22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Stuck halfways..., January 1, 2006
This review is from: Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics (Paperback)
This is book is mainly concerned with the theory of electronics, and presents it without getting bogged down in advanced math. However, it does not really explain things - most of it reads like a summary of a more detailed book or an article from an encyclopedia - very dry. Also, I found it rather brief on the practical aspects - here, you will not learn how to read schematics, understand why components are where they are, and take educated guess at how to adapt a circuit for your needs.
In this sense, it is not a practical beginners' book. In my opinion, if you are serious about theory, this is not the book for you, and if you want to do practical projects, you will not find anything here.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ian C. Purdie, VK2TIP's Review, June 17, 2002
This review is from: Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics (Paperback)
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.
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46 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
exceptional, so far, April 28, 2002
This review is from: Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics (Paperback)
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.
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