| View Larger Image | The Man Behind the Microchip: Robert Noyce and the Invention of Silicon Valley | Paperbackby Leslie Berlin (Author)
| List Price: | $24.95 | | Price: | $21.33 | | You Save: | $3.62 (15%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | Paperback | | Publisher: | Oxford University Press, USA | | Page Count: | 440 Pages | | Publication Date: | November 13, 2006 | | Sales Rank: | 328,892th |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
Hailed as the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford of Silicon Valley, Robert Noyce was a brilliant inventor, a leading entrepreneur, and a daring risk taker who piloted his own jets and skied mountains accessible only by helicopter. Now, in The Man Behind the Microchip, Leslie Berlin captures not only this colorful individual but also the vibrant interplay of technology, business, money, politics, and culture that defines Silicon Valley. Here is the life of a high-tech industry giant. The co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel, Noyce co-invented the integrated circuit, the electronic heart of every modern computer, automobile, cellular telephone, advanced weapon, and video game. With access to never-before-seen documents, Berlin paints a fascinating portrait of Noyce: an ambitious and intensely competitive multimillionaire who exuded a "just folks" sort of charm, a Midwestern preacher's son who rejected organized religion but would counsel his employees to "go off and do something wonderful," a man who never looked back and sometimes paid a price for it. In addition, this vivid narrative sheds light on Noyce's friends and associates, including some of the best-known managers, venture capitalists, and creative minds in Silicon Valley. Berlin draws upon interviews with dozens of key players in modern American business--including Andy Grove, Steve Jobs, Gordon Moore, and Warren Buffett; their recollections of Noyce give readers a privileged, first-hand look inside the dynamic world of high-tech entrepreneurship. A modern American success story, The Man Behind the Microchip illuminates the triumphs and setbacks of one of the most important inventors and entrepreneurs of our time. |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 14 reviews)
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Very Enjoyable and Educational by Paul C. Donohue (Wilmington, DE)  5 Stars
April 30, 2009
I got the book at the library and like ot so much I bought one for a friend. I plan to get another for my brother in silicon valley. I liked the story of his growing up in a typical Midwestern family. His youthful experiences reminded me of some of mine. He was a very gifted and energetic person who was the right man at the right time. He rode the incredible silicon developments from his PhD from MIT to working for the legendary William Shockley to breaking away to start his own company with colleagues. The breaking away and starting companies became the norm for Silicon Valley. He eventually started Intel. Underlying it all is of course the exploitation of the incredible potential of silicon and the invention of the microchip. We have all benefited from the tremendous
computer developments. The story is a great tribute to a great man, terrific inventions and free enterprise that only America could nurture.
The world is a much better place for having Robert Noyce. Surprisingly
when I would mention to people I was reading this biography, few ever heard of him. I hope with this book, that will change.
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good reading by Emilio L. Matos (Spain)  4 Stars
January 31, 2009
Very well written book. It is precise with details about history of Noyce's life and Silicon Valley growth. An interesting book for technology history lovers.
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Too much focus on the manager, too little on the scientist. by S. ragno 4 Stars
January 14, 2009
This book is an easy read and it is quite entertaining.
However I feel too much focus has been given to Noyce as a manager and too little to the scientist.
Noyce small achievements as a manager come only as a consequence of his brilliant scientific mind and are quite not interesting. Furthermore in more than one occasion the author tries to describe some of Noyce's managing deficiencies making them appear as good qualities.
Other technical details are only superficially touched ( like the litigation between Noyce and Kilby ) and would probably have deserved far more attention ( especially in a Silicon Valley history ).
After all these man have changed the electronic age mainly by their technical achievements and not by managing practice.
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Inspiration for those with ADD! by K. Smith (La Canada, CA USA) 4 Stars
September 25, 2007
Robert Noyce had all of the significant traits of ADD. Any parent devastated by their child's diagnosis should read this to see what one can accomplish when one uses one's strengths. This book shows the positive side of ADD.
The book gets a bit detailed in some spots, and is overly repetitive in others, but overall is an interesting read.
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Get things open ! by the other side of the pond (Paris) 5 Stars
July 13, 2007
The author uses a lot of first hand material still available from people close to Bob Noyce. You will eat it fast, because you can get the "life mood" from well synthesized private life and public life smartly chosen events. The story of a guy that did put the moral value driven face of America high, from the cubicle to the world stage. The explanations around the new "silicon valley" management style are also very didactic, and has more value in it than most of expensive seminars. You can get the essence of it.
... In some places , it is close to hagiography, probably the beyond the grave aura of Bob Noyce ...and you can get contaminated...
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