Rating: 
Summary: Not the electronics bible, but a valuable book
Review: As an electrical engineer, I have been able to use this book to supplement my studies and hobbies. On some subjects this book is great, on others it is lacking, but all of the material is presented in a non-technical way that is easy to understand.
Rating:
Summary: Best intro to Electronics
Review: As far as a general introduction to electronics, i'd say this was one of the best out there. The book is fairly unique, in that it strikes a rare balance between theory, applications, and construction of circuits, with alot of hand-drawn drawings with interesting water analogies. I only wish I had this book is college--it could have replaced so many of the awful books they gave us. I did catch a few mistakes too...so keep your eyes open.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for new learners!! New learners stay away!
Review: Despite the books promise in the "what makes this book unique" Preface, It never gave me the big picture and just blasted me with more formulas and High level math. Where is the "big picture it promised". For Inventors?? The book itself is probably a great book just marketed wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Simply wonderful..!!!
Review: Good introductory books on electronics are rare birds. This book is a rare breed indeed. The scope of this book shocked me, from the section on explanating the root underlining reasons where complex impedance theory came from, to describing the core machine codes used by a microprocessors and microcontrollers. What really caught my attention was the manner in which the author explaned things. I can't quite explain a similar style--somewhat like a physicist, somewhat like an artist, somewhat like an engineer, and somewhat like an inventor. This combination of styles gave the subject matter practical, theoretical and imaginative qualities that made learning a rewarding expierence. This is not to say this book will be the only one you'll need for designing your circuits--but it's the best starter I came across by far.
Rating:
Summary: Best Overview of Electronics Around
Review: Good introductory books on electronics are rare birds. This book is a rare breed indeed. The scope of this book shocked me, from the section on explanating the root underlining reasons where complex impedance theory came from, to describing the core machine codes used by a microprocessors and microcontrollers. What really caught my attention was the manner in which the author explaned things. I can't quite explain a similar style--somewhat like a physicist, somewhat like an artist, somewhat like an engineer, and somewhat like an inventor. This combination of styles gave the subject matter practical, theoretical and imaginative qualities that made learning a rewarding expierence. This is not to say this book will be the only one you'll need for designing your circuits--but it's the best starter I came across by far.
Rating:
Summary: Valuable and enjoyable.
Review: Great book! This book takes you from basics (using flowing water as an analogy) to designing elementary digital circuits. It's guaranteed to become dog-eared from use as you rely upon it as both a text and reference manual. I've been an electronics hobbyist since TVs had tubes and transistor radios were leading edge technology. Over the years I've forgotten much of what I had learned, and hadn't learned a great deal in the digital arena. This book re-taught me what I had forgotten, in a better way than I had first learned it, and brought me up to speed on digital circuits. Yes, as another reviewer noted, there are some errors that crept in. They often do. They aren't show stoppers and they shouldn't stop you from buying and using this valuable guide.
Rating: 
Summary: It's good - with more careful writing it could be great
Review: Having limited financial resources, I checked this book out from my local university library before buying it and have been working my way through it to see if it is worth purchasing. I do expect to purchase this book despite its major flaw, i.e., poor proofreading and/or insufficient editing. Scherz employs a novel and useful approach, dealing first with basic DC and AC R, C and L circuits using math up to and including some calculus and differential equations. His discussion is reasonably thorough without being too detailed. Scherz stresses that, for those who do not wish to (or can not) follow the math in detail, he has the results summarized. His treatment of Thevenin Theorem applications is the best I've seen and his introduction of imaginary number equations for AC circuit analysis is an excellent primer. After the basics, Scherz switches to what he calls an intuitive approach to discussing electronic components and their application in circuits. This makes a lot of sense. I did not find his use of water or rope analogies to electronic devices or circuits useful, but that is my personal preference. The big problem with Scherz's book is poor proofreading and/or editing. One has to be on constant watch for errors. These range in degree:
From simple mislabeling
Missing a dT term in working out the relation of W to C and V
on page 22, referencing fig 2.37 in the third paragraph of
page 34 when Fig 2.37 is meant, giving 5/13 + j1/15 on page 33
when 5/13 + j1/13 is correct, mislabeling the right hand side
of fig 2.4, etc etc )
To simple math or verbiage errors
Substracting rather than adding 0.375 x 5000 for Case I on
p 18, calling the third number on capacitors "3rd digit" rather
than "multiplier" on p 106 or leaving out the word "not" in
Rule 2 for npn case on page 142,
To incorrect statements
Saying (P 53) that notch filters reject all frequencies except
those near the resonant frequency, when in fact notch filters
pass all frequencies except those near the resonant frequency. This is simple sloppiness and detracts from the straightforward reading of an otherwise useful book. I hope a second edition will appear with these unfortunate errors (and lots I've probably missed) corrected.
Rating:
Summary: "must have" for students
Review: I am currently an electrical engineering student at Stevens Insitute of Technology. This book has been my instructor on many occasions. Many complex subjects have been dramatically simplified thanks to the author's "step by step, assume nothing" philosophy. This book should be in the hands of any individual who is persuing a degree in this great field.
Rating:
Summary: Best book I have bought all year.
Review: I am really thrilled to recommend this book. It is truely designed to give you all the information you need to design projects, without getting too deep in theory. A must have.
Rating: 
Summary: BEWARE
Review: I confess that I bought the book because the majority of the reviews were very favorable. I was looking for a good explanation on how a SCR, a TRIAC and similar devices work, as well as some challeging examples to "sink in" the knowledge. I was dissapointed with what I found on the subject, as well as many others. Sometimes the material presented looked more like a typical data sheet on a device, rather than a textbook presentation. After a two-day review I returned the book for credit.
The book might help readers without any previous exposure to DC or AC circuits or electronic devices. I do say maybe because I have reservations about using the water analogy to explain active semiconductors. Too many valves have to be taking in account in carrying the analogy, masking the basic concepts that differentiate one from another.
I do commend the author for explaning the basic components used in electric and electronic circuits in detail. Very few books cover the different types of wires and other passive components when covering the basic knowledge on circuitry.
"The ABC of electronics" could have been a better choice for the title.
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