Gordon McComb's Gadgeteers Goldmine

This 16 year-old book is a cut above most electronic hobby books that are published today. Many of the newer volumes appear to be rushed out the door and either are constructed for children or for very advanced hobbyists. This is an "intermediate" hobbyist book in that the author expects that you have some experience in tinkering with electronics, but does not necessarily expect that you have an engineering degree. Like the other reviewers, I found some errors in the instructions and parts lists in this book, so be very careful, especially since the first chapter of this book is dedicated to the danger of working with high voltages! This is not a book that merely involves some LED's and 555 timer devices. Instead, the author's projects include a high-voltage Van de Graaff generator, a tesla coil, and several projects involving lasers. Therefore, for safety's sake you should not just turn your high-schooler loose alone in the garage with your credit card number, the number to the closest wholesale electronics warehouse, and these projects. The final projects in the book are the tamest and safest. These involve a custom robot entitled "Scooterbot", designed long before the age of Lego Mindstorms. There are significant mechanical component assemblies involved in most of these projects, so the reader should be comfortable with mechanical as well as electrical tinkering, and most of all have a strong penchant for safety. However, if you are careful, I think you will find this book's projects both interesting and educational. Plus, it is a real bargain at its very low cost.

I love do-dads, thingamagigs and gizmos, and this book is just chuck full of them! Even better, the writer doesn't assume you're an utter moron, or that you have an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering. Fun and challanging, I highly recommend it.

This book tells you how to build everything from a night vision scope to a "bug" which transmits sound. Any one who is interested in electronics should purchase this book.