Customer Reviews

Forrest Mims Engineer's Notebook

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book starts where Mims previous "Getting started in electronics" leaves off. this book is not a rehashing of his mini notebooks but is a serious effort to present the reader with many options and alternatives to his previous work. Mims gives great detail to areas that he just touched on before. My best advice is get and study "Getting started..." and then move into this book.

This book will help both electrical and computer engineers generate ideas to build circuits. There are more digital logic circuits than purely analog circuits described in the book, with roughly 4 schematics per page (~149 pages total). The analog circuits are mainly built around op-amps. The book has a few equations to describe the analog circuits (filters, oscillators, etc.), but lacks many that would help the reader can make the circuits meet certain specifications (i.e. equations that describes the frequency of oscillation or cutoff frequency on a filter, etc.) Therefore, it will help give you ideas to accomplish a task, but not be useful as a purely analog reference guide. Because digital circuits do not require equations, and the book is mostly digital, it makes for a good digital reference.

This book answers both the "How does it work?" and "How can I build a circuit that will...?" questions for anyone involved in electronics, from the beginner electronics hobbyist to the seasoned engineer needing a quick circuit to solve a measurement problem. It includes and expands upon Forrest Mims' popular Engineer's Mini-Notebook Series that have been the mainstay of my reference collection for years. I liked my copy of the Engineer's Notebook so much that I ordered eight additional copies for other engineers and scientists I work with.

I found this book incredibly disappointing. i had seen the little radio shack books and figured this contained all those rolled into a big book. well it doesn't. it's agreatest hits and i didn't think they were all that great. more digital than analog and most of the analog circuits are based on chips that aren't around anymore. maybe it's not a problem for someone who knows there IC's but i found it incredibly frustrating. Several times I tried to build circuits but couldn't find the chips. And when he doesn't go into detail about what each component is doing, it's tough to find a substitute.

This is the Best Quick Reference that all Eng's and Hobbists must have on hand,it is the best friend of Electronic Students.It is part of my favorite collection.

I purchased this book based on others previously written by Mr. Mimms. My old collection consisted of his 1980 edition of the Engineer's Notebook series and the Integrated Circuit Projects mini books previously available from Radio Shack. There always seems to be some overlap with his books. I was attempting to update my library since I had not been involved in circuit building for a while. There are some additional circuits/chips since the 1980 version. Be advised there is even a "Notice To Readers" insert advising that some of the circuits may use older parts that may not be easy to find..."
I believe the description of this book should be more upfront in advising people of the older circuits presented and possible difficulty in finding parts to build them. This backs up my comment on the overlap with my old 1980 edition. The information in his 'Timer, Op Amp & Optoelectronic Circuits & Projects' should have been included in this book. This new edition has fresh white pages, my 1980 edition pages have yellowed.

A popular title with both students and engineers, this book covers the fundamentals of creating and using many different circuit types and applications. From resistor color codes to complex digital circuits, Mims delivers with consummate style

Of all the "how-to" books available to the neophyte working in the electronics hobby, this notebook by Forrest Mims is the standout. It originally issued many years ago and is still the standout reference for anyone working as an amateur in the field. I have been experimenting with electronics since 1952, when I got my first amateur radio license, and witnessed the transition from vacuum tubes to transistors and thence to ICs. I am immensely pleased that Mims' book is still available.

I used this book 15 years ago to make some freaky halloween costumes. I looked for years before I found it again. The circuits make learning or refreshing your electrical knowledge fun and rewarding. Buy this book, you won't regret it.

I can basically recommend ANY book by Forrest Mims, at least all of them that i've ever seen. Enough said. If you're into electronics, get this (any any other Mims book).