This is a good book, if you are interested in technology, specifically modern technology, computers, electric vehicles, smartphones, and all things modern, in terms of microchips and how it came to be as it is in modern times. This is the story of how it happened. Recommended

Chip War’s slightly populist title belies a deeply analytical history of the global semiconductor industry from its invention to the very latest developments in computer chip design and manufacture. Along the way, economic historian Chris Miller takes in the design and logistical challenges, such as keeping up with Moore’s Law (which suggests computational power should exponentially increase year on year) and also the political clashes (from Soviet espionage to Chinese diplomatic pressure) that have both hounded and shaped the global trade in chips. Admittedly, it takes an Amerocentric viewpoint with the developments of the ‘war’ being characterised either as American victories or defeats. However, to be fair to Miller, semiconductor development very much shares its history with America’s rise to sole superpower status (and threats to that status are often driven by issues in the chip industry). Miller’s book is vastly authoritative, taking in a massive array of resources (there are over 50 pages of notes and citations alone) but it is not just a dry history. It also delivers a strong analysis of past and present developments in the industry while also looking at the serious problems facing chip manufacturers and designers today. For instance, it makes clear the extraordinarily prohibitive cost of relocating (or reshoring) industrial processes that have crept into global hotspots over the past 50 years. Chip War is not just a history of a technology but also of a titanic geopolitical struggle. It is a warning about supply chain threats and steeply rising development costs. It is a deep analysis of America and its allies’ approach to technological domination and of political opponent’s attempts to redress the balance. It is, above all, fascinating. (Proof copy supplied. Opinions my own.)

It's all down to the semiconductors these days and Miller's writing is electric. Once you start you can't stop thinking about this ongoing fight for components and you start seeing it everywhere on the political scene. Kept this book by my bed and has a firm spot on my favourites shelf.

This book tells the story of how the race/fight for the planet's tech started, which countries are involved, and the history of how developments like the microchip has led to what there is today, namely technology and the World Wide Web, and possibly gives a glimpse of what tech might be like in the future, if this subject interests you, I recommend this book.

This is a great book for those looking to learn about one of the most important commodities of our time. It was eye opening to see the geopolitical aspects of computer chips so well explained alongside the science of them. The stories of the inventors and major players in the industry reads like a novel however, and the story is gripping. I had no idea of the importance of Taiwan to the computer chips we use everyday, and the other global ties between those manufacturing and assembling our phones and smart devices. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a good political read. It really helps you understand one of the major issues of our time. American dominance of computer chips has been shifting for decades and this explains why.