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Authorized Steve Jobs biography to arrive in early 2012

Publishing house Simon & Schuster announced Sunday that an authorized biography on Steve Jobs will be released in early 2012, providing readers with an unprecedented look at the life of Apple's CEO and co-founder.

The biography, entitled "iSteve: The Book of Jobs," will be written by Walter Isaacson, a former Time executive who has written best-selling biographies about Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein, as noted by the Associated Press. Last year, reports emerged that Isaacson was working on the book, but Sunday's news comes as the first official confirmation of the project.

"This is the perfect match of subject and author, and it is certain to be a landmark book about one of the world's greatest innovators," Jonathan Karp, publisher of Simon & Schuster, said in a statement. "Just as he did with Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, Walter Isaacson is telling a unique story of revolutionary genius."

Isaacson began work on the book in 2009 and has interviewed Jobs himself, as well as his family members, coworkers and competitors. He has also reportedly been invited by Jobs to tour his childhood home.

While this isn't the first biography written about Jobs, this is the first time that Jobs has cooperated with one. In 2005, an unauthorized biography of Jobs entitled "iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business" resulted in Apple pulling all titles by publisher John Wiley & Sons from the company's retail stores. The resulting publicity prompted Wiley to double the book's initial press run and move the release date forward by several weeks.

It has been suggested that Jobs' recent health issues have contributed to his willingness to collaborate on the biography. "Cooperation with Mr. Isaacson could be a sign that Mr. Jobs has emerged from his recent health battles with more of an interest in shaping his legacy," said a New York Times report last year.

Jobs is currently on his second medical leave in two years. Though Jobs has asked for privacy during his leave, public appearances by him have generated significant buzz due to speculation about his health.

In February, Jobs was photographed at a dinner with President Obama and other business leaders.

In March, surprised attendees by taking the stage at the iPad 2 event. "We've been working on this product for a while and I just didn't want to miss today," said Jobs after receiving a standing ovation.