Insanely Simple Book Summary - Insanely Simple Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

Insanely Simple summary

Ken Segall

The Obsession that Drives Apple’s Success

4.4 (134 ratings)
15 mins
Topics
Table of Contents

    Insanely Simple
    Summary of 8 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 8

    People prefer simplicity over complexity.

    Have you ever bought a new computer with such complicated new features that you couldn’t get it to work? This type of complexity is a problem in our modern world because humans, just like all other life on the planet, prefer simplicity.

    We know that nature doesn’t choose the most complicated way to solve a problem. Rather, it finds the simplest way. In fact, it’s often the simplest species that are the most successful.

    Take earthworms for example: they’re incredibly simple organisms, yet they’ve outlived thousands of more complex species.

    Simplicity seems to be natural, and as humans, we prefer it when our lives are made as simple as possible.

    This can be seen in the way we choose the products we use in our everyday lives: we tend to prefer simple ones over complex.

    Product complexity became an issue for Microsoft when they created the Zune Store. Instead of allowing customers to simply pay for a song with their credit cards (as Apple does), customers first had to convert their money into Microsoft Points.

    Microsoft’s designers didn’t think about simplicity and, consequently, the Zune Store never caught on.

    This shows that, given a choice between a complex or simple way to reach a goal, people will most likely choose the simplest option. Companies that understand this know to make their products as simple as possible.

    Apple’s stores are a great example. As soon as you step inside, you’re greeted by a minimalist decor and your options (to buy or repair something) are clearly demarcated. That’s why the stores are so popular, especially in comparison to Microsoft’s stores, which are over-packed with products and offer too many choices.

    By understanding the human need for simplicity, you can build enduring business-customer relationships.

    Want to see all full key ideas from Insanely Simple?

    Key ideas in Insanely Simple

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is Insanely Simple about?

    Insanely Simple talks about the business strategy of keeping things simple. The author hones in on Apple’s inner processes to show us how we can apply simplicity to our work and why complexity can hinder a company’s development. The reader will learn about how Steve Jobs implemented this structure at Apple and upheld it even in the face of critics.

    Best quote from Insanely Simple

    The simpler path is the far more attractive one.

    —Ken Segall
    example alt text

    Who should read Insanely Simple?

    • Anyone intrigued by Apple’s success
    • Anyone who wants to make their company more efficient
    • Anyone interested in Steve Jobs and his working attitude

    About the Author

    Ken Segall was an advertising agency creative director for NeXT and Apple, and worked closely with Steve Jobs for many years. He also served as a creative director for Dell, BMW and Intel. He is the man responsible for the “i” in many of Apple’s most popular products and was part of revolutionary campaigns, such as the “Think Different” ad campaign.

    Categories with Insanely Simple

    Books like Insanely Simple

    People ❤️ Blinkist
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked

    Start growing with Blinkist now
    28 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    91%
    Of Blinkist members create a better reading habit*
    *Based on survey data from Blinkist customers
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial