with each success he was more humble and with each failure he learnt rather every moment of life he is learning something.
It needs something to accept that one was once a technically arrogant person and which he was no longer after a technical failure. No wonder he kept on founding one start up after the other !
I wish there were an autobiography.
I am almost sure that i myself would not have picked up this book, not that i only read fiction but the "How to ...' stuff generally does not appeal me and yes this book is not those usual management lessons types.
Thanks to my secret Santa for the book.
The book is amazing, by the time you finish the introduction which is nothing but a conversation between Nolan and Steve Jobs, you know that there's a good read ahead and you are definitely learning something. The authors have done a great job, Nolan has shared his secrets (yes, for a large number of people in leadership they are still secrets) generously and they have been put in a very simple yet effective manner.
Do not expect the book to be about Steve Jobs, the book is simply about hiring and keeping talent or creatives. Few things are repetitive and few might not seem to be applicable at all but i would give it 5 stars for showing that risk and creativity go hand in hand and that its OK to fail.
The book is also not an autobiography, though written in a biographical way its only about business but through this book you get to know Nolan Bushnell as a person too. All the suggestions, pongs in his language comes from his own experience and experiments and one can feel that with each success he was more humble and with each failure he learnt rather every moment of life he is learning something.
It needs something to accept that one was once a technically arrogant person and which he was no longer after a technical failure. No wonder he kept on founding one start up after the other !
I wish there were an autobiography.
February 28, 2014
This book should become a must read for HR Professionals and also for anyone participating on hiring interview loops. Gives many tips about what to know about job candidates and also a fundamental part: how to nurture and keep creative and A talent in your company.
October 23, 2018
A couple of months ago after church, the Reverend Evan Jones pulled me aside and told me, excitedly, about a book I should read. (In addition to being a man of the cloth, Evan is both a good friend and reader I trust.)
"OK," he said, pausing for effect, "have you ever heard of Nolan Bushnell?"
"No...I don't think I have," I replied.
"OK, that's fine -- neither had I until I read this book and heard him interviewed on NPR," Evan said. "Nolan Bushnell," again, pausing for effect, "is basically responsible for your childhood."
It's only a slight exaggeration. Bushnell has started dozens of companies and ventures over the past 40 or 50 years -- including, but not limited to, Atari and Chuck. E. Cheese. And, indeed, I had both an Atari and a C.E.C. birthday party as a young boy. (If you are of a certain age, you did, as well.)
"And," Evan continued, "while Nolan Bushnell was at Atari he hired Steve Jobs, which basically launched his career. So, he's responsible for Atari, Chuck E. Cheese, and the most visionary designer-tech guru-brand in modern American history."
"AND," Evan went further, "he, by happenstance -- literally by rolling dice -- decided to write a book about how to run a business that will attract and develop the future Steve Jobses of the world. I think you should read it."
Indeed.
"Finding the Next Steve Jobs" is a book about how to recruit, develop and, frankly, deal with super-creative employees. A lot of what creatives need -- freedom, flexibility, ambiguity -- is still anathema to most American businesses, in spite of our open office floor plans and liberal definitions of business attire. The payoff for facilitating the visionary (often strange and sometimes frustrating) creative employee is, well, stuff like Atari and Apple.
Bushnell lays out his blueprint -- should we say, manifesto? -- across 52 super-short chapters. (The 230 some-odd pages took little more than an afternoon to read.) If you are a creative person, you'll likely nod along in agreement with Bushnell's advice. If you're a Human Resources manager, you might spend most of your time nodding in the opposite direction, wondering how you'd be able to upend your culture to the extent Bushnell recommends.
Regardless of which way you nod, creatives and corporate honchos both should spend an afternoon wading through this thoughtful, fun, funny dive into the brain of a rare creature like Bushnell -- a hybrid super-creative, super-visionary, super-entrepreneur.
"OK," he said, pausing for effect, "have you ever heard of Nolan Bushnell?"
"No...I don't think I have," I replied.
"OK, that's fine -- neither had I until I read this book and heard him interviewed on NPR," Evan said. "Nolan Bushnell," again, pausing for effect, "is basically responsible for your childhood."
It's only a slight exaggeration. Bushnell has started dozens of companies and ventures over the past 40 or 50 years -- including, but not limited to, Atari and Chuck. E. Cheese. And, indeed, I had both an Atari and a C.E.C. birthday party as a young boy. (If you are of a certain age, you did, as well.)
"And," Evan continued, "while Nolan Bushnell was at Atari he hired Steve Jobs, which basically launched his career. So, he's responsible for Atari, Chuck E. Cheese, and the most visionary designer-tech guru-brand in modern American history."
"AND," Evan went further, "he, by happenstance -- literally by rolling dice -- decided to write a book about how to run a business that will attract and develop the future Steve Jobses of the world. I think you should read it."
Indeed.
"Finding the Next Steve Jobs" is a book about how to recruit, develop and, frankly, deal with super-creative employees. A lot of what creatives need -- freedom, flexibility, ambiguity -- is still anathema to most American businesses, in spite of our open office floor plans and liberal definitions of business attire. The payoff for facilitating the visionary (often strange and sometimes frustrating) creative employee is, well, stuff like Atari and Apple.
Bushnell lays out his blueprint -- should we say, manifesto? -- across 52 super-short chapters. (The 230 some-odd pages took little more than an afternoon to read.) If you are a creative person, you'll likely nod along in agreement with Bushnell's advice. If you're a Human Resources manager, you might spend most of your time nodding in the opposite direction, wondering how you'd be able to upend your culture to the extent Bushnell recommends.
Regardless of which way you nod, creatives and corporate honchos both should spend an afternoon wading through this thoughtful, fun, funny dive into the brain of a rare creature like Bushnell -- a hybrid super-creative, super-visionary, super-entrepreneur.
August 4, 2023
I met Nolan Bushnell a few weeks ago and found him inspiring enough that I immediately checked this book out from the library.
The man himself is more interesting than the book - although the book is not without its merits. For one, it’s extremely easy to read, with ideas organized into short chapters with clear insights. The competent ghost writer behind this is very skilled in getting people’s ideas across clearly. And NB provides numerous examples and ideas for giving your workplace a creative shot in the arm.
The weakness of this is that many of the ideas are not explored very deeply, and in some cases they just seem like ideas he’s heard about rather than experienced directly - a good example is mentioning Netflix’s unlimited vacancy policy and its positive effects on productivity. A few years ago we’d have bought it, but with the benefit of hindsight, the conclusion is that unlimited vacation isn’t all that helpful. Plus, his anarchic approach to creatives would surely give HR a nightmare.
As a business book, many of these ideas feel outdated or downright risky. You definitely need the right environment, and in many modern workplaces a lot of these suggestions will be seen as toxic or unsustainable. On the other hand though, many of these ideas reminded me how boring work can become when you’re just focused on process & deliverables & execution & OKR’s etc - so perhaps, there’s room for a little of this and a little of that
The man himself is more interesting than the book - although the book is not without its merits. For one, it’s extremely easy to read, with ideas organized into short chapters with clear insights. The competent ghost writer behind this is very skilled in getting people’s ideas across clearly. And NB provides numerous examples and ideas for giving your workplace a creative shot in the arm.
The weakness of this is that many of the ideas are not explored very deeply, and in some cases they just seem like ideas he’s heard about rather than experienced directly - a good example is mentioning Netflix’s unlimited vacancy policy and its positive effects on productivity. A few years ago we’d have bought it, but with the benefit of hindsight, the conclusion is that unlimited vacation isn’t all that helpful. Plus, his anarchic approach to creatives would surely give HR a nightmare.
As a business book, many of these ideas feel outdated or downright risky. You definitely need the right environment, and in many modern workplaces a lot of these suggestions will be seen as toxic or unsustainable. On the other hand though, many of these ideas reminded me how boring work can become when you’re just focused on process & deliverables & execution & OKR’s etc - so perhaps, there’s room for a little of this and a little of that
October 22, 2019
At first I was disappointed with this book because I thought I’ll find more anecdotes about Steve Jobs as the title was suggesting. But after about 5 chapters, I realized that this is not just about Steve Jobs (actually the best biography about Jobs is written by Walter Isaacson, check it out) but about how to find creatives such as Steve Jobs – and considering myself as working in a creative ministry – I was hooked by this insightful and brilliant book!
The ideas presented by Bushnell, the founder of Atari and the man who launched Steve Jobs’ career, are based on his way of nurturing creatives in his own gaming company and two other dozen other companies. The ideas are direct and easy to execute.
To read my review of Nolan Bushnell's Finding the Next Steve Jobs: How to Find, Keep and Nurture Creative Talent (2013), CLICK HERE: https://www.richardangelus.me/2019/01...
The ideas presented by Bushnell, the founder of Atari and the man who launched Steve Jobs’ career, are based on his way of nurturing creatives in his own gaming company and two other dozen other companies. The ideas are direct and easy to execute.
To read my review of Nolan Bushnell's Finding the Next Steve Jobs: How to Find, Keep and Nurture Creative Talent (2013), CLICK HERE: https://www.richardangelus.me/2019/01...
December 19, 2019
الكتاب يسرد مجموعة من الأفكار والنصائح التي ينبغي على القادة اعتناقها وتطبيقها داخل شركاتهم ومؤسساتهم ليتمكنوا من خلالها من استقطاب المبدعين والمحافظة عليهم بل ومساعدتهم على الازدهار والمزيد من الإبداع والابتكار
الكتاب جعلني أعيد التفكير في نظرتي للأشخاص غرباء الأطوار والمزعجين وحتى المتعجرفين منهم، فبعضهم قد يكون يخفي عقلا مبدعا في داخل جمجمته، وهو إنما فقط يبحث عما يثير فضوله ويشعره بالإشباع.
وفكرة سلوك مسارات حياة جديدة أو اتخاذ قرارات اعتمادا على (النرد) كانت أيضا فكرة جنونية أعجبت بها، أظن أنها ستأخذ مساحة أكبر في الفترة القادمة من حياتي.
كتاب رائع أنصح بقراءته، فهو سلس، بعيد عن الملل، ممتلئ بالأفكار الإبداعية التي قد تساهم في تغيير عالمك للأفضل.
August 22, 2017
Good book. Worth a read. However, at times the author kept mentioning how he guided Steve Jobs or how Steve Jobs always came to him for advice, and to me it was a bit annoying as if he tries to showoff how he taught The man that co-created Apple.
Another thing I usually dislike in any book or topic is when the author takes the side of one idea a little too much. It can get biased at times.
But overall worth a read and anyone including those who care about work culture and recruitment would find some useful things here
Another thing I usually dislike in any book or topic is when the author takes the side of one idea a little too much. It can get biased at times.
But overall worth a read and anyone including those who care about work culture and recruitment would find some useful things here
March 23, 2017
Suka banget buku ini karena tulisannya pendek-pendek. Haha. Buku ini berguna banget buat para manager atau business owner yang bergerak di bidang kreatif. Bang Nolan ngasih tau gimana cara bikin suasana kerja yang kondusif buat para kreatif, gimana cara ngomong sama tim kreatif, gimana cara mengeluarkan potensi terbaik dari seorang staff creative. Karena seumur hidup saya hampir selalu bekerja di industri kreatif (alhamdulillah) maka berasa connect banget sama buku ini. Terlebih yang pas bagian ditolak idenya melulu sama bos. Hahaha.
Baca deh, kece banget nih buku. Sekalian dapet insight gimana sih rasanya jadi bosnya Steve Jobs. FYI, Nolan Bushnell is the only Steve Jobs's boss before he build Apple with Steve Wozniak. Duo Steve ini emang ketemunya pas kerja di Atari emang.
Baca deh, kece banget nih buku. Sekalian dapet insight gimana sih rasanya jadi bosnya Steve Jobs. FYI, Nolan Bushnell is the only Steve Jobs's boss before he build Apple with Steve Wozniak. Duo Steve ini emang ketemunya pas kerja di Atari emang.
October 7, 2018
Great book for company owners to find and accommodate creative people and culture.
November 25, 2019
The pongs are easy to understand & to be applied
Read
December 26, 2020邦題は『ぼくがジョブズに教えたこと』
December 31, 2022
Many business / self-help / creativity books want to be this book. Talented authors blend real-life experiences with tips for headhunting and retaining employees.
February 27, 2025
Ideas that helped the founder of Atari.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2020
Cool stuff coated as an easy-to-understand narrations with so many insights!
March 3, 2014
When Bushnell says "talent" in the title, he means "creatives", as he repeats quite often throughout the book. This is a book of ideas about how Bushnell and other, typically Silicon Valley types find and hire creative people. I found a number of ideas presented, most very interesting. There was some repetition. What I was looking for but didn't find is that Jobs is mentioned in a couple of places but I was expecting more on Bushnell's relationship with him, or his observations. There are a few. If this wasn't going to be about Jobs, I was hoping it would be more autobiographical about Bushnell, but no, this was more along the lines of providing business suggestions. Of these suggestions, I did like the idea of hiring those "lurkers" that visit a speaker after his talk (since, uh, I am one). And I liked that Bushnell has thought through the business value of company parties. What can I say -- Party on, Nolan!
April 2, 2013
I agree with the proposition of integral circumstantial force, but really, is creativity going to stop the flow of ketchup onto my plate of fortitude and dalliance? I don't think so. Steve Jobs was a frequent shopper at Bartlett's Finky Dink Shop (and Crusty Emporium) so he knew, he KNEW DAMMIT! But what about the rest of you? What about little Susie on the corner of Elk and Schmelk? Will she know? Will she ever feel the lime lighting her way towards destiny?
That's what I'm worried about. And you should two-fold, and then some.
That's what I'm worried about. And you should two-fold, and then some.
May 6, 2013
this book had a lot of interesting thoughts about how to be that next greatest creative person. I would want to work at a company like google or apple with all those creative ideas flying about. I find it interesting that the author advocated putting bed or sleeping compartments in the office to refresh
minds. how does this same idea work, say for example as a night staff at a hospital. and what about those friday night pizza/beer parties on the loading dock. would I ever see non alcoholic beverages and pizza on the helipad?
over all a thought provocative book.
minds. how does this same idea work, say for example as a night staff at a hospital. and what about those friday night pizza/beer parties on the loading dock. would I ever see non alcoholic beverages and pizza on the helipad?
over all a thought provocative book.
October 17, 2014
Desde Leader Summaries recomendamos la lectura del libro Encontrar al nuevo Steve Jobs, de Nolan Bushnell y Gene Stone.
Las personas interesadas en las siguientes temáticas lo encontrarán práctico y útil: recursos humanos, atraer, motivar y retener a los empleados, y técnicas de creatividad.
En el siguiente enlace tienes el resumen del libro Encontrar al nuevo Steve Jobs, Cómo encontrar y gestionar el talento creativo para una empresa: Encontrar al nuevo Steve Jobs
Las personas interesadas en las siguientes temáticas lo encontrarán práctico y útil: recursos humanos, atraer, motivar y retener a los empleados, y técnicas de creatividad.
En el siguiente enlace tienes el resumen del libro Encontrar al nuevo Steve Jobs, Cómo encontrar y gestionar el talento creativo para una empresa: Encontrar al nuevo Steve Jobs
December 6, 2015
It is awesome. Nolan has explained very nicely about the key-points to be taken care while searching for employees who can play the major roles in running business by entrepreneurs. Reading just once gives a high-view, by keep on reading again and again you can become another Nolan. The olden days are gone where people are commited to work. In today's culture, few set of people do work only to earn and survive. Identifying right person with right attitude to contribute for the working company's growth are only very few or might be a highly paid ones.
April 8, 2013
Quick read. Aimed more at business owners and managers than at folks like me. Steve Jobs was lucky to find this guy as a mentor. If not I might not be typing this review on a hand held computer. Also I am not giving this book to my children. I do not want them showing up dirty to their job interviews and telling the interviewers how to do their jobs.
July 14, 2013
I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if it was a straight bio of Nolan Bushnell, who is pretty wacky and awesome and successful in his own right. One of those successes, though, was discovering and first hiring Jobs, and this book ties the two together through characteristics of great leaders. It's a pretty tenuous link, and the book is a smidge repetitive, but a good read nonetheless.
December 18, 2013
This is not just a book about creativity, or hiring creatives, but about how to lead effectively. It's by Nolan Bushnell, Atari founder, who has probably been through more success and failure than most leaders. He talks about risk, leadership and innovation in a way that is accessible, simple but not trivial.
July 17, 2014
If you're trying to hire and retain creatives, some of this counter-intuitive advice might be useful and help you relax your starched white collar. Nolan Bushnell is legendary and his track record speaks for itself. Though I think many companies would find his prescriptions tough to follow, they can at least buy the book and imagine being so creative themselves.
October 19, 2014
Some quirky tips mixed with an appealing presentation and format. Sounds exactly like the sort of book that recalls the founder of the Apple company, Steve Jobs. I purchased this book to get a few tips on how to enhance the role for a colleague. That particular challenge continues bit this book was not without it's' merits.
November 20, 2013
I read this book because Nolan Bushnell is probably my favorite CEO/Executive of all time, and a hero of mine. I recommend this book who is interested in any of his companies, and/or wants to have a creative, innovative environment in their workplace.
November 15, 2014
Mr.Nolan is a genius.His message is simple, and available to anyone who will take the time to listen and absorb. Quite simply it is a spirited and insightful road map for anyone trying to navigate the of work -- .
received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
September 8, 2016
A book which is a simple easy to read, given many great ideas on finding and recruiting talents, especially creative talent.
If you're an HR personal, this is definitely one of the books you should have on your bookshelf.
If you're an HR personal, this is definitely one of the books you should have on your bookshelf.
April 10, 2013
I once met Nolan Bushnell a few years ago and although I wasn't prepared to invest in the company he was working with, I did want to spend a week asking him questions. This is almost as good!
Want to read
April 3, 2013interview 03.04.2013 on bbc world news - pick bullied people, those who don't do well in interviews, etc.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews