Thread by @_fabknowledge_

Semiconductors can be a hard industry to understand, especially for investors without a technical background.

Here are a few of the books that really helped me understand semiconductors better. In order of approachability - a 🧵

1/ In the beginning there was Fairchild.

I think that is the best way to start. Makers of the Microchip by Christophe Lécuyer is the best book to begin with IMO.

2/ Fairchild of course birthed Intel - which is where "The Intel Trinity" by Michael Malone transition well into.

Intel of course is *the company* in semiconductor history and this was one of the better books I read about this topic.

3/ After Intel I think it's worth looking at it's Texas neighbor - Texas Instruments.

"Engineering the World - Stories from the first 75 years by Caleb Pirtile" did the best job at covering TI's long and storied history IMO.

4/ After TI - I think it's fair to start to look East.

The book that is frustratingly academic but filled with information is "Tiger Technology by John Matthews & Dong-Sung Cho"

Filled with amazing information about the histories of Taiwanese & Korean semi industries

5/ Now I think it's time to get a bit more specific. In particular I think it's time to read Fabless by @DanielNenni / @paulmclellan

Fabless IMO is one of the best books of the bunch, and the last chapter's predictions hold up shockingly well.

@DanielNenni @paulmclellan 6/ This is where the reading track is starting to fall apart IMO.

I'm going to recommend a book if you can get your hands on it called "Information for Everyone: The Applied Materials Story"

This is a pretty good history book on Applied and one of the few I've found.

7/ Given how hot Automotive is right now - I really liked Sensors in Automotive by @junkoyoshida

It's just a really easy to read no-jargon series of interviews that really brought me up to speed on automotive sensors

@junkoyoshida 8/ 400 level classes begin now! I can't pretend like I understood everything - but I did benefit massively from comprehending ~30% of these books.

Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach

The most recent editions foreword blew my mind and started me down the rabbit hole

@junkoyoshida 9/ Semiconductor Packaging: Materials Interaction and Reliability

This book is really good for an overview of all the basic packaging types and pros and cons. In a world of flipchip / ball bonding / tcb / and a lot more this one was crucial. I prob need to reread

@junkoyoshida 10/ I wrote my lithography primer of ASML after I read this book. It pretty much taught me a lot about litho from the DUV era + coating / spin process steps.

Fundamental Principles of Optical Lithography: The Science of Microfabrication

@junkoyoshida 11/ HONORABLE MENTIONS! Some of these I know will be good - some I am in the midst of reading - some are only slightly relevant.

(In midst of reading)
Handbook of Silicon Semiconductor Metrology

12/ just a good book anyone with an interest in tech and investing should read

Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital

13/ The Big Score: The Billion Dollar Story of Silicon Valley

To read but Malone was up earlier on the list

END /

There's probably a ton more books to be read over time. I am slowly adding to my list on Goodreads if you want to keep up.

goodreads.com/review/list/27…

Also if you don't want to read hard books on semis - always consider following along to my substack in my bio.