Electronics for Everyone

In spite of being almost thirty years old, this is a pretty good book on how electronic and electrical devices work in plain language with plenty of mechanical analogs. Thus this book is of particular value to mechanical engineers who need to understand electrical and electronic devices and maybe perform a few calculations, but it is certainly not a book on design. Thus I would not recommend it to aspiring electrical engineers who need to learn design. There are study problems in every chapter with solutions to odd numbered problems in the back of the book. I really haven't ever seen any other book quite like it, so if you need to know how electronic devices work without getting bogged down in an academic text and calculus, and especially if you have a mechanical mind, this one is for you. The following is the table of contents: 1. Electronics: Present, Past, and Future 2. An Introduction to the Queen of the Sciences (This chapter covers simple math -arithmetic, algebra, and graphs) 3. An Introduction To Electricity (DC and AC concepts and some atomic level stuff at a basic level) 4. Circuits with Resistors and Voltage Sources 5. Magnetism and Magnetic Machines (From Magnets to electric power distribution) 6. Inductance and Capacitance 7. Transformers 8. Introduction to Amplifiers (OpAmps, Feedback, and the PN Junction Diode) 9. Electronic Amplifying Devices and Circuits (The JFET, MOSFET, the BJT, and the differential amplifier. Even has material on vacuum tubes.) 10. Amplifier Systems 11. Energy Conversion Devices for Electronic Systems (Converting light, sound, and heat to electrical current and voltage) 12. The Recording and Reproduction of Sound (the decibel, acoustical transformers, recording, interconnecting audio equipment) 13. Television (Of course this is about TV as it existed in 1979 including tubes, NTSC, and antennas) 14. Digital Electronics (from digital logic and truth tables to gates to flip-flops to systems. Discusses boolean algebra too.) 15. Computers ( Good for the basics. The functions haven't changed, just how they're done. Remember this was at the dawn of the PC revolution.) As you can see from my description, if you want up to date information on how digital systems and computers are built or modern television, you'll need another source. But the basics of electronics are all here with some very plain descriptions and good diagrams to get you started.

If you are primarily a mechanical type like me and have always considered electronics to be a mysterious "black art" , then buy this book. It is written in the simplest, clearest, best organised manner possible by a P.E. You need very little math, nothing beyond scientific notation, fractions, and how to read a simple graph- and he even reviews that for you. This book goes far beyond basic "Mr. Wizard" electricity to practical explanations of circuits, magnetic machines (solenoids, motors, generators, meters), inductance and capacitance, transformers, amplifiers, transisors and other semiconductors, television, lasers, computers, etc.) Everything is done step by step and with amazingly clear mechanical and hydraulic analogs. This is one of the 3 or 4 technical reference books that I would never part with.