Randy Slone's learn-as-you-go guide tells you how to put together a low-cost workbench and start a parts and materials inventory--including money-saving how-to's for salvaging components and buying from surplus dealers. You get plain-English explanations of electronic components-resistors, potentiometers, rheostats, and resistive characteristics-voltage, current, resistance, ac and dc, conductance, power...the laws of electricity...soldering and desoldering procedures...transistors...special-purpose diodes and optoelectronic devices...linear electronic circuits...batteries...integrated circuits...digital electronics...computers...radio and television...and much, much more. You'll also find 25 complete projects that enhance your electricity/electronics mastery, including 15 new to this edition, and appendices packed with commonly used equations, symbols, and supply sources.

Customer Reviews Average rating - 4.5

Rating - 1 Date: 2009-01-06
Content: I'm halfway thru this book, and looking for an alternative. The author doesn't finish explaning a subject, instead gives an example that does not clearly explain the subject. Like another review, I'm looking for a book that shows the "how", and especially the "why", of electronics.
Summary: lacking substance

Rating - 5 Date: 2008-12-27
Content: This was the first book I ever read about electronics and It explained everything very clearly. It doesn't repeat anything so you really have to take it slow and only read when you can concentrate. It does fly by basic concepts really fast but It worked for me. I read 4-5 pages every couple nights, and took notes on it. The author goes into detail, but he never repeats anything so you can't just skim at all. I would buy it if I were you, or theres the library.
Summary: Great Book: For anybody

Rating - 4 Date: 2008-04-05
Content: The book is quite a good reference material for those who have some background in electronics. It sumerizes many concepts and presents them in a concise and organized manner. A good refernce book for electronic fans.
Summary: a good reference book

Rating - 5 Date: 2007-08-04
Content: In an attempt to begin a new hobby I've been buying books on this subject. Most have left me guessing. This book gives you hands on plus the theory and equations to understand why it works the way it does. Though I have not finished (I am building the project)I understand more about electronics than after completing several projects from other books I've read.
If you want to know why, and how, the projects from other books work this is the book to buy. If you just want to build them and use them without understanding how they work or how you might safely substitute parts or alter the project then this will be more than you need.

Summary: What I've been looking for

Rating - 4 Date: 2006-04-24
Content: I would highly recommed this book to anybody interested in electronics as a solid starting guide. A vast amount of material is covered and is covered on a basic level.

That being said, I do have to deduct a star based on the current flow convention used by the author. Conventional current flow as defined by IEEE (Institue of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) is from + to - voltage (or higher to lower reference voltage), which is the opposite of electron flow (electrons flow from - to + terminals). The author defines current flow to be along the same path and direction as electron flow, which any electrical engineering student will tell you is incorrect.
Other than the current convention problem and a few minor flaws, an excellent source of information.
Summary: Excellent for beginners, but incorrect convention used