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Title: Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics by Stan Gibilisco ISBN: 0-07-137730-1 Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics Pub. Date: 24 August, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.57 (14 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: exceptional, so far
Comment: I must preface this by saying I have only completed the first chapter. To this point, I find the material very clearly presented, with no errors. Gibilisco starts with the absolute basics, by describing the composition of atoms. He progresses into explaining atomic numbers, atomic weight, compounds, and shows how electrical flow is achieved by electron movement from one atom to another. He defines amps, volts (also known as EMF, electromotive force) and introduces ohms law. Coulombs are clearly defined and discussed, as are semiconductors. There's more, but you get the idea; this book builds knowledge through the logical progression of simple concepts, well explained and clearly illustrated.
There is a test at the end of every chapter. I've found the presence of a chapter content test to be a pretty good indicator of a quality self teaching text, and that's certainly true here. The tests are multiple choice, and structured so that 1 answer is correct, while another is *almost* correct... the result really makes you think, as another reviewer noted. The tests are open book, with a closed book final exam at the end of the text.
I should comment on another review, which stated that the first chapter test questions were not relevant to the chapter content. This is incorrect; in fact, every question in the first test can be answered by referring to the first chapter of the text, even the 'photocell' question cited in the review. It's all there; you do have to be prepared to read and study, but the material is all present.
If I had any criticism at all to this point, I would state that I find the authors writing style to be somewhat dry. (I think I'm going to ship him a box of commas, semicolons, and exclamation marks). However, the short, simple sentences may actually enhance learning... and this is a minor quibble, in any case. Just don't expect it to read like a Thriller novel.
I've encountered books in the past that started off wonderfully, and bogged down half way through. As I've only just started the text, I cannot state whether this will happen. However, the high marks given this text by other reviewers are very encouraging.
In closing, it's very clear that the author has exerted enormous effort to create a particularly well written and thorough self teaching text. This book was very clearly designed from the start to be a "one stop shop"... literally, all you need to learn electronics theory, all in one package. It has the capability to impart an in-depth knowledge of electronics to anyone who works at it. Most books aren't this clear; few books are this detailed.
But if other authors will follow Gibilisco's example, more will be.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Best I've tried so far for the true Beginner
Comment: This is the only book on electronics I've read that I didn't have to use another book as a reference for. The author starts off assuming the reader is new to electronics and doesn't forget that as he introduces new topics; most authors at some point start talking in techspeak without explanation or zoom ahead to get to their favorite topic; this one doesn't. He explains topics one at a time, without zooming from electrons to transdimensional quark theory. The book starts with electricity, what it is, what it does, how its behavior relates to electronics, and he introduces the various components, circuits, and ideas one at a time. It is not intended to be a circuit design or hobby book; but this is the one to read before progressing to those books, because they will not guide you through the concepts like this author does. By the end of it, you will confidently be able to go onto a more advanced book. My only quibble with the book is that he sometimes does not go into a subject in enough technical detail, but for that Basic Electronics course by Norman Crowhurst is a nice complement. You don't need it as a reference, but it goes more into technically advanced explanations on certain concepts/circuits. (But doesn't explain things as clearly for the beginner as Gibilisco does.) If you're looking for ONE book that covers it all perfectly, you won't find it. But this is the best beginning book I've found.
Rating: 3
Summary: Starts off with a bang - ends with a wimper
Comment: I had to put my bits in to complement all the great reviews. Gibilisco indeed does a fantastic job introducing all of the basic concepts of electricity and electronics. The first two parts (550+ pages) are exemplary in their treatment of electronic components. I finally understood how to analyze an LRC circuit!!
The second two parts, however, are not nearly as helpful. Perhaps it's because the topics become too complex for the simple presentations use in the first half, but I found the sections on Basic and Advanced Electronics (the last 250+ pages) to be little more than a cursory overview of various components and uses. Good as a very basic introduction, but little practical value.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and learned a great deal from the first half. The second parts were interesting but less useful.
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Title: Practical Electronics for Inventors by Paul Scherz ISBN: 0070580782 Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics Pub. Date: 15 April, 2000 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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Title: Beginner's Guide to Reading Schematics by Robert J. Traister, Anna L. Lisk ISBN: 0830676325 Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics Pub. Date: 01 March, 1991 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Basic Electronics by U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel ISBN: 0486210766 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 June, 1973 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Tab Electronics Guide to Understanding Electricity and Electronics by G. Randy Slone ISBN: 0071360573 Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics Pub. Date: 21 July, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Basic Electricity : A Self-Teaching Guide by Charles Ryan ISBN: 0471850853 Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Pub. Date: October, 1986 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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