Collection
Silicon Valley History
“Alan Kay says that computing is pop culture -- "pop culture holds a disdain for history". The below are my favorite books and articles about the history of computing and Silicon Valley:“ – Patrick Collison
Probably the best overall book about the early days of computing and the internet.
the definitive history of Genentech.
the library at PARC was first composed simply of the books that the Whole Earth Catalog recommended. Steve Jobs cites it as inspiration for Apple. It's still possible to find original copies.
the best history of PARC.
sets the context for the hardware inventions that directly led to Silicon Valley.
one of the greatest books about the possibilities of computers ever written.
the invention of the microchip.
The early days of Apple Computer and the Macintosh.
Stewart Brand and his surrounding milieu. Better than What the Dormouse Said.
a cultural history of San Francisco from the late 60s to the early 80s.
there aren't many books that say a lot about the Valley pre-Shockley; this one goes back to the 30s.
a hundred stories from the early days of the Mac, collected by one of its creators.
