Customer Reviews

Electronics the Easy Way

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Straight off the bat I have to say that this book is quite poorly written, with sentences averaging around a dozen words all too often. I was constantly finding that the short sentences were interrupting the thought process as I read, making it hard to understand many of the concepts as they were being introduced and requring re-reading of paragraphs. Flicking through the book again, I'm noticing that the author uses very few commas, preferring instead to start new sentences as if they were bullet points in a list. Opening to a random page, a sample of this follows:
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The closed-loop op amp has feedback (see Figure 9-11). Feedback can be either positive or negative. Positive feedback reinforces the input signal. Properly adjusted for phase and ampliture, positive feedback can cause the amplifier to oscillate. A positive feedback loop is connected to the noninverting side of the input signal. This positive feedback loop increases the output of the circuit. The increase is caused because the input and output are in phase and the feedback in aiding the input and increasing its level of input to result in a greater output.
There is positive and negative feedback. Negative feedback can be used for a number of purposes. In this closed-loop op-amp circuit, it is used to increase the circuit stability and to reduce distortion. The negative feedback is 180° out of phase with the input signal. This cuts or drops the input signal. This reduces the output signal, and it has a better quality since some of the distortion was present in the uppoer peaks of the input signal.
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As this is the entire discussion of closed-loop op amps, I'd at least want a few diagrams to go along with it to show what affect some of these have on input/output signals - but you get nothing of the sort. The figure 9-11 that is mentioned is a basic schematic with an arrow pointing in the direction of feedback; which surprisingly enough is going in the reverse direction!
While this is a single example, it is a common problem throughout the book, with concepts mentioned once and never given a proper description, example, or diagram.

Aside from the short sentences and fairly frequent bad descriptions, I cannot say that I like the books organization in the beginning where the author tries to explain both AC and DC simultaneously. This adds a lot of overhead for the reader to keep separate while trying to understand even one of the concepts and is why most other books keep these two subjects very separate in the early stages.

Considering that I bought this book as a refresher for electronics and already knew most of the concepts it introduced in the first third-to-half, I cannot see how someone that is completely new to the subject will be able fare well using this book as a guide. As other reviewers have said here, using this book along with several others is probably the only way you'll get much out of it, but if you're going to do that you're probably better off just buying a better book to start with.

This is an excellent book for basic electronics. I have about a dozen books on basic electronics and this is probably the best written out of them. It is written for an individual with no electronics experience that wishes to learn on his or her own. It is not a textbook and does not go past basic theory, but it does cover the theory of operation of several appliances such as; Television, VCR?s, audio cassettes, Compact Disks and radio. It does have a small amount of math that is well explained.

A very easy read for those interested in learning basic electronics without attending a school. Very easy to read and understand. Review exercises are excellent.

my husband loves this book. hes an elevator mechanic and always wanting to learn. we found this at the lirbray and after he checked it out over six times i decided it would be a good buy! worth it!

I recommend this book because it is a good book for JAR66 module 4
and parts of 3,5,11&13. It starts with ohms law, explains transistors and amplifiers and ends with all household electronics
such as TV, microwave, fiber optics and many many more.
Amazon should publish the index. Other books for 3 times the price
provide less information.

Electronics the Easy Way is a broad introduction for those with no prior background in electronics. The book is also useful as a general reference. It covers a wide range of interesting topics in electronics and provides a good deal of valuable information. I read Electronics the Easy Way in conjunction with several other books on the same topic. Had I read this book on its own, I would have found it difficult and confusing, as the writing should be clearer, better organized and more concise. Reading it in conjunction with others that described some of the same information in different ways, however, I was able to put the pieces together, understand what the authors were saying, and thereby extract valuable learning from Miller's book. Miller treats certain topics which the other books did not, and once I got into the rhythm of his writing and understood his style, I was able to move quickly through a first reading and enjoy and learn from what he wrote. In his introduction, Miller says his book is designed to whet the appetite so we will dig deeper, rather than to serve as a comprehensive text. As such, I would have liked to see a bibliography or some "Where to Go From Here" sections at the end of his chapters. The index is skimpy, which limits this book's value as a reference, though there is a glossary. The book's content was more interesting than the positions through which Miller felt it could be applied. Miller devotes two sections to discussing various positions in electronics. These sections are informative. At the same time I found virtually all of the jobs described to be extraordinarily dull. Most of them are low-level, and I suspect they are also low-paid. Miller does not present any other options apart from that of becoming a degreed electronics engineer, though there are clearly many interesting positions in the world that involve electronics and that do not require a EE degree. I would like to see attention given to describing such positions, and encouraging interested readers to consider them. Overall, however, I am pleased to have read Miller's book. I feel that I learned a good deal about the subject by reading it.

I bought this book (2nd ed.) years ago and started reading it but didn't get very far. Without any prior background in electronics, I got lost quickly. Recently, I read the excellent "Electricity 1-7" and decided to pick this book up again to enhance my basic understanding of electrical concepts with a better understanding of circuits. Maybe the first thing that became apparent is that the book is not well written. In many instances, for example, the author is repetitive. It's not a fatal flaw, but a little annoying to read a sentence and then read what is essentially the same sentence in the next paragraph. The organization could use some improvement also. An editor could do wonders with form. (Maybe the newer edition is improved?) The more significant problem, however, was the unclear or lack of explanation for many of the basic circuit concepts. What I was hoping to get out of the book was the ability to look at a not-too-complicated circuit diagram and understand what each component was for, how it reacted in the circuit, and hopefully even how to size that particular component. I'm going to have to go elsewhere for that knowledge.

What I really like about this book is that it covers a wide variety of electronic technologies, which are supported by lots of diagrams. In that sense, it's a good general knowledge guide for these various technologies. Bottom line: you may derive valuable information from this book if you are already fairly knowledgeable in electricity and circuits (or if you intend to use this book as a supplement to a textbook in an electronics class), but it leaves a lot to be desired if you are learning about circuits from scratch.

I bought this book for my Basic Electronics class, and it really helped with understanding everything. I wasn't falling asleep or overwhelmed. It really turns me off when something advertises itself as the "easy way" to do something because I feel like I'm ripping myself off, but after reading this book a bit, I realized that it's not a shortcut-- it's simply laid out well, so yeah I'm a fan.

i am a 4yr. electronics hobbyist i agree this book is very confusing it starts with hardly the foundation of the basics then goes right into the theories assuming you have prior knowledge of it!!! i suggest you go to your local book store and grab Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics by Stan Gibilisco asap

This book is poorly written and confusing. There are at least 10 instances where theories are introduced with no explanation, as if prior knowledge is assumed. There are acronyms used with NO explanation and the publisher makes the claim that if the book does not improve your grades they will refund your money. This is a LIE. I've tried, believe me... Or you can try yourself. Do yourself a favor: Go to a good book store and look around, find a book that seems to be written in laymen's terms and purchase it from Amazon.com, but whatever you do, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!