As one might expect, interest in the upcoming biography of Steve Jobs has increased significantly since Jobs passed away on Wednesday. The book, from author Walter Isaacson, was supposed to be released in March 2012. Earlier this year the release date was moved up to November 21. Today the book"s publisher Simon and Schuster has announced that the release date of the book, titled simply "Steve Jobs", will be released on October 24, about a month ahead of schedule.
Pre-order sales for the book have skyrocketed on Amazon.com. The web site shows that the the book is now the number one best selling book from the retailer. Sales have gone up over 48,000 percent on Amazon in the last 24 hours. In addition the book is also number one on Apple"s iTunes store for its downloadable iBook section.
In related news, Time magazine"s latest cover story will focus on Steve Jobs and his life. The issue will include an essay by Isaacson. In an article on CNN Money, it has an excerpt from the essay when Jobs pitched the idea for the biography to Isaacson. The book itself is based on Isascson interviewing Jobs in over 40 separate sessions over a two year span of time, including just after he left Apple as its CEO in August. Isaacson also interviewed family members, friends, co-workers and others connected to Jobs. A few weeks ago the book"s publisher Simon and Schuster claimed that Jobs " ... asked for no control over what was written nor even the right to read it before it was published."