The Chip, recounts a fascinating story of two relatively unknown men that changed the course of modern civilization... really. Although working for different companies, many miles apart, they simultaneously came up with the monolithic idea, a basic blueprint for the modern microchip. This concept overcame the last remaining limit in the advancement of processing power that was known as the tyranny of numbers.

The book also shows the importance of government support in new industries as the only way to overcome the chicken and egg problem. Libertarians who still don't seem to understand that even necessary investments may not be made by companies if they don't see a quick return, should tell me how much longer it would have take the microchip to become as common as apple pie, or if it had survived at all.