Maximum Impact: Maxim’s Quiet Rise as Silicon Valley’s Most Prolific Analog Chip Maker

Jack Gifford would be very honored by this book. Tunç, you captured so many interesting stories about Jack, all of which informed his leadership style. For example, I had no idea he was a farmer after his time at AMD. Jack had a reputation of being tough on people, yet caring greatly for those in the Maxim family. Most of us have many facets to our personalities. In Jack’s case, those facets combined to create great foresight, judgement, and exceptional leadership.My career at Maxim was always interesting and challenging. I felt blessed to be a part of a company that grew and succeeded so well. Tunç, thank you for capturing the early days of this extraordinary company formed and led by an incredible group of founders. I am sure Rhodine is pleased with this excellent book.Larry Adams, Maxim badge #79

This is the untold story of Maxim Integrated and its one-of-a-kind founder Jack Gifford, known by many in the Valley as “Jack”. Maxim revolutionized Analog landscape over the last 35+ years, introduced more than 10,000 micro-chips that were mostly very well- known and recognized by many within engineering circles but did not make it to the headlines of regular media. These were the chips that fueled never ending improvements in laptops, cell phones, industrial products or automotive, but all behind the curtain. While the mesmerizing story of courage, endurance, commitment to goals and relentless execution is told with insider view, you also gain insight into the early period of the Silicon Valley, meet many historical characters, their intricate connections to one another, their strong characters and egos and how all shaped the semiconductor industry and made the silicon valley what it is today. Highly recommend.

It's the best book I've read on the people in semiconductor industries. It's about a company, about chips, but mostly about people.It's very informative, and inspiring for us working in the industry. Wish I was 30 years older so I could join Maxim back at the time. I was too young to have met Jack, but his image is very vividly described in this book.

The book paints a vivid picture of analog semiconductor industry in its early days along with its great pioneers. Finished the book in one day, and simply couldn't put it down. I have been in the industry for more than 25 years, and started my own company a few years ago. The book provides both wisdom and inspiration that will benefit me greatly.

Tunc Doluca, Maxim's current CEO, has penned a terrific tribute to Maxim's founder Jack Gifford while simultaneously providing entertaining insights into the early days of Silicon Valley. Those were days when the Silicon in Silicon Valley was still central to the Valley's innovation, creativity, and prosperity. Since for 17 years I worked walking distance to Maxim's HQ and our CEO, TJ Rodgers, shared many of the attributes that Tunc brought to life in recounting Jack Gifford stories, it was easy for me to relate to those stories and thoroughly enjoy "Maximum Impact".

This book is addicting; the ups and downs grab your attention and more often than not, you can’t wait to see what Jack Gifford, founding CEO, is going to say or do next! The author, using stories relayed to him and those of his own, shows why Jack and his team were the unusual ones – they had a vision, a plan and the passion to make it all happen. "Maximum Impact" offers an inside view of what it takes to start, lead, and transform a successful semiconductor company: true grit.

I am not a prolific reader, but I read this book in two sittings. It is a must read, giving you a glimpse of some of the Silicon Valley legends, and also what it takes to create a winning culture in the industry. Those ingredients are tough love, guts, and perseverance under the guidance of Maxim's legendary founder, with the result that this company is one of the few start-ups to be successful to this date.

Maximum Impact is one of those books that you will not be able to put down! The stories of the early days of the company, with its trials and triumphs, are gripping, teaching the reader what it takes to move a company from start up to success. I recommend this book for any business leader or anyone who wants to learn more about the wild, early days of the semiconductor industry in Silicon Valley.

I read it in one night. I couldn't put it down. Sometimes I laughed but I was moved more often. In tears a few times. It is the compelling, exciting, perhaps unrepeatable story of extraordinarily unique people. Written with an amazingly capturing novel-style. I felt part of this story. I met many of these people in the book and worked with them for more than two decades. Probably the best part of my life. I feel a deep sense of gratitude and privilege for having shared so much of my life with those people in this Company. This book is a small masterpiece of courage, dedication, honesty and vision, a true powerful lesson in life. Thanks Tunc.

A little bit painful, eap reading about drunk engineering antics. Excessive praise of jack Gifford who this story revolves around. To his credit, Tunc doesn’t talk much about his own achievements

Amazing history about the Maxim Founder Jack Gifford well written by the current company CEO Tunc Doluca.