Walter Isaacson — the author of an upcoming authorized Steve Jobs biography — knew Jobs was on the verge of death several weeks ago, according to a source for the Wall Street Journal. Isaacson is said to have last interviewed Jobs about four weeks ago, both immediately before and after he resigned from his role as Apple CEO. It was at that point that Jobs acknowledged he was dying, which may suggest that he was resistant to letting go of the company he helped found. The confession is expected to be at the end of the biography, which is simply named Steve Jobs.
The book’s publisher, Simon & Schuster, has meanwhile moved its release date up to October 24th. The title was recently slated to ship “on or around” November 21st, the ambiguity coming from more than 200 pages being added, likely related to Jobs’ resignation and terminal decline. The book has shot to the top of the Amazon.com Best Sellers list since Wednesday night, when Jobs’ death was made public.
The biography is anticipated mostly because Isaacson was granted unprecedented access to Jobs and other people in his life
