This book is due to be released on Oct 24th. Just 18 days after Steve Job’s’death. The timing means that it will probably become one of the biggest books of the year.

Unprecedented media attention aside, the cover of any book about a design icon like Steve Jobs was going to be tough to get right.

We are surprised that the cover isn’t more…interesting.

Given the shape of the book is almost identical to that of an iphone, ipad and even the ipod there are all sorts of more unusual avenues that could have been explored.

Maybe quite rightly, the publishers have resisted doing anything too tricksy and have fallen back on a very conventional headshot and title.

At least the typography is cool.

Its impact comes from the same understated confidence that defines all of Apple’s products. The use of silver-grey for the author’s name is a great touch. At once it recognises that in truth he is far less important than the subject matter and at the same time it nods to the classic silver on white styling that defines Apple’s visual identity.

The rest of the layout is clean and uncluttered, but that’s a no-brainer given this is a book about Steve Jobs.

The publishers have already got off to a flyer as this very same photograph was used across several news channels last night during the coverage of Jobs’ death. That kind of subliminal endorsement is hugely powerful.

Rumour has it that the book was hastily updated to include Jobs’ resignation from the post of CEO of Apple just a few weeks ago.

We wonder how they will handle the news of his death.

It is probably too late to make any changes to the hardback but this may be to the publisher’s advantage…

We urge Little,Brown to create a special ebook edition that brings the story bang up to date.

Of course, this edition would be sold at a premium.

And only available on the ipad.

This is a golden opportunity for a publisher to show how some ebooks (particularly biographies) can deliver tangible benefits compared to their printed counter-parts.

What a fitting way for the book to be launched. Even upon his death, Steve Jobs will be redefining how markets work, how products are bought to consumers and how Apple technology can make a difference.