On the Firing Line: My 500 Days at Apple Computer

by Gil Amelio and William L. Simon

Book Overview

On the Firing Line: My 500 Days at Apple is Gil Amelio's gripping and fast-paced recollection of what happened during his seventeen months as the CEO of Apple. This is the revealing story of how a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0887309186
• ISBN13: 9780887309182
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Wow, an incredably intersting story.

A very candid look inside the boardroom and inner workings of one of America's best known corporate icons. This is a must read for any Apple Watcher. It answers all those questions that you've had in the back of your head for months. And gives a unique look at Steve Jobs and his "Reality Distortion Field". Amelio also talk about his sucesses and failings. I couldn't put it down.

full endorsement----questioning motives of reviewers

The authors succeed mightily in presenting the inside story, straight from the horses mouth. Those of us, that are not in the computer industry, will have their curiosity satiated by this tale of coorporate inbreeding. After reading the other reviews, I'm convinced that many missed the point of the endeavor. It doesn't matter if you respect or disrespect Amelio. This is his vantage point. Those that are too close to the picture cannot possibly see if it was painted well. They want to defend or attack the book based on their opinion of this man's short stay in "their" world. They are ignoring the candor and visceral sense that the non-computer person gets within the pages of this well-executed documentary. As a business bio, it is surely destined to become a classic. signed, Mr. Low-tech

A wonderful read, and I can identify with it completely.

Having experienced first hand the deceit of Steve Jobs, I can personally identify with Gil on a number of fronts. Being the person that was offered the CEO position jokingly by Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison. The amount of power playing and wasting of resources at Apple that continues today under the 'leadership' of Mr. Jobs is staggering.One of the main problems that Apple has, starting at the leadership is that there is no credit given to those that do the real work. Steve claims it all as his 'vision'. What it really is, is the ideas of people like me and Gil that make things happen. Steve is merely one that plays us as fools thinking we can make a difference. However, when the deck is stacked by people that have their own Billionaire Boys Club, attaining membership can be impossible.Thanks Gil for bringing to light the truth about the interior of Apple. Hidden from the rest of us for so long. I personally appreciate it.Michael E. Murdock

The corporate equivalent of Richard Nixon's memoirs

The most accurate description of Amelio's tenure at Apple was his own observation on page 213: "I often think how wasteful it is that those with real capabilities should doubt their abilities, while bunglers seem so damn sure of themselves." Since the entire saga lacks a sense of irony or any shred of introspection it will serve just fine as his epitaph. The book deserves a solid 10 as a reminder of why management gets a bad name.

A management saga with the excitement of a Clancy novel

A fantastic Read - I did not put it down till I was finished. A stunningly honest and detailed description of the inside activities at Apple that we have all heard about. This is a must for all Apple followers and for any business manager dealing with the details of sorting problems in today's explosive business environment.