Silicon Audiobook By Federico Faggin cover art

Silicon

From the Invention of the Microprocessor to the New Science of Consciousness

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Silicon

By: Federico Faggin
Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
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About this listen

“As soon as she heard me enter, Elvia awoke from a light sleep that had overcome her as she anxiously waited: ‘How did it go?’ Excited, I exclaimed, ‘It works!’ We embraced, almost overwhelmed with feelings of euphoria and happiness, aware that something epochal had happened. On that cold January night of 1971, the world’s first microprocessor was born!”

The creation of the microprocessor launched the digital age. The key technology allowing unprecedented integration, and the design of the world’s first microprocessor, the Intel 4004, were the achievement of Federico Faggin. Shrinking an entire computer onto a tiny and inexpensive piece of silicon would come to define our daily lives, imbuing myriad devices and everyday objects with computational intelligence.

In Silicon, internationally recognized inventor and entrepreneur Federico Faggin chronicles his “four lives”: his formative years in war-torn Northern Italy, his pioneering work in American microelectronics, his successful career as a high-tech entrepreneur, and his more recent explorations into the mysteries of consciousness. In this heartfelt memoir, Faggin paints vivid anecdotes, walks listeners through society-changing technological breakthroughs, and shares personal insights, as each of his lives propels the next.

©2020 Federico Faggin (P)2021 Federico Faggin
Consciousness & Thought Philosophy Professionals & Academics Science & Technology Heartfelt Invention

What listeners say about Silicon

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Mind-banding book

There are three "stories" being told in this book: the personal, the silicone, and the consciousness one. I liked all of them even though they're told not always in a balanced way. There are probably, at least for me, too many technical details about silicon chips and microprocessors despite my quite high knowledge in the field of IT. But at the end, the consciousness theory has given me some hints I had been missing and looking for. Mind opening and banding concurrently. I hope there will be some other writing from Faggin on this topic.

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Modern Ground Breaking and Historically important

This book is historically important for anyone who takes modern technology seriously. Furthermore this book contains many lessons to be learned from. The conclusion of the book is insightful and imaginative. The authors growth is apparent. I am grateful to have the opportunity to listen to such an informative book.

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Thought provoking!

Amazing historical, technical and business accounts of the birth of the microprocessor by its key designer. In addition, Federico Faggin guides us in exploring the very essence of our sentient states and shines light upon their connections between the physical and the quantum worlds.

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not what i was expecting

book describes technical aspects of a hardware developer. very very technical. I was hoping to hear what he was talking about in podcasts: quantum physics and consciousness, of which untill very last chapter there is zero info. disappointed, so i will be asking for refund

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