CMOS: Circuit Design, Layout, and Simulation by R. Jacob Baker

https://www.amazon.com/CMOS-Circuit-Simulation-Microelectron...

I'd looks like there have been many revisions. I've got the first edition from 1998 which covers LASI, a small layout tool for integrated circuits. Seems like it is still a thing: https://cmosedu.com/

First get a cheap FPGA and learn verilog. Also I just googled it and Khan academy has a digital logic course.

Once he can build a functional ALU in verilog then have him do bigger projects. Digital logic books have lots of projects in them.

Then there is a fork: 1) go deeper down the logic synthesis route, 2) go into semiconductors, manufacturing, 3) computer architecture and operating systems.

it’s a choose your own adventure book

I saw this awhile back, don't know anymore: https://www.zerotoasiccourse.com/

How about having a family photomask tapeout? I wonder if anyone makes scanner software for old masks.

Google have a foss prouction flow for 130nm

https://github.com/google/skywater-pdk?tab=readme-ov-file

You have to know a lot before you can know what you're looking at.

I only know Tiny Tapeout.