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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Electricity with No Math!, April 5, 2009
This review is from: The Manga Guide to Electricity (Paperback)
The irrepressible Japanese Manga is back, this time talking about electricity. The series from the No Starch Press uses the genre of Japanese cartoons to teach serious topics in science and technology.
The book starts with an overview of the physical nature of electricity, a description of positive and negative charge, and the units used to measure electricity including the difference between current flow (amperage) and current force (volts). It introduces electricity in the many forms we use and experience daily, including static electricity, direct current as found in flashlights, and electrical circuits such as one finds in buildings. It introduces Ohm's law, the basic relationship between current flow, current force, and the resistance of the electrical conductor.
It then proceeds to discuss many other practical topics including the relationship between current, resistance, and heat generation, and how electricity generates magnetic fields. Fleming's right- and left-hand rules are described. Basic components of circuits found in devices such as MP3 players or televisions are presented. These include coils, capacitors, and solid state devices such as diodes, transistors, temperature and optical sensors.
There is a six page index. There are no problems to solve in the book, it has no significant math. One of the strengths of the series that while the basic concepts are introduced through the story told via the cartoons, additional information of a more detailed nature is available at the end of each chapter. This provides an opportunity for the reader who is interested in further study on a topic. e.g. after the story in the cartoon section describes the chemical reactions that provide energy for dry cell batteries, the prose at the end of the chapter discusses the variety of ways in which power plants powered by heat, nuclear processes, wind, and water create energy for our use.
This is a cleverly written book, quite practical in nature. (It even discussed circuit breakers!) It is an excellent introduction for the young student interested in learning more about electricity, and would also be appropriate for the adult with no math or science background.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a fun and well-done introduction to electricity!, April 5, 2009
This review is from: The Manga Guide to Electricity (Paperback)
I picked this book up for fun. I already know a lot about electricity. I have been known to read electron tube spec sheets and circuit designs for fun and amusement. I've been known to scrounge around at ham radio festivals and used book stores looking for old design manuals or tech books. So, I didn't buy this book because I needed/wanted to learn the material. I already know it.
The book looked like a fun way to introduce the topic to a new generation. Guess what? I think it is. It was originally drawn and written in Japan a few years ago and was only recently translated into English. The story line is okay, but it won't rank up there with Watchmen and the like. This isn't a graphic novel. However, it is interesting enough to make a subject that can sometimes be difficult to absorb for new learners more accessible.
The book begins with the assumption of no real background in electricity or electronics. It then builds up to a pretty solid foundation in basic theory and gives a clear understanding of how electricity works and can be created, influenced, and corralled by an engineer or circuit designer to do specific tasks. The book doesn't teach actual circuit design, but it does give a very clear introduction to very important concepts and components including voltage, potential, current, resistance, Ohm's Law, capacitance, batteries, magnetism, diodes, rectification, motors, both alternating and direct current, and even the main types of electricity generation in use.
Each chapter starts with a part of a graphic tale that introduces specific concepts for that chapter in a clear and fun manner. Then, to make sure the conceptual understanding can be made solid, each chapter has an additional and more traditional text and diagram section with a more detailed explanation of each concept.
If you know anyone, especially someone who enjoys manga, whether a teenager or a kid at heart, or just someone who appreciates art with their text, who also is interested in a solid and interesting basic introduction to electricity, this book is well worth the read. I recommend it highly and am going to take a closer look at the entire series of manga guides that is still growing.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Fun-filled Instruction On Electricity for The DIYer/Hobbyist, April 6, 2009
This review is from: The Manga Guide to Electricity (Paperback)
Like the rest of the incredible Manga Guide Series, this guide to electricity provides fun and excellent pedagogy, making the best use of comics and simple diagrams to teach sophisticated topics. But there are two significant factors, which make this excellent guide exceptional, even within this excellent series: 1. This isn't something that high school or college made you learn--this is an easy and necessary explanation of the basic physical concepts of electricity/electronics which an increasing number of hobbyists and DIY'ers must know to supplement their experience with kits and solderless breadboards; 2. This guide explains the everyday electronic objects like transformers, power generating equipment and sensors which every member of modern society encounters, and must understand to be an informed citizen. It also succeeds in presenting the basic concepts of DC, AC, and Semiconductor electronics with no math beyond basic arithmetic, which makes this book especially non-threatening (but somewhat limits its scope). I cannot think of a single individual inhabiting the world today who couldn't benefit from a basic understanding of electronics, and this simple fun Manga Guide provides this knowledge painlessly.
--Ira Laefsky
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