Fire in the Valley
Fire in the Valley is the definitive chronicle of the personal computer revolution that birthed Silicon Valley and transformed global technology. Starting with 19th-century visionaries like Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace, it traces the evolution from early vacuum tube machines like ENIAC to the invention of the microprocessor, the game-changing Altair 8800, and the grassroots Homebrew Computer Club that fueled amateur innovation. The book dives into the rivalries, triumphs, and failures of iconic figures—Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak building Apple in a garage, Bill Gates and Paul Allen launching Microsoft, and IBM’s entry that reshaped the industry. It also chronicles the shift to the post-PC era, from the iPod and iPhone to cloud computing, capturing the chaotic, passionate spirit of engineers, entrepreneurs, and tinkerers who turned a niche hobby into a global phenomenon that redefined how we work, connect, and live.