Customer Reviews

Circuits: Engineering Concepts and Analysis of Linear Electric Circuits

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(4)

 

 

To start off, our university was in the process of revising its curriculum and decided to purchase this book for introductory to higher level circuit analysis. They made a horrible mistake. I have not heard any professor mention one GOOD thing about this book. I have however heard them mention several bad things about it and from first hand experience they are ALL true. First, this book is chalk full of errors. Not only complex calculation errors, but dumb ones. Errors that anyone with a PH.D should NOT be making, especially if your writing a text book for people to LEARN from. Second, the material in this book goes into so much math detail, its hard to get a firm grasp of any practical application. Not saying math is bad, however I am learning circuits aren't I!? Third, the answers in the back are only to "selected" problems. Every 10th or 15th problem, he will have an answer in the back, but NOT a full answer for everything that was asked for in the problem. How can you learn when you don't know if what you did was correct!? Fourth, he has no sense of humor or creativity for that matter. I'm not saying that he needs to be a "funny man", just make things (gasp)interesting. Lastly, I want to mention that this man in all likelyhood has no practical experience in electrical engineering. Maybe he built an A.M. radio back in 1892, but personally, I need to learn from someone who has a little more real life experience than that. Moreover, I suggest finding a different text book. Anything that doesn't bear the name "Bruce A. Carlson," to be specific.

The fact that I was required to buy this book for a class is horrific. Several PAGES of corrections now have to be distributed at the begining of the class. The author, who also taught the class at RPI when I took it has no idea how to teach efectively, in writing or in person. As soon as he stopped teaching it, the cirriculum was changed and his text eliminated. If you have any choice in the matter, do not buy this book!

I have this book and it is very light in content and not very thorough. I would recommend Introductory Ciruit Analysis by Boylestead over Carlson any day

I agree with A. Sagneri's comments 100%. I have the preliminary edition and can say that this text stood the test of time as a great reference and course tool. This past October I took the PE Exam in EE and found it critical for success in both review and during the exam.

The subject of circuit theory is rooted in very simple algebra but can become quite challenging in even seemingly simple scenarios. Many students can find the topic frusterating. I suspect some of the bad press on this website stems from misguided frustration against the text.

Interestingly enough I actually disliked Prof Carlson circuits course at RPI - in retrospect largely due to my shortcomings as a student. However, he remains the best lecturer I have ever witnessed in any engineering course and conveyed the material exceptionally well. I am glad his legacy lives on.

I used the preliminary edition of this text in my introductory circuits course at RPI. It's extremely thorough and builds every concept step by step. This level of detail provides the background necessary to master the analysis of linear electric circuits, but demands a careful reading. The text still serves me as a reference in grad school at MIT. If you're looking for a solid understanding of the material and are willing to put in the effort, this book is for you. If you just want the basics, look elsewhere.

This book is ~ok, i needed supplements to understand the course material, the author, which is very knowledgable is not the best teacher. Another reason why this book does not teach the material very well

this book includes all the topics that are necessary to thoroughly master the subject of electric circuits, and then some. not only are these topics included, but the material is brought together in an ideal manner, promoting intuitive understanding of the subject matter.