Is this book any good? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: SuperMiguel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2010, 10:05:54 pm
content: how is this book for beginners ??http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/Introductory-Circuit-Analysis/9780131730441.pageand how does it compare with the "Art of electronics" book

author: A-sic Enginerd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2010, 04:24:13 am
content: From just looking at the TOC, looks to me like it's neck deep in a crap load of theory. Maybe not all that bad, if you're like me and at some point want to understand the deepest darkest details of what's going on and how something works. But if you're trying to just get started and working at a higher level of abstraction, I'm guessing this book will bog you down. Might be a nice one to have as a reference in the event you find yourself on a project and dealing with some harry details and need bigger horsepower on the level of understanding, but at 150 bucks a pop....ouch.The Big Grey Book is more all about the practical side of things. The authors go only as deep into theory as absolutely necessary to understand how to use something, but not necessarily how it works. (if that makes any sense). The present the info in such a way that one can start jumping in with both feet pretty quickly.

author: SuperMiguel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2010, 03:46:31 pm
content: should i wait for the 3rd one?http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0521809266or jump into the second one

author: A-sic Enginerd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2010, 04:29:55 pm
content: Hehe, yeah the third edition has "been coming" for a number of years now.Second edition is still where it's at. The chapters on microcontrollers and that sort of thing are a little dated, but the rest of it is still very applicable. Ohms's law hasn't changed much since it was derived.

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2010, 07:00:09 pm
content: The Circuit Analysis book (1100 pages for an introduction!) is the sort of book you buy when you go to University, you use it for 3 months and then never go near it for the rest of your career. It might be the fundamental foundation of circuit analysis and design, but I doubt you would use more than a tiny fraction of it in your day to day work. I'm not sure which country you are in, but Ebay is showing quite a few copies available for $32US, and 2nd hand copies for less than that. For that sort of money, it is worth it. for $147 it really isn't.

author: SuperMiguel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2010, 08:05:22 pm
content: I got the book few months ago when the professor of intro to electronics made us buy it for a class... but we never used the book so i just saw it yesterday and wondered if it was any good, and i should read it or forget about and buy the art of electronics

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 06, 2010, 12:50:57 am
content: Quote from: SuperMiguel on May 05, 2010, 03:46:31 pmNo, get the 2nd edition.Win Hill has mentioned that the 3rd one is going to cover a ton of different stuff and won't include a lot of the old stuff, so it will be pretty much supplementary and you'll need to have both to get the full picture.And it's been in perpetual development for half a decade now...Dave.

author: SuperMiguel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2010, 12:58:11 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on May 06, 2010, 12:50:57 amdo i need the student manual or just the book?

author: kc1980
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2010, 09:44:15 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on May 06, 2010, 12:50:57 amWhat the hell is this?http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0521809266The description says 2nd edition and it's dated June 2010. Also, $55? Wouldn't you think that it would cost more like $100+? Still waiting patiently.....heck, I still need to finish reading the 2nd edition.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 06, 2010, 10:59:09 pm
content: It's baloney. Borders have had the 3rd edition falsely listed for the last few years!

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2010, 12:30:47 pm
content: Yea! i just ordered the Grey Book, as a few (more experience i think) people suggesting it. 2nd Edition? well, i believe its still valid, for the majority of it. I dont think i want the "Student Manual" as i think its just for student? the basic stuff?(i'm informed, its just 600++ pages). But this one i ordered from India 1125 pages, cheaper at something like USD55? is it valid? the seller said, the book cover will be different (colouring and softcover), but the content inside is the same, just black n white printing. Any comment?

author: SuperMiguel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2010, 01:07:39 pm
content: Quote from: shafri on May 07, 2010, 12:30:47 pmya i saw that guy on ebay i was going to buy it, but i found the book on a local library.. And im not sure about the student manual.. saw a review on youtube and when the guys was showing it, it looked good but not sure what the difference is between the two..

author: SuperMiguel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2010, 03:37:09 pm
content: any input on what is the difference between the textbook and the student manual? seems like both have lectureedit: i went to a local library and the student manual seems like a complementary of the book, like its all about practice, like they will tell you do this and that with caps and then tell you that the concepts are in page xx of the book.. So i guess is good to have both..

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 07, 2010, 05:11:18 pm
content: I think the student manual contains extra exercises and probably some solutions. I'd consider the textbook mandatory, and the student manual optional.

author: dimlow
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2010, 09:24:24 pm
content: I have read this book from cover to cover and still keep going back to it. Id say its well worth getting. Im on my second copy now as i lost this first. Make great bed time reading if you cant sleep. In fact it lives by the side of my bed!

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2010, 03:06:17 pm
content: I've read H&E 4x, cover to cover, 2x as 1st Edition then again 2x on the 2nd. Forget other books unless you're in school and you need a book for class.Paul Horowitz was heavy into SETI around the time of the book, not sure of its status now.

author: kc1980
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2010, 05:54:40 pm
content: Any other recommendations for books? I'm looking for ones that are considered indispensable by industry professionals.

author: SuperMiguel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2010, 06:22:07 pm
content: Quote from: shafri on May 11, 2010, 05:14:48 pmso u got it?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2010, 02:48:35 pm
content: ok, i got the art of electronic book and have made a quick flip through. except it is not grey, it is red. i think this is the india version. generally speaking, its not for begineer. its more like for post graduate or a well versed EE person/practitioner. i think, for under graduate, they should have "student manual" which i suspect there will be more technical and exercise in that. Anyway there are pros as well, such as it cover and discuss more on practical side of EE circuitry, but sadly in a "lecturing" style with little or no technical explanation. but thats just me. Others may find it interesting. I believe it will become complement to my other existing books

author: marianoapp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2010, 03:34:18 pm
content: Quote from: shafri on May 12, 2010, 02:48:35 pmnot for a beginner? the book starts with the ohm law!except for the part with the complex numbers math its quite easy to read

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2010, 04:23:04 pm
content: "not for a beginner? the book starts with the ohm law!"yes it starts with a very nice V=IR formula."except for the part with the complex numbers"maybe for some people in some area, they dont have to bother with this."its quite easy to read"yes indeed! an easy reading it is! as dimlow said, good for bedtime reading... now i know what he really meant.but dont get me wrong. it is indeed a good book. who am i to complain Mr. Paul Horrowitz? as i said, its a complement to other more technical books.i understand why most people hate mathematics.

author: KTP
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2010, 03:00:36 am
content: It is a good book, but I would like a companion book with lab experiments for each section. I find that building real circuits helps cement understanding and aids in discovering new ways of thinking about a subject.I have yet to come across a modern complete lab book that would take you from simple RC filters all the way to designing a 20 transistor doohicky

author: SuperMiguel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2010, 07:45:58 pm
content: Quote from: shafri on May 13, 2010, 05:48:13 ami also find the book a bit hard to understand...but i guess thats why people read it multiple times

author: SuperMiguel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2010, 11:09:25 am
content: Quote from: shafri on May 14, 2010, 03:20:59 ami tough that book was going to give me the fundation

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 14, 2010, 01:11:16 pm
content: AoE does have the absolute minimum of math required for this level of electronics (any proper EE textbook would have a lot more). It does start with the basics, but probably goes over some topics too fast for someone who's not at all familiar with them. I've heard some positive things about 'practical electronics for inventors' as an easier, more superficial introduction/alternative to AoE, but I've never seen the book up close.It might help to build any circuit you don't understand on a breadboard and do some measurements.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 14, 2010, 01:36:12 pm
content: IMO the AoE is much more useful, but if you find it hard to understand, maybe it'd be helpful to start with something easier. Not much else we can do to make the AoE easier to read for you, except telling you to just be persistent.

author: KTP
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2010, 04:50:55 pm
content: The student manual for AoE is actually very good. I had never really dug into it before (sort of forgot I had it) but it really goes into depth on certain topics from the chapters and has labs on dc circuits, caps, diodes, transistors, fets, op-amps, oscillators, power supplies, logic, and microcontrollers (this last is probably a bit dated). I would like to see a 2nd book covering antennas, transmission lines, and other RF/microwave topics but I guess that is just a pipe dream. I have a couple of books on those topics but none treat them the way AoE does the simpler topics. I guess the best would be Chris Bowick's "RF Circuit Design" and you can also get some info from the ARRL handbook (but obviously this leans heavy toward the ham radio guys and stuff is slated toward their applications). Perhaps when you get into RF the only real solution is to dive into Electromagnetics by Krauss or something.

author: SuperMiguel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2010, 05:02:26 pm
content: should i read both at the same time? or the grey grey book first and then go to the student manual?

author: KTP
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2010, 05:48:57 pm
content: IMO both at the same time, and perform the lab experiments as you go to reinforce the material and discover things you may not have understood just from reading.If you don't have enough equipment to peform the labs I guess you could get by with downloading the free circuit simulator LTspice and do the labs virtually. The downside is that it would be better to work with actual components because it is quite hard to model every single thing that might affect a circuit. The other downside is that there is a small learning curve to use LTspice. The upside is that once you have learned LTspice, you have another valuable tool for circuit design and analysis.