Most embedded systems designs are unique and cannot be characterized using one manufacturer's app notes and data sheets. Stuart Ball is an one such embedded-systems guru. This book also helps dispel the notion that embedded-system development is a black art. When I brought this book to the office, it was a particularly big hit with recent engineering graduates. Embedded Microprocessor Systems is a quick read for anyone with a basic electrical engineering background.
Real hardware is presented in examples that include schematics and code.
The rules for avoiding problems in embedded-systems design are fundamental. Experienced designera are familiar with them, and most of these engineers didn't pick it up from a book. Reading this book will save you more time during the design and debugging steps than you spent reading the book. Of course, you sometimes pay a price for this. There are instances where a numbered list and a diagram or figure would work better than presenting an idea in paragraph form.