EEVblog #1270 - Electronics Textbook Shootout - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 08, 2019, 10:47:28 pm
content: What is the best electronics textbook?A look at four very similar electronics device level texbooks:Conclusion is at 40:35Electronic Devices by Floyd:https://amzn.to/2s4BSnKElectronic Principles by Malvino & Bates:https://amzn.to/2DX88f3Microelectronic Circuits by Sedra & Smith:https://amzn.to/2s5nBXXElectronic Devices and Circuit Theory by Boylestad:https://amzn.to/33TF2rCAlso:The Art of Electronics:https://amzn.to/2qv2j5pArt of Electronics X Chapters pre-order:https://amzn.to/2qAmQWqDigital Systems by Tocci:https://amzn.to/2Lvo8Jh

author: johnlsenchak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2019, 11:48:56 pm
content: In my humble opinion those 4 books are university text books where you are forced to take mathematical classes like algebra and calculus to understand the theory behind the equations . Those books are not for the novice, and are more for advanced electronic classesThe best way to learn electronic is to start with vacuum tube theory with the supporting componentsThese four books for beginners is how I started . With the advanced AC theory you will need algebra and trigonometry knowledgeDave,Please no more singing!Radio Shack DC Circuits Vol I + vol 2 Circuit Analysis Methods - Schematic , resistors +https://www.amazon.com/DC-Circuits-Volumes-Vol-Electricity/dp/B001T7SR3AAC Circuits - Basic Circuit Concepts (Radio Shack Basic Electricity Series) Vol.1 +2https://www.amazon.com/Radio-Shack-Basic-Electricity-Circuits/dp/B000NLA1IMhttps://www.amazon.com/AC-Circuits-Circuit-Concepts-Electricity/dp/B000EVNTA8

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 12:02:07 am
content: Yeah. When I started tinkering with electronics (when the word internet didn't even exist) I used mostly books with circuits and the Philips experiments boxes. Just build something and then modify (or figure out why it doesn't work).

author: johnlsenchak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 12:15:05 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 09, 2019, 12:02:07 amI learned transistor/semiconductor theory in that GE "Transistor Manual" in the first chapter which went intoseriousdetail about the holes and electrons with those valance bands. Those Radio Shack kits where awesome , they had everything to build circuits and learn theoryhttps://www.technicalaudio.com/pdf/GE/GE_Transistor_Manual_6thEd_ocr.pdf

author: mcovington
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 03:30:23 am
content: Around 6:59 in the video Dave addresses the fact that these books are not for beginners, nor for people whose approach is entirely hands-on. These are academic textbooks for people who want to understand electronic theory and connect it to their knowledge of mathematics and physics. He says he'd need to do another video about hands-on introductions for experimenters.

author: johnlsenchak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 03:56:33 am
content: Quote from: mcovington on December 09, 2019, 03:30:23 amWhich I stated above that you need advanced algebra and calculus to complement the theory behind theelectronics engineeringthat's within those booksA beginner to electronics , is not going to have that in most cases. Advanced AC theory blew my mind when I learned trigonometry , without that I didn't have a clue .A electronic technician job is not going to need a lot of that deep theory , learning all those highly advanced equations .

author: mcovington
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 04:23:55 am
content: I think the Sedra/Smith book is positioned for a different niche than the others. It's one step more advanced.

author: Fran_PSR
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 07:01:24 am
content: Good morning, as David says it is not possible to define a book as the best but each of us has one that we like best. In my particular case I studied Malvino among others but my surprise was to discover "Modern Electronic Communication" (Jeffrey S. Beasley - Gary M. Miller) with which I was amazed; It is leased to telecommunications and as I mentioned, I consider it the bible of telecommunications. It is very structured, touches many themes and is so well designed that it is a pleasure to consult it (the paper version) ... I love this book ... ;-)

author: ormaaj
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2019, 12:10:24 pm
content: I've had better luck with more focused textbooks. E.g. a good analog CMOS design book gives better milage than the MOSFET coverage in any of those examples. These make better referance books than learning material for those wanting to deep dive, IMO.

author: mcovington
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2019, 04:38:58 pm
content: Let me toss out a slightly different question. What kind of book do you wish you had found when you first got seriously interested in electronics? How would it have started and what would it have covered?

author: 13hm13
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2019, 06:49:05 pm
content: I've already stated the below in another thread on the SAME vlog(1270 --- why are there two threads???)Dave,I think you've mixed both types of textbooks into the bunch... at least from the USA perspective....Here in the U.S., Floyd is for community college (2-yr college, Associates degree, ASEE), and Boylestad is for 4-yr degree (BSEE, university). Not sure what other countries' college/univ. systems use. I do recall that exchange students from non-US countries noted Floyd-like textbooks from their country's BSEE coursework (i.e., less mathy).About Floyd ... there is a companion LAB Manual (author not Floyd: by Berlin) .Also, Floyd had other texts, like Principles of Electric Circuits and Digital Fundamentals (both excellent!!).

author: velomane
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 13, 2019, 04:58:34 am
content: Quote from: 13hm13 on December 12, 2019, 06:49:05 pmWould you say, then, that the Floyd text and companion lab manual would be more appropriate for a novice looking to get into the hobby?

author: ormaaj
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2019, 06:57:15 pm
content: Quote from: velomane on December 13, 2019, 04:58:34 amEh really? Mostly undergrad books get lumped into one category. Almost everybody that does community college at least aims for a bachelors.QuoteDoesen't matter IMO. A noob is a noob whether student or hobbyist. There are both ambitious hobbyists and students that just want a grade with minimum effort.

author: flint
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 12:05:46 am
content: To follow up on what Dave said about AoE at Harvard, Google offers a bit more data:Harvard does use The Art of Electronics to teach an accelerated electrical engineering course.The class is Physics 123, "Laboratory Electronics: Analog and Digital Circuit Design"http://ipl.physics.harvard.edu/courses/physics-123/The course is also available through their Summer School program (4 days a week, for 7 weeks). It's an 8-credit course (roughly half a semester of credit) covering the basics of both analog and digital design.https://www.summer.harvard.edu/course-catalog/courses/laboratory-electronics-analog-and-digital-circuit-design/34489The class uses its own curriculum. It uses AoE as a secondary reference, not necessarily as a textbook.Non-students can also self-study the material using the "Learning the Art of Electronics" book by Thomas C. Hayes, although that book requires $100s of components and some home lab equipment.https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Art-Electronics-Hands-Course/dp/0521177235/Flint

author: 13hm13
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 06:14:38 pm
content: Electronics for Your Futureby Daniel L. MetzgerThis little-known paperback from 1994 is one I highly recommend.It looks a bit primitive and unassuming ... but its somewhat "comic book" approach is unique. And it's fun, like Horowitz AoE.0963947109 (ISBN13: 9780963947109)303 pages

author: 13hm13
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 06:26:30 pm
content: Quote from: ormaaj on December 14, 2019, 06:57:15 pmI'm aware of no 4-year USuniversity"BSEE" program that uses Floyd. Any topical textbook at the univ. level "must" be pretty mathy and use a moderate level of calculus.Some US colleges (but not mostuniversities) do offer Bachelor's (4-year) degrees in "Electronics Technology" (BSET). Student's with ASEE (2-year) degrees can transfer to BSET programs ... but it's not as intense as BSEE. I.e., way less math, theory, electromagnetics, etc.BTW: If you see the word "Theory" in the title of a US electronics course textbook, it's for BSEE.