Chip War

The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology

English language

Published Jan. 22, 2022 by Scribner.

ISBN:
978-1-9821-7200-8
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4 stars (19 reviews)

An epic account of the decades-long battle to control what has emerged as the world’s most critical resource—microchip technology—with the United States and China increasingly in conflict.

You may be surprised to learn that microchips are the new oil—the scarce resource on which the modern world depends. Today, military, economic, and geopolitical power are built on a foundation of computer chips. Virtually everything—from missiles to microwaves—runs on chips, including cars, smartphones, the stock market, even the electric grid. Until recently, America designed and built the fastest chips and maintained its lead as the #1 superpower, but America’s edge is in danger of slipping, undermined by players in Taiwan, Korea, and Europe taking over manufacturing. Now, as Chip War reveals, China, which spends more on chips than any other product, is pouring billions into a chip-building initiative to catch up to the US. At stake is America’s military superiority and economic …

5 editions

Review of 'Chip War' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A history of the semiconductor industry which provides context to understand the recent geopolitical tensions it finds itself at the heart of. It's distinctly critical of the impact of globalization on strategic industrial decisions made around the turn of the century, but isn't innately pro American. Could maybe have spent a bit more time on labour issues, but they're not completely absent.

Superficial History of Chip Development

3 stars

I suppose if you did not realize how important microchips were, or did not know how they were made, this would be a good introduction. Anyone that's read a handful of Wall Street Journal articles on the topic isn't going to find much new here.

In depth history of an important topic

3 stars

It makes a convincing case that we should all be paying attention and that free market ideals conflict with national security. Ultimately, I enjoyed the Acquired podcast episode about TSMC more. Maybe I would have rated this higher if I had not previously listened to that episode.

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