Moore’s Law Book Summary - Moore’s Law Book explained in key points

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Moore’s Law summary

Name: Moore’s Law
Rating: 4.2 (40 reviews)
Author: Arnold Thackray, David Brock and Rachel Jones

Arnold Thackray, David Brock and Rachel Jones

The Life of Gordon Moore, Silicon Valley’s Quiet Revolutionary

4.2 (40 ratings)

23 mins

Brief summary

'Moore’s Law' by Arnold Thackray, David Brock and Rachel Jones is a historical account of the technological advancement and exponential growth of the semiconductor industry, driven by the prediction of Gordon Moore in 1965.

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Table of Contents

Moore’s Law
Summary of 10 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 10

What’s in it for me? Learn what made Gordon Moore one of the most influential people of the last century.

Who would be on your list of most influential figures in the computer industry? Most of you would include Bill Gates or Steve Jobs; a few of you (those who saw that Benedict Cumberbatch film) might throw in Alan Turing. But there’s one person who should be at the front of people’s minds – though he probably isn’t – and at the top of any computer-industry list: Gordon Moore.

Hardly anyone has done more to create the modern digitized world than Gordon Moore. As the co-founder of Fairchild and Intel he has played a leading role in two of the most influential companies of the 20th Century. He is also responsible for Moore’s law, which, though coined back in the 1960s, predicted the rise of the modern, highly technological world of today with incredible prescience. These blinks take you on a journey through the life and career of this unparalleled influencer.

In these blinks, you’ll discover

why an old Buick probably played a key role in computer history; and
how wristwatches cost Gordon Moore millions.

Gordon Moore was passionate about science from an early age.

You've probably heard of Moore's Law, but what do you know about Gordon Moore – the man who came up with it?

Gordon Moore was born in San Francisco, in 1929, to Mira and Walter Moore. He was a very reserved child, but also an exceptionally concentrated one. His precocity and extraordinary intelligence led him early on to what would become his lifelong vocation.

In 1940, when he was eleven years old, Moore’s life changed forever. After his best friend was given a chemistry set, the pair began using it to make explosives and blow things up. Science suited Moore’s analytical mind, preferring it to math because he could see its visible effect on the tangible world. Moore had found his calling.

As he got older, Moore remained passionate about chemistry and experimentation. He took his first chemistry lessons at Sequoia High School, where he was far ahead of the rest of his class, and by the age of 16, he already had a sophisticated understanding of the subject and was very confident in his ideas.

Moore also retained his love of blowing things up. He experimented with nitroglycerine at home and eventually began making firecrackers for his friends, who used them to blow up mailboxes.

Nor was the chemistry in Moore's life just happening in the lab. In September 1947, Moore met Betty Irene Whitaker, a journalism major at San Jose State. Whitaker was outgoing, lively and headstrong – the very opposite of Moore. Naturally, that drew him to her. She, in turn, was intrigued by his quiet confidence and composure.

Moore's chemistry education brought him to Berkeley and Caltech.

As Gordon Moore and Betty Whitaker grew closer, Moore began expanding his horizons. He took his first steps toward formulating Moore's Law at Berkeley University, right across the Bay from his childhood city.

Moore was accepted to Berkeley in 1948, with the help of recommendation letters by professors at San Jose State.

After achieving great success in chemistry research, Moore got into industry work.

When Gordon Moore began his studies at Caltech, the area was booming. Multiple technological advancements had recently been made. In the 1940s, aerospace science, for instance, depended completely on electronics and IBM's special calculator, Harvard Mark 1, a kind of proto-computer that was used for calculations in missile testing and design.

It was a thrilling environment for Moore. His work in experimental chemistry flourished, particularly under the tutelage of Professor Richard McLean Badger.

After the development of a highly powerful transistor, Moore realized the potential of semiconductors.

In 1947, an important device was invented by scientists at Bell Laboratories: the transistor. Few people (if any) understood its potential at the time, but the invention ended up changing the world completely.

The transistor could be used to amplify and switch signals on and off, just like vacuum tubes. Vacuum tubes were fragile and expensive, however, whereas transistors were made up of solid material. They were also much smaller and required less power. Transistors would soon make an array of new technology possible - most prominently the transistor radio, which was ubiquitous by the 1950s.

Moore launched his own business venture to continue researching transistors.

Shockley’s apprehension mounted as his team struggled to make a breakthrough. Eventually, feeling that the time had come for something new, Moore and a few dissatisfied colleagues left the company to set up their own. They became known as the “traitorous eight” – and Moore was their leader.

Moore and his new colleagues began searching for an investor and soon found one in Sherman Fairchild, one of IBM's biggest shareholders. Their new venture, Fairchild Semiconductor, was born the same week that the Soviets launched Sputnik, the world's first satellite.

Moore's predictions about the future of complex microchips became known as Moore's Law.

The silicon transistor soon became the industry standard, and its applications became more and more manifold. More computers, radios and television sets were produced as newer models replaced the old ones that’d relied on vacuum tubes. That wasn't all, however. A new and particularly important technology was also emerging: the microchip.

At the end of the 1950s, people still believed it would be too expensive to put several components on one chip, as the advanced technology it required was exorbitantly priced. They assumed it'd always be cheaper to wire individual components together. Moore, however, knew this was wrong.

The development of microchips with greater memory storage made Moore (and Intel) very successful.

In 1968, Moore set out on a new adventure that would change computing forever.

Moore and Bob Noyce, his business-savvy partner, were truly the perfect pair – but they needed to find a fresh market. They knew they couldn't compete with the giants in established markets, like Motorola and Bell Labs.

Moore was wary of selling personal computers after an unsuccessful foray into the electronic watch market.

In the early 1970s, the American economy was faltering and unemployment was high. Despite this, Intel's business was booming.

But Moore was about to learn an important lesson: change and innovation are an important part of business, but sometimes you should stick to the things you know you're good at.

The use of Moore’s and Intel’s microprocessors became widespread, leading them to team up with Microsoft.

By the mid-1970s, Intel had become a hugely profitable company. Moore was right at the heart of a revolution that would forever change computers.

Up until 1979, it was extremely profitable to be in the computer memory industry. Intel's revenue was well over half a billion dollars per year.

Intel came to dominate the microprocessor market, but Moore was more interested in philanthropy as he got older.

By this point, it was clear that computers were rapidly changing the world. And the good news for Moore was that all of them still needed microprocessors!

In fact, in 1990, the average US citizen spent 40 percent of her time looking at screens: watching TV, playing video games or using a computer.

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What is Moore’s Law about?

Moore's Law (2015) tells the story of Gordon Moore, a chemist from San Francisco who helped revolutionize the technology industry. Over the years, Moore’s innovations have fundamentally changed all kinds of electronic technology, from digital watches and personal computers to the internet and Facebook.

Moore’s Law Review

Moore’s Law (2015) delves into the fascinating history and impact of the legendary prediction made by Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel. Here's why this book is a valuable read:

It offers a comprehensive exploration of Moore’s Law, detailing how this prediction has shaped the world of technology and transformed our lives.
The book provides insightful interviews with key players in the industry, giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at the development and impact of Moore’s Law.
Through its accessible language and engaging storytelling, the book presents complex concepts in an easily understandable manner, making it enjoyable and enlightening.

Best quote from Moore’s Law

Fact: In 2016 alone there will be over 100 billion transistors produced per human being on the planet.

—Arnold Thackray, David Brock and Rachel Jones

Who should read Moore’s Law?

Enthusiasts of technology or Silicon Valley
Anyone interested in the history of computers
People curious about the life of Gordon Moore

About the Author

Arnold Thackray is a writer and the CEO of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. David Brock is a world-renowned expert on electronics. Rachel Jones, a journalist, specializes in technology and entrepreneurship.

Categories with Moore’s Law

Entrepreneurship Biography & Memoir Science

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