Daily Times

Biographies and books citing the origin and history of companies are always an interesting read. Troublemakers is one such book that brings the readers into the heart of the Silicon Valley during the 1970s. The author, Leslie Berlin, is a Project Historian for the Silicon Valley Archives at Stanford University. She narrates the evolution of technology that has changed our world.

She discusses the origin and progression of five high-tech industries and the companies associated with them. It was during the 1970s and in the 80s that these Silicon Valley companies paved the way for technology to be developed and discovered by those considered as icons of the Valley.

Berlin discusses how the Internet and the microprocessor were conceived. These two inventions revolutionized the world. She dwells on the history of Apple Inc., Atari, Genetech, XEROX, ROLM, ASK. She also looks at Sequoia Capital, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byer. Berlin discusses how these two companies used wise judgment to invest in the tech companies that were taking shape during the 1970s.

It is interesting to note that the five industries that Berlin focuses on were born inside the Valley having a thirty-five-mile radius. These were personal computing, video games, biotechnology, modern venture capital, and advanced semiconductor logic.

The book is divided into five distinct chapters. These are Arrival: 1969-1971, Building: 1972-1975, Challenges: 1976-1977, Triumph: 1979-1981 and Transition: 1983-1984. She begins the introduction of the book, titled ‘A Bit Like Love’ by mentioning Steve Jobs’ 2005 commencement address at Stanford University. This video perhaps – among other reasons – is one factor that unites two generations together. Berlin mentions about her meeting with Jobs. Berlin was amazed as to why Jobs spent much time with Robert Norton Noyce, co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel Corporation, and Andy Grove, a pioneer in the semiconductor industry. She writes, “In 2003, I asked Jobs why he spent so much time with the semiconductor pioneers. He said he wanted to smell the second wonderful era of the valley, the semiconductor companies leading into the computer. He added, you can’t really understand what is going on now unless you understand what came before.”

Troublemakers is a thoroughly researched account tracing how the key companies of the Silicon Valley grew into the giants they are known for today. Berlin carried out immense, in-depth research to find the answers to what comprises the content of this book. She has documented the thoughts, ideas, and efforts of significant executives and computer scientists who became the pillars of Silicon Valley. These include Steve Jobs, co-founder, Apple Inc.; Larry Ellison, co-founder, Oracle; Don Valentine, a venture capitalist; Mike Markkula, an angel investor and the second CEO of Apple Computer, Inc; Bob Taylor, who was the brains behind the personal computer; Sandra Kurtzig, one of Silicon Valley’s first female entrepreneurs, and the founder of ASK, producer of business and manufacturing software. Berlin also focuses on Al Alcorn, computer scientist behind the game, Pong; Fawn Alvarez, who worked at the assembly line before becoming an executive at the Valley and Niels Reimers, who helped university innovations reach across the world.

Berlin reveals insights into the world of computing, gaming, venture capitalism, and innovation that is unseen from the common man. She discusses how Jobs and Steve Wozniak did begin Apple Computers, however, the company would not have reached its pinnacle without the support of Mike Markkula, Apple Computer’s first chairman.

The book is more of a blueprint to how the entrepreneurs, innovators, computer scientists, and visionaries working at the Valley laid the foundation on which the technology boom began during the mid-1990s and is still occurring to this date.

Berlin narrates the life of these scientists when computers were as big as a room and writing thoughts on pen and paper was the call of the day. The author also reexamines the birth of companies such as Activision, Genentech, Xerox, and Atari.

Troublemakers narrate the story of how those who pioneered and specialized in the semiconductor industry passed the baton of knowledge and technology to the younger ones – the next generation – who had an equal thirst to bring innovation to their respective fields.

Leslie talks about how the technology industries gathered investor confidence and assembled its human resource and capital to achieve its big idea. She also highlights the challenges of conceiving and later marketing an idea that was never worked upon before. She cites the example of Pong and other video games developed by Atari and Activision that people began playing on their television sets. Leslie also discusses Sandra Kurtzig and Fawn Alvarez, two women working at the Valley during the 1970s. They proved their mettle and rose to the ranks equal to that of the men who guarded the doors where innovation was conceived in the Valley.

The writer is an independent researcher, author and columnist. He can be reached at omariftikhar@hotmail.com and Tweets @omariftikhar