Anyone with an interest in the history of modern electronics -- such as computing hardware -- should know the history of semiconductors. With an astute selection of the key documents, together with technically and historically informed commentary, this book documents the critical first four years (1957 - 1961) of Fairchild Semiconductor, as the company's young engineers and scientists moved from research results to reliable practice in making silicon semiconductors. -- William Aspray, Bill and Lewis Suit Professor of Information Technologies, School of Information, University of Texas at Austin Makers of the Microchip is a fascinating study of the early years of Fairchild Semiconductor, the firm that put the 'silicon' in Silicon Valley. Through the use of historical documents and erudite commentary, this book brilliantly weaves together the technical and business dimensions to provide insight into the logic that drove Fairchild and made it one of the most important entrepreneurial firms of the second half of the Twentieth Century. -- Martin Kenney, professor of Human and Community Development at University of California, Davis, and author of Understanding Silicon Valley The creation of the silicon integrated circuit was the pivotal event that launched the digital revolution. This book provides a detailed and objective examination of how it came about -- a very valuable contribution. -- Andrew S. Grove, Former Chairman and CEO, Intel Corporation The microchip has changed the world like no other invention in history. This book is a close-up of the time and place where it was born. A fascinating story, told with the actual documents of those who lived it. I could not put it down. -- Carver A. Mead, Gordon and Betty Moore Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, Emeritus, California Institute of Technology These original documents and historical commentaries present a unique window on the birth of the silicon age. A splendid way to understand innovation -- peering over the shoulders of Jay Last, Gordon Moore, Jean Hoerni, Eugene Kleiner and other Fairchild Semiconductor insiders as they struggled to create silicon-based integrated circuits, a fundamental building block of the modern age. -- Thomas J. Misa, Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota This thoughtfully conceived and nicely executed book offers a wealth of insights into the early history of the silicon revolution. Its newly disclosed documents and unusually perceptive commentary and analysis provide unprecedented glimpses into the inner workings of Fairchild Semiconductor and the remarkable entrepreneurial team that propelled this transforming epic in modern business and technological history. -- Steven W. Usselman, Georgia Institute of Technology
Christophe Lecuyer is Professor of the History of Science and
Technology at Universite Pierre et Marie Curie and the author of
Making Silicon Valley- Innovation and the Growth of High Tech,
1930-1970 (MIT Press, 2005).
David C. Brock is Senior Research Fellow at the Chemical Heritage
Foundation's Center for Contemporary History and the editor of
Understanding Moore's Law- Four Decades of Innovation.
Christophe Lecuyer and David Brock's Makers of the Microchip is...a
welcome addition to this literature, filling an important gap in
our understanding.—Michael Riordan, Technology and Culture
The book stands on its own as a solidly researched (not to mention
beautifully produced) presentation of the most important years in
the history of a landmark firm and its products.—David L. Morton,
The Futurist
Makers of the Microchip is no ordinary recounting of
events...Because of the book's format, you'll breeze through it
while learning the hows and whys of the company and its
techology.—Martin Rowe Test, Measurement World
The book makes fascinating reading for those already familiar with
the business or technology of microelectronics, and has a helpful
glossary and explanation for general readers unfamiliar with the
technicalities of semiconductor manufacturing...Highly
recommended.—Choice Reviews Online
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