Books & Publications

Chip War: The fight for the world’s most critical technology
Chris Miller

Economic historian Chris Miller explains how the semiconductor came to play a critical role in modern life and how the US became dominant in chip design and manufacturing and applied this technology to military systems. America’s victory in the Cold War and its global military dominance stems from its ability to harness computing power more effectively than any other power. Until recently, China had been catching up, aligning its chip-building ambitions with military modernization.

This book was the Middleton Award winner for 2024.
Chip War: The fight for the world’s most critical technology

Chris Miller

Economic historian Chris Miller explains how the semiconductor came to play a critical role in modern life and how the US became dominant in chip design and manufacturing and applied this technology to military systems. America’s victory in the Cold War and its global military dominance stems from its ability to harness computing power more effectively than any other power. Until recently, China had been catching up, aligning its chip-building ambitions with military modernization.

This book was the Middleton Award winner for 2024.

A Biography of the Pixel

Alvy Ray Smith

The Great Digital Convergence of all media types into one universal digital medium occurred, with little fanfare, at the recent turn of the millennium. The bit became the universal medium, and the pixel–a particular packaging of bits–conquered the world. Henceforward, nearly every picture in the world would be composed of pixels–cell phone pictures, app interfaces, Mars Rover transmissions, book illustrations, videogames. In A Biography of the Pixel, Pixar cofounder Alvy Ray Smith argues that the pixel is the organizing principle of most modern media, and he presents a few simple but profound ideas that unify the dazzling varieties of digital image making.

This book was the Middleton runner-up for 2024.

The Worlds I See

Fei-Fei Li

The Worlds I See is a story of science in the first person, documenting one of the century’s defining moments from the inside. It provides a riveting story of a scientist at work and a thrillingly clear explanation of what artificial intelligence actually is—and how it came to be. Emotionally raw and intellectually uncompromising, this book is a testament not only to the passion required for even the most technical scholarship but also to the curiosity forever at its heart.

The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking)

Katie Mack

From the cohost of the podcast The Universe with John Green and one of the most dynamic stars in astrophysics, an “engrossing, elegant” (The New York Times) look at five ways the universe could end and the mind-blowing lessons each scenario reveals about the most important concepts in cosmology.

We know the universe had a beginning. With the Big Bang, it expanded from a state of unimaginable density to an all-encompassing cosmic fireball to a simmering fluid of matter and energy, laying down the seeds for everything from black holes to one rocky planet orbiting a star near the edge of a spiral galaxy that happened to develop life as we know it. But what happens to the universe at the end of the story? And what does it mean for us now?

Introduction to Agetech and Caretech

Seirinin Tadano

We’ve seen and heard more and more of the words “AgeTech” and “CareTech.” But do we really understand it enough? This book aims to help people understand general trends quickly (about 30 minutes).

Covers the following contents:

• The Background to Expansion on AgeTech and CareTech
• Technologies related with AgeTech & CareTech
• Market Size on AgeTech
• AgeTech & CareTech for Elderly People Themselves
• AgeTech & CareTech for Caregivers
• AgeTech & CareTech related to Matching and platform service

Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives

Daniel J Levitin

“Debunks the idea that aging inevitably brings infirmity and unhappiness and instead offers a trove of practical, evidence-based guidance for living longer and better.”
—Daniel H. Pink, author of When and Drive

Levitin looks at the science behind what we can learn from those who age joyously, as well as how to adapt our culture to take full advantage of older people’s wisdom and experience. Throughout his exploration of what aging really means, using research from developmental neuroscience and the psychology of individual differences, Levitin reveals resilience strategies and practical, cognitive-enhancing tricks everyone should do as they age.

The Goldilocks Enigma: Why Is the Universe Just Right for Life?

Paul Davies

The Goldilocks Enigma is Paul Davies’s eagerly awaited return to cosmology, the successor to his critically acclaimed bestseller The Mind of God. Here he tackles all the “big questions,” including the biggest of them all: Why does the universe seem so well adapted for life?

In his characteristically clear and elegant style, Davies shows how recent scientific discoveries point to a perplexing fact: many different aspects of the cosmos, from the properties of the humble carbon atom to the speed of light, seem tailor-made to produce life. A radical new theory says it’s because our universe is just one of an infinite number of universes, each one slightly different. Our universe is bio-friendly by accident—we just happened to win the cosmic jackpot.

The AgeTech Revolution: A Book about the Intersection of Aging and Technology

Keren Etkin

Have you ever thought about what your life may be like as you grow older and what technology will be available to you at that time?

In The AgeTech Revolution, Keren Etkin takes you on a journey to explore what the intersection of tech and aging looks like today. This book explores the changing face of aging in the 21st century through the lens of the fast-paced digital transformation our society is going through. It goes into challenges of aging that are currently being tackled by technology – using the real-life stories of tech entrepreneurs and older adults. Etkin also provides a glimpse into the future and what agetech could be like five, ten, or fifteen years down the road. We have a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to impact the experience of living as an older adult in this world using technology. The AgeTech Revolution provides us with the data and perspective necessary to change our tech landscape and to create a world that is more inclusive and supportive of older adults.