Destination Silicon Valley - by Lin C Wu (Paperback)

About the Book

Destination Silicon Valley follows Lin Wu from childhood upheaval in China to helping build the world's fastest mainframe. A story of resilience, ambition, and family at the dawn of Silicon Valley.

Book Synopsis

An Amazon #1 Best Seller in multiple Technology and Business Biography categories.

At six years old, Lin Wu was forced to leave his mother and flee mainland China amidst the chaos of the Communist revolution. At sixteen, his father brought him to America, abandoning and leaving him utterly alone. Thrust into a perplexing and foreign culture, he possessed little more than a fierce determination to survive.

What followed was a lifelong pursuit of excellence-from escaping the shadow of his autocratic father to joining the founding team at Amdahl Corporation, where he helped beat IBM in delivering the world's fastest mainframe computer.

Destination Silicon Valley is more than a business memoir. It's a story of family, resilience, and the search for meaning at the intersection of tradition and ambition. Ideal for readers of Educated and The Glass Castle, this is an immigrant story rooted in the formative years of Silicon Valley.

Review Quotes

"Lin Wu's journey reminds us that the American dream is still alive-for those brave enough to carry it across an ocean. As an immigrant, he built not only a career in Silicon Valley, but a legacy rooted in family, grit, and purpose. His story is an inspiration to every Asian American who dares to begin with nothing." - Dr. Rose Tseng, Chancellor Emerita and Professor, University of Hawaii, Hilo

"Destination Silicon Valley illuminates not only one man's life, but the larger story of how courage, opportunity, and curiosity helped build the digital age." - Dag Spicer, Senior Curator, Computer History Museum

"A really interesting story that made me think about the challenges my own parents had to overcome moving to and becoming adults in America. Easy and enjoyable read." - Patrick Lee, Co-Founder and Founding CEO of Rotten Tomatoes

"A truly unique story, beautifully told with love. Captivating, inspiring, and definitely one I'll be recommending to friends." - Jimmy Jam, Grammy-winning producer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee

"This book is a roadmap for dreamers, doers, and anyone who believes that starting with nothing can be the greatest beginning of all." - Janelle Wang, Emmy-Award Winning Journalist and News Anchor

"A memoir of achievement and the immigrant experience that deserves high praise ... the perfect example of how small choices and endeavors can contribute to bigger personal and community growth." - Midwest Book Review

"Destination Silicon Valley is a compelling read for anyone interested in the history of technology, the immigrant experience, or the personal stories behind Silicon Valley's rise to prominence. Wu's journey is a reminder of the power of hard work, vision, and the human spirit." - Readers' Favorite, 5-star review