Rating: 
Summary: Detailed yet simple for the beginner
Review: The pictures are great. Not only do they make individual steps clear, but also seem to bring the parts and concepts into your own home or workshop. The writing is light-hearted and enjoyable. At the end of every chapter, I found myself saying, "Okay, just one more chapter and then I'll go to sleep". Very motivating. Las fotos son estupendas. Ademas de que ayudan muchisimo para entender individualmente cada paso, tambien facilitan el entendimiento de los conceptos en mi propia casa. El libro es facil de leer y realmente lo estoy disfrutando bastante. Al final de cada capitulo me digo <<Vale, un capitulo mas y luego me voy a dormir>> Muy animante.
Rating:
Summary: Great book...
Review: This book is a well layed out book. If you would like to build a basic knowledge of electronics and have a robot example buy this one. With this you can build a line following robot and information is put out that allows you to build other creations.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing and Easy
Review: This book is fantastic. I knew very little about robots and electronics and how to go about building one. The step by step process makes the learning fun and safe. However, to make the learning smoother, you may wish to skim the book looking for the listings of parts required and get them in one or two trips. Otherwise you are sitting around at 9 o'clock at night, without the required materials for the experiments in the next chapter. Also, be prepared to spend more than the book says if your Canadian (and I am not referring to exchange rates).
Rating:
Summary: Amazing and Easy
Review: This book is fantastic. I knew very little about robots and electronics and how to go about building one. The step by step process makes the learning fun and safe. However, to make the learning smoother, you may wish to skim the book looking for the listings of parts required and get them in one or two trips. Otherwise you are sitting around at 9 o'clock at night, without the required materials for the experiments in the next chapter. Also, be prepared to spend more than the book says if your Canadian (and I am not referring to exchange rates).
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome for Beginners!
Review: This book is perfect for high schools and introductory college courses. Every educator should take a serious look at including this in his or her curriculum. It would make a fine summer course as well. Lab materials for building the complete robot would run under $100 per student, less when purchased in bulk. Or, since the experiments are laid out on reusable solderless breadboards, the subject could still be effectively taught at a lower cost. A wonderful way to get more students on the path to science and engineering. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Ok starter on electronics, but lacking on robot design
Review: This is a fairly good book, and probably worthwhile for true beginners in this area. However, as someone else mentioned, the book spends a bit too much time on basic electronics and not enough time on real life robots. There is only one simple robot discussed. The book is also lacking on schematics and left me with a sense that I knew this stuff before I started reading it. However, I have a bit of experience with electronics so my view may be tainted. For electronics, there are better books, for robots there are better books. In all, I'd say if you have learned basic electronics already, and simply want to learn more about robotics, this isn't the book for you. If you don't know anything about electronics, and simply want to see how to drive simple motors, and LEDs, and aren't so interested in the detailed electronics, this book may be for you.
Rating:
Summary: Ok starter on electronics, but lacking on robot design
Review: This is a fairly good book, and probably worthwhile for true beginners in this area. However, as someone else mentioned, the book spends a bit too much time on basic electronics and not enough time on real life robots. There is only one simple robot discussed. The book is also lacking on schematics and left me with a sense that I knew this stuff before I started reading it. However, I have a bit of experience with electronics so my view may be tainted. For electronics, there are better books, for robots there are better books. In all, I'd say if you have learned basic electronics already, and simply want to learn more about robotics, this isn't the book for you. If you don't know anything about electronics, and simply want to see how to drive simple motors, and LEDs, and aren't so interested in the detailed electronics, this book may be for you.
Rating:
Summary: A must-have!
Review: This is a terrific book. I read it as it was novel. It is written in such way that you can start from the first and go to the last page without being bored once. It is also beautifully divided so you can use it as a reference book. David Cook did a great job while writing Robot Building for Beginners. It is perfect for an initiation to the robot building. I've read other interesting books but this one has something special: everything is entirely covered for a single project. Other books tend to present a lot of projects but can't seem to concentrate on giving complete information. Robot Building for Beginners does provide all the information you need. Each time I was wondering "well, how about that?", David Cook was answering my question the next paragraph. There is a great amount of work in "what will a first-timer would be willing to learn after that". If you don't know anything or are willing to refresh your mind on electronics, the book is perfect. David Cook helps us getting to choose the right part, understanding what they do, how to correctly assemble the whole thing and so on. I just finish reading it and I'm ready to build my first robot knowing how to avoid the common pitfalls and how to keep my first project simple, but complete and working. It's a perfect gift for someone who wants to build his/her first robot. Thanks to David Cook.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a book I can understand!
Review: This is the robot book I've been waiting for. A lot of other books were way over my head, but this one provides lots of simple steps to get going. The m&ms tube and Ziploc container crack me up.
Rating:
Summary: Wow, a complete robot book!
Review: Wow, a complete book for hobby robots. Not since my first robot book in the seventies by Tab have I seen such a great robot book. David does what the other books lack; he gives you part numbers and sources. And when you are done, you have a working robot. Not just someones ideas. I do not know how many times I have read a book only to spend days or fail in finding the parts the author used. The pictures are top notch and very clear. Wish some web site publishers would take notes of his great pictures! I would not call my self an expert, but I picked up several new ideas from the book. This is a first class book for a beginner or experienced robot builder alike. I have also recommended it to several of my customers. Hope David writes another book, I can't wait.
Rick Rowland
Norland Research
www.smallrobot.com
| 
