Rating: 
Summary: amazing book!
Review: After reading this book I am searching for everything Stan Gibilisco has writtin. This book is writtin so clear and covers so much...it is by far the best electronics book I've ever read! Highest recomendation possible!
Rating: 
Summary: Typical TAB-G/L botch job
Review: Generally books on the TAB imprint-the heir to the old Gernsback Library-are poorly edited, poorly written, and often irrelevant and lacking useful information. There are a few exceptions, as they had a few fairly good authors who for whatever reason wrote for them who combined technical knowledge and writing discipline. Most found greener pastures elsewhere, as TAB predictably paid very poorly.
This is no exception. If you want a reference manual there are dozens of better ones. I seriously doubt there are any worse.
Rating:
Summary: Starts off with a bang - ends with a wimper
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: exceptional, so far
Review: 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:
Summary: exceptional, so far
Review: 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:
Summary: Ian C. Purdie, VK2TIP's Review
Review: I think this is a particularly exciting text for professionals, hobbyists and technicians anxious to get a good grasp on the basis of electricity and electronics. "Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics" comprises 700+ pages of well thought out tutorials. I would imagine it would be in great demand throughout schools, colleges and even universities. Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics is divided into four major sections: Direct Current, Alternating Current, Basic Electronics, and Advanced Electronics and Related Technology. Each chapter has comprehensive qizzes and each section finishes with a multiple-choice test. It is notable that you need nothing more than junior high school level geometry, algebra and physics to cope. There is also a "final" examination! I think it represents excellent value for money to hobbyists, professionals and technicians. Comes very highly recommended from me, and with very good reason.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Fine Textbook
Review: The book starts simply enough to be of use to beginners and grows complex enough to help professionals who need a review, such as myself. The tests are great for highlighting what you need to know.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great electronics course for beginners!
Review: The cover of this book says it all. Bite into the content and chew thoroughly. I found the chapter-ending quizzes (there are 32 of them!) especially helpful, and they're all multiple-guess with a complete answer key in the back. The computer/internet chapter could be more comprehensive, and I'd like to see more on location and navigation systems, but I guess there's only room for so much. I'm an electronics engineer and I plan to keep this book as a permanent reference.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book For those who want to learn
Review: This book covers the the theories and gives you a great foundation to move on up into some more serious electronics. Great book and written in an easy to understand manner. Not to technical but gives you enough of the theory that you need to understand the more technical manuals
Rating:
Summary: Really makes you think
Review: This book explains the theoretical concepts of electricity and electronics very well. The quizzes really make you think, but they're open-book. The tests and the final exam are, as the author promises, easier, but they're closed-book. I've never seen a book that has so many well-written practice questions. I would like to see more material on advanced systems concepts and aerospace applications, but maybe that is asking too much for an introductory text (and it reflects my own bias!). I have recommended this book to several of my colleagues.
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