by T. R. Reid
First published 1985
Reid takes readers inside the complex landscape of computer chip development in the 1980s. The book examines how silicon wafers transform into the processing units that power personal computers. Reid follows engineers and executives as they navigate technical challenges and corporate competition. The narrative reveals the intricate manufacturing processes that create microscopic circuits. Companies race to develop faster processors while managing costs and quality control. Reid shows how these tiny components reshape industries and daily life. The book captures the tension between innovation and commercial pressure in Silicon Valley's emerging tech culture.
Genres: history, science, computers, non-fiction, technology, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: corporate-competition, technical-challenges
Setting: Silicon Valley
Period: 1980s
210 pages · Hardcover · Collins