The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Leander Kahney, author of the popular ‘The Cult of Mac’ for Wired, has collected a selection of his work in a book entitled, shockingly enough, ‘The Cult of Mac.’

This book is just plain beautiful to look at and a pleasure to hold in your hands. Whenever you are catering to Mac users you know that the details matter. Cutting corners on something will be noticed, and I can happily report that nothing was skimped on in the production of this book. Full color throughout, with great pictures and graphics the book is meant to be on display.

When you are writing about the extremes that some people can go to for the love of a product it is easy for the commentary to devolve into a barker for a freak show. ‘Look at this guy who got an Apple tattoo, or this fellow who spent $400 on a vintage Apple jacket, what fools!’ Leander doesn’t cross that line, he documents the passion that these people have for something that has changed their lives without mocking them for the seemingly wacky things that they do.

Mr. Kahney is at his best when he is writing about the passionate love that many people have for Macs. The book fails in only one area, repetition. It is obvious when you read the book cover to cover that it is a collection of separate articles. Many of the people that were covered extensively in previous chapters pop up later on in the book, however, they are reintroduced as if it is their first time appearance in the book. This is a problem that plagues any collection like this, and a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent tome.

Buy one for yourself, of the Mac lover in your life, you won’t be disappointed.

‘The Cult of Mac’ is published by No Starch Press of San Francisco and is available for a cover price of $39.95. You can even download a sample chapter to test the waters.