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There Are No Electrons: Electronics for Earthlings
An off-beat introduction to the workings of electricity for people who wish Richard Brautigan and Kurt Vonnegut had teamed up to explain inductance and capacitance to them. Despite its title, it's not wild ranting pseudo-science to be dismissed by those with brains. Rather, Amdahl maintains that one need not understand quantum physics to grasp how electricity works in practical applications. To understand your toaster or your fax machine, it doesn't really matter whether there are electrons or not, and it's a lot easier and more fun to start with the toaster than with quarks and calculus. The book is mildly weird, often funny, always clear and easy to understand. It assumes the reader doesn't know a volt from a hole in the ground and gently leads him or her through integrated circuits, radio, oscillators and the basics of the digital revolution using examples that include green buffalo, microscopic beer parties, break-dancing chickens and naked Norwegian girls in rowboats. OK, it's more than mildly weird.The book has been reprinted numerous times since 1991 and has achieved minor cult status. Reviewed and praised in dozens of electronics and educational magazines, it is used as a text by major corporations, colleges, high schools, military schools and trade schools. It has been studied by education programs at colleges across the United States. This book was making wise cracks in the corner before anyone thought of designing books for dummies and idiots; some say it helped to inspire that industry.It may be the only "introduction to electronics books" with back cover comments by Dave Barry, Ray Bradbury, Clive Cussler, and George Garrett, as well as recomendations from Robert Hazen, Bob Mostafapour, Dr. Roger Young, Dr. Wayne Green, Scott Rundle, Brian Battles, Michelle Guido, Herb Reichert and Emil Venere. As Monitoring Times said, "Perhaps the best electronics book ever. If you'd like to learn about basic electronics but haven't been able to pull it off, get There Are No Electrons. Just trust us. Get the book."
236 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 28, 2016
Frivolous in places, and eccentric throughout, this book nevertheless had utility and was a fast read.
As I advance in years I am increasingly convinced that an imperative of education is, or rather should be, to develop accurate intuitions before stressing out about rigor, whether mathematical or otherwise.
Some students have more facility at manipulations (algebraic and symbolic) than others, but if one lacks an instinct for whether one's answer even makes sense, one can be well-prepared for an exam without really having a command of the material.
And if you ever are going to "use this stuff in real life" those intuitions are critical for a functioning BS meter whether it comes to your own work or that of others.
There was too little math in this book to suit me; I have a course in diff eqs under my belt and would like to have seen some applications of first- and second-order LHCC DEQs to real-life linear circuits.
Since the author self-published after being rejected by (he claims) 80+ publishers, I see no reason he couldn't have indulged math as often as he indulged semi-lecherous remarks (and what *is* the pulchritudinous model on the cover *looking* at?).
Mr. Amdahl spends a great deal of time on basic electricity before he ever gets to electronics per se. While this is essential foundation to lay, it does render the title slightly misleading, especially given the pace with which he races through solid-state electronics.
And that is a detriment. His skill for analogies would be well-tuned to a wider array of components.
Why did he cover amplifier circuits only in broad terms? Op amps were not even mentioned. Why not present flip-flops, latches, and buffers?
Why is there nothing on circuit design proper? Early in the book he presents a partial circuit schematic in a "Lady or the Tiger"-type scenario, which was interesting--I kept expecting it to be revisited, and it was not. He does not give the reader enough foundation to solve the puzzle.
Why is photolithography described but not identified by name?
Why does he even mention superconductivity, given that no actual explanation is offered? (It's tough stuff--the Feynman lecture on the subject is demanding.) I don't know how you even attack the subject without mentioning the Pauli exclusion principle, but Mr. Amdahl's authorial conceit is that electrons don't really exist. I guess he couldn't find a way to square this circle with his own tongue-in-cheek approach to modeling. And that's fine, but why fumble instead of punting?
Further, this title could use an update. CRT-based televisions and computer displays are rapidly vanishing, and younger readers will find themselves detached from references to these and to incandescent light bulbs.
All of these criticisms aside, the fact that this book has garnered the acclaim and success that it has vindicates Mr. Amdahl's mission.
This book did indeed make clear many things I was fuzzy on. As time passes I will see how well I retain it. I particularly appreciated the explanation of why "solid-state" electronics are called what they are. Many years ago I asked a student electrical engineer this question, and he didn't have an answer, but could do Fourier transforms in his sleep. I blame this incongruity on our educational system's approach to teaching this material--and that is precisely the windmill Mr. Amdahl is rightly tilting at.
We need more books like this desperately. More artfully done, better edited, professionally illustrated, and updated at intervals shorter than 20 years (and counting). Scientific, mathematical, and technological illiteracy is rife in the United States, and my hat's off to Mr. Amdahl for doing his part to hold back the onrushing tide of ignorance.
Thus, I rate this volume two stars for content and one for moral victory. I won't deduct that last one until Mr. Amdahl has a successor, for whom even he may be waiting at this point.
As I advance in years I am increasingly convinced that an imperative of education is, or rather should be, to develop accurate intuitions before stressing out about rigor, whether mathematical or otherwise.
Some students have more facility at manipulations (algebraic and symbolic) than others, but if one lacks an instinct for whether one's answer even makes sense, one can be well-prepared for an exam without really having a command of the material.
And if you ever are going to "use this stuff in real life" those intuitions are critical for a functioning BS meter whether it comes to your own work or that of others.
There was too little math in this book to suit me; I have a course in diff eqs under my belt and would like to have seen some applications of first- and second-order LHCC DEQs to real-life linear circuits.
Since the author self-published after being rejected by (he claims) 80+ publishers, I see no reason he couldn't have indulged math as often as he indulged semi-lecherous remarks (and what *is* the pulchritudinous model on the cover *looking* at?).
Mr. Amdahl spends a great deal of time on basic electricity before he ever gets to electronics per se. While this is essential foundation to lay, it does render the title slightly misleading, especially given the pace with which he races through solid-state electronics.
And that is a detriment. His skill for analogies would be well-tuned to a wider array of components.
Why did he cover amplifier circuits only in broad terms? Op amps were not even mentioned. Why not present flip-flops, latches, and buffers?
Why is there nothing on circuit design proper? Early in the book he presents a partial circuit schematic in a "Lady or the Tiger"-type scenario, which was interesting--I kept expecting it to be revisited, and it was not. He does not give the reader enough foundation to solve the puzzle.
Why is photolithography described but not identified by name?
Why does he even mention superconductivity, given that no actual explanation is offered? (It's tough stuff--the Feynman lecture on the subject is demanding.) I don't know how you even attack the subject without mentioning the Pauli exclusion principle, but Mr. Amdahl's authorial conceit is that electrons don't really exist. I guess he couldn't find a way to square this circle with his own tongue-in-cheek approach to modeling. And that's fine, but why fumble instead of punting?
Further, this title could use an update. CRT-based televisions and computer displays are rapidly vanishing, and younger readers will find themselves detached from references to these and to incandescent light bulbs.
All of these criticisms aside, the fact that this book has garnered the acclaim and success that it has vindicates Mr. Amdahl's mission.
This book did indeed make clear many things I was fuzzy on. As time passes I will see how well I retain it. I particularly appreciated the explanation of why "solid-state" electronics are called what they are. Many years ago I asked a student electrical engineer this question, and he didn't have an answer, but could do Fourier transforms in his sleep. I blame this incongruity on our educational system's approach to teaching this material--and that is precisely the windmill Mr. Amdahl is rightly tilting at.
We need more books like this desperately. More artfully done, better edited, professionally illustrated, and updated at intervals shorter than 20 years (and counting). Scientific, mathematical, and technological illiteracy is rife in the United States, and my hat's off to Mr. Amdahl for doing his part to hold back the onrushing tide of ignorance.
Thus, I rate this volume two stars for content and one for moral victory. I won't deduct that last one until Mr. Amdahl has a successor, for whom even he may be waiting at this point.
February 21, 2019
This book is an example of how you explain complex things in a simple engaging manner. I will probably more information about electricity...I mean greenies, then most of the training I received in the army and college courses I took. Well worth a read.
December 22, 2022
This is a fun way to learn the basics of electricity and electronics. All the silly anecdotes and jokey tone serve as excellent mnemonics. Occasionally it goes too far and the yuks obscure the facts, but mostly it keeps things moving in a sprightly way. This is superior to many "serious" science books and I'd happily recommend it to anyone interested in the subject, including precocious youths. I'm not really reading it for any practical reason, but you get a decent introduction to the symbolic language of electronic schematics, if that's of use to you.
May 14, 2020
Totally insane, and pretty great explanations of electronics concepts that I’ve only vaguely understood for years.
March 24, 2021
Es del 86, tiene problemas en elegir el material que cubre, salta por todas partes y tiene algunos comentarios que 🤨
Lo peor es que algunos capítulos introducen temas sin explicarlos bien (como los superconductores o la fotolitografía) y que no hay una explicación de cómo diseñar circuitos por tu cuenta (aunque creo que no es la intención del libro)
Pero es increíble. Las analogías son muy visuales, te da una intuición muy buena de como funcionan las cosas básicas de la electricidad y los componentes más comunes de los circuitos y creo que es de las mejores maneras de enseñar cosas en ciencias. Primero una intuición básica con una metáfora absurda que se te quede grabada y luego construyes encima el resto de teoría. Tuve mucha suerte de aprender biología así hace años y todavía me acuerdo de casi todo y creo que me va a pasar lo mismo con las explicaciones que dan en este libro.
Voy a probar a ver que tal funcionan algunas de las cosas con mis alumnos de la academia y así lo pruebo con gente que no haya visto la parte matemática en profundidad.
Lo peor es que algunos capítulos introducen temas sin explicarlos bien (como los superconductores o la fotolitografía) y que no hay una explicación de cómo diseñar circuitos por tu cuenta (aunque creo que no es la intención del libro)
Pero es increíble. Las analogías son muy visuales, te da una intuición muy buena de como funcionan las cosas básicas de la electricidad y los componentes más comunes de los circuitos y creo que es de las mejores maneras de enseñar cosas en ciencias. Primero una intuición básica con una metáfora absurda que se te quede grabada y luego construyes encima el resto de teoría. Tuve mucha suerte de aprender biología así hace años y todavía me acuerdo de casi todo y creo que me va a pasar lo mismo con las explicaciones que dan en este libro.
Voy a probar a ver que tal funcionan algunas de las cosas con mis alumnos de la academia y así lo pruebo con gente que no haya visto la parte matemática en profundidad.
August 24, 2012
Kenn Amdahl's writing style reminds me of an especially goofy teacher or older relative. The book's cheesiness is almost entirely redeemed by its heart, which is an odd thing to say about a non-fiction book on electronics. This book greatly expanded my understanding of the subject, which it should be noted, was not an especially high bar to reach, but it did it in such a way that I was rolling my eyes so often I was afraid they would stick that way. Some of these puns take pages to build up to. If that's something you are okay with in a guide-book, you will probably enjoy this one. I did.
June 7, 2018
Das Buch "Elektronen gibt es hier nicht" von Kenn Amdahl ist 1991 erstmals erschienen. Kenn lehrt dem Leser in dem Buch das Basiswissen über Statische Elektrizität, Elektronentheorie, elektrische Spannung, Ampere, Widerstand, Wärme durch Widerstand, Magnetismus, Induktion und Gegeninduktion, Selbstinduktion, Gleichstrom und Wechselstrom, Reihen und Parallelschaltungen, Generatoren und Batterien, die Glühbirne, Schaltpläne, Ohm und Kondensatoren mit viel Witz und Fantasie. In dem Sachbuch ist derart viel Magie und Geschichte vorhanden, dass die Theorie von der Wichtigkeit her am zweiten Platz steht. Laut dem Autor habe er sich noch nie mit Elektronen befasst bevor er das Buch geschrieben hat, also erklärt er alles im Buch so authentisch wie es nur geht, ohne langweiliges Gerede und Seiten die überschwemmt mit Formeln und Regeln sind. Die Elektronen ersetzt er mit kleinen Lebewesen namens Grünis die gerne mit weiblichen Grünis feiern, und die Menschen von ihrer Existenz überzeugen wollen. Magier, schöne Jungfrauen und dutzende Norweger (der Autor selbst ist halb Norweger) mischen sich in die Welt der Wissenschaft ein und erzählen uns die Physik aus ihrer Sichtweise, die zugegebenermaßen eine zum Teil sehr einfache oberflächliche und nicht vertiefende Sichtweise ist. Obwohl das Buch sehr alt ist, merkt der Leser kaum etwas von der alten Zeit (außer den gelben Seiten) Obwohl er sehr amüsant schreibt, spalten sich die Meinungen über das Buch. Ich persönlich fand dass er manchmal zu viel in die Geschichten hinein getaucht ist und auf vielen Seiten kaum etwas Wissenschaftliches erwähnt wurde. Diese Seiten habe ich zugegebenermaßen übersprungen, aber sonst fand ich das Buch sehr fantastisch, da ich noch nie ein derart lustiges und interessantes Sachbuch gelesen habe und auch den Inhalt sehr gut verstanden habe. Es ist hauptsächlich der Physikstoff einer 7. Klasse aber trotzdem empfehlenswert das es eine schöne amüsante Wiederholung des Stoffes ist. Eine Bekannte von mir jedoch verabscheut das Buch. Sie hat die Ironie hinter dem Buch nicht verstanden und gedacht, dass Amdahl wirklich nicht an Elektronen glaubt und eine „Grünis-Störung“ besitzt. Das Buch ist nur an Leser mit einem bestimmten Humor zu empfehlen.
June 7, 2018
Als ich auf der Suche nach einem Buch für eine Ausarbeitung bezüglich des Physikunterrichts war, empfiehl mir eine Freundin dieses Buch. „Mit diesem Buch verstehst du sicher jedes komplexe Thema!“ Genau das verspricht und erfüllt das Buch. Jegliche Themen sind bildlich und einfach erklärt und mit viel Humor verpackt. Das Cover schildert wirklich wie man sich mit all dem neuen Wissen und nach dem man das Buch gelesen hat fühlt. Der Autor selbst wirkt informiert wenn man bedenkt, dass die Elektrizität vor dem Schreiben dieses Buchs gar nicht sein Gebiet war. Der Autor erklärt nicht nur alles sehr bildlich sondern hat auch einige Abbildung dazu gefügt sowie Aufgaben (diese sind nicht in einem extra Teil als Bonus Heft sondern eher nur um Anwendungsbeispiele mal gesehen zu haben) welche er mit einem löst und erklärt. Wichtige Fakten sowie Informationen verpackt er in einem unterhaltsamen Kontext und zeigt damit, dass Elektrizität auch aus anderen Perspektiven gesehen werden kann. Außerdem bietet das dem Leser eine gute Abwechslung neben dem trockenen Anlernen von Wissen da er eine Art Geschichte erzählt in der er Elemente der Elektrizitätslehre einbaut.
Das Buch ist so einfach geschrieben und somit für jeden geeignet ganz unabhängig davon wie alt er/sie ist. Jemandem der nach etwas strikt wissenschaftlichen und formalen sucht würde ich das Buch jedoch nicht empfehlen da der Fokus wirklich darauf gelegt wird Leuten, die die Elektrizitätslehre verstehen wollen und dabei komplizierten Erklärungen ausweichen wollen, näher zu bringen. Für eine wissenschaftliche Arbeit ist dieses Buch zwar vielleicht ein guter Anfang um in das Thema bisschen hinein zu schnuppern aber meiner Meinung nach wäre dieses Buch nicht geeignet für eine akademische Ausarbeitung oder Arbeit.
Ich war sehr zufrieden mit dem Buch und kann es nur weiter empfehlen. Ein Bonus Punkt, dass das Buch von mir gleich schon am Anfang bekam ist der mehr als nur guter Preis.
Das Buch ist so einfach geschrieben und somit für jeden geeignet ganz unabhängig davon wie alt er/sie ist. Jemandem der nach etwas strikt wissenschaftlichen und formalen sucht würde ich das Buch jedoch nicht empfehlen da der Fokus wirklich darauf gelegt wird Leuten, die die Elektrizitätslehre verstehen wollen und dabei komplizierten Erklärungen ausweichen wollen, näher zu bringen. Für eine wissenschaftliche Arbeit ist dieses Buch zwar vielleicht ein guter Anfang um in das Thema bisschen hinein zu schnuppern aber meiner Meinung nach wäre dieses Buch nicht geeignet für eine akademische Ausarbeitung oder Arbeit.
Ich war sehr zufrieden mit dem Buch und kann es nur weiter empfehlen. Ein Bonus Punkt, dass das Buch von mir gleich schon am Anfang bekam ist der mehr als nur guter Preis.
January 24, 2024
The problem with analogies is that they are rarely perfect and sometimes you can get lost in the analogy and lose focus of the very thing you were trying to explain. I felt that this was the case with this book, it jumped around too much for my taste. Luckily, I enjoyed the summaries provided by the meetings with the wizard and I think they were a good "design" idea.
I do like the concept though and I can see how something like this can be useful for someone that was put off by the subject. It is also worth considering _when_ this book was written. There weren't that many ways to spread educational knowledge in 1991, the web was just starting. Today, similar implementations of concept, but in a visual format, are quite common, you can find dozens of videos on Youtube explaining all kinds of electrical concepts. It's the same approach, but instead of a text describing Greenies you get to see balls flying around in a box. I do think that especially as an educator you have to be open to the idea that there are people that are more receptive to this kind of explanation rather than purely mathematical ones. It is worth trying to point people to this type of material, some might find it useful and it might open a door for them into more advanced material.
I do like the concept though and I can see how something like this can be useful for someone that was put off by the subject. It is also worth considering _when_ this book was written. There weren't that many ways to spread educational knowledge in 1991, the web was just starting. Today, similar implementations of concept, but in a visual format, are quite common, you can find dozens of videos on Youtube explaining all kinds of electrical concepts. It's the same approach, but instead of a text describing Greenies you get to see balls flying around in a box. I do think that especially as an educator you have to be open to the idea that there are people that are more receptive to this kind of explanation rather than purely mathematical ones. It is worth trying to point people to this type of material, some might find it useful and it might open a door for them into more advanced material.
April 27, 2020
This is hands-down the most readable book on science and technology that I’ve ever read. Author Kenn Amdahl teaches basic electronics without teaching electronics, instead using analogies in the guise of stories to explain terms and concepts. By explaining each idea in two or three different ways, Amdahl manages to drum the facts into a skull as thick as mine without ever making them seem tedious or pedantic. To be sure, sometimes it doesn’t work. For example, his anthropomorphized electron Mike was a bit too hippie-ish for my taste. And toward the end either the concepts got too complicated or he ran out of steam, because the explanations started getting more technical and confusing. Small problems notwithstanding, however, this is a must-read for anyone like me who wants to learn the subject but doesn’t possess a natural gift for it.
May 14, 2021
Amdahl attempts to make electronics accessible and fun for his readers by anthropomorphizing electrons as little green hippies. This became incredibly tiresome very quickly. I ended up desperate for every "green man" section to end, so I could finally get through to a plain English explanation of the various phenomena and jargon described. Even then, the prose of the "normal" explanations was quite dull compared to what I've come to expect of the pop science genre.
At several points, the author alludes to how clever he is and I couldn't tell whether he was joking or not. Ultimately, I can understand why he had so much difficulty getting this published.
At several points, the author alludes to how clever he is and I couldn't tell whether he was joking or not. Ultimately, I can understand why he had so much difficulty getting this published.
July 23, 2019
Amusing take on electronics - told as a story involving another dimensions. Instead of electrons, there were Greenies. Talking with the a Greenie, the author describes the basics of electricity. There is a wizard being held captive in the human world, and needed to understand electricity to free himself.
An amusing and basic explanation of electricity. Found it helpful. Learning it through Physics courses was baffling to me.
An amusing and basic explanation of electricity. Found it helpful. Learning it through Physics courses was baffling to me.
December 6, 2022
This book is a wonderful introduction to the basics of electricity and the components used to harness the energy in electricity in different ways told as a story from the perspective of the electrons. It is also an entertaining read full of wit and sarcasm. This is not like a text book, and it does not go very deep into the calculations or how-to's. It could be a great resource to a high school or jr. college student going through a physics class.
March 10, 2024
Probably great for a newbie in electronics before they get in the career, unfortunately for me who has been in electronics for years, t seems to be a little childish. Although the information of electronics is revalant, the language needs to be updated to a modern version. It was written in the nineties but refer to hip 60s-70s slang.
October 9, 2018
Not a math person... And this book made it fun and easy to learn about electricity and circuits. Would definitely recommend it! Silly at times, but he always brought it home. Voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, induction, transistors, diodes, amplifiers, and more now make sense!
October 20, 2021
It sometimes get carried away with its own fantasy but it’s for your own good! Without realizing it, the author is making you learn the 101 of electricity and you will never look again at your electrical devices with the same eyes.
Thanks teacher!
Thanks teacher!
May 23, 2022
It’s a really good book because it teaches you about electricity in a very interesting way. The book has allegories that explain what electrons are doing. This book is so well written that even a 8 year old can understand it. I understood it. I love the greenies!
July 24, 2023
A strange and informative journey. Some of the metaphors are a little (a lot) out-there towards the end, but it beats the pants off any textbook I've read. Obviously self-published, but more charismatic for that fact.
November 26, 2017
Great introduction to electronics, without boring details. Like Douglas Adams wrote an introduction to circuits.
March 2, 2018
Entertaining to say the least.
August 30, 2019
It definitely helped me understand electricity better, but the style is a bit much sometimes.
June 27, 2020
I read this when I was in high school physics. It was so funny, relatable, and understandable. I tore through it. Great book for someone wanting a more conceptual understanding of simple circuits.
September 1, 2020
Very informative. The whole "greenies" idea starts to break own for more complicated circuits, like transformers.
October 28, 2020
A fascinating and entertaining explanation of electronic theory.
June 25, 2022
I can’t think of a better educational book
December 11, 2022
A goofy, but effective, introduction to some basic concepts of magnetism, electricity, and electronic circuits. Very enjoyable!!!
April 10, 2021
Unexpected and refreshing way of presenting all the basic electricity concepts. Can be a bit childish at times, but as a book that can be read at any age, it's not that big of a deal. I personally thought the whole story the author created to fit in the explanations was a bit too much. It is certainly creative, but veered off from what I was expecting from the book. By the end it was quite exhausting, but overall I enjoyed the read.
January 5, 2013
This book is a basically a compilation of useful metaphors for thinking about electricity embedded in a funny story. It really drives home to me the need for better high school physics teachers. I feel I use a lot of these metaphors myself already (whether my students find me as entertaining as this book is another thing entirely though!). However, the title is a bait and switch; "There are no electrons" is actually a book all about how to visualize electrons and why they do the things they do. My problem with it is that is not different enough from how basic circuits are taught. All the normal miconception will still be present after reading this book (why do you need a complete circuit, why doesn't the traffic slow down after they give up energy, is the work really done by the moving electrons, etc).
The only specific error thus far is the confounding of work and power (I*V is called "work" instead of power and "power" is not what the electric company bills you for! (for the record power is the rate I*V, but you are billed for energy used which is Power * time)).
I'm only half way through so I will update this review if the author swings back through and fixes.
I may be overly critical because Mr. Amdahl seems to have a beef with physics teachers. He sets up a straw man science teacher and then take it down but does not replace it with a more sophisticated treatment (Why current does not flow from the + terminal of one battery to the negative terminal of another without a complete circuit is a good example of the author going to the heart of misconceptions but not actually clarifying the issue).
This is good reading for me, reminding me of how to balance metaphors in class with problem solving with direct attacks on misconceptions.
===============
Ok - Just finished the book and it is VERY interesting to me that I thought it was much better and more interesting when he got to electronics that I do not teach! AC circuits and transistors are subject I learned about but never had to really understand as I don't teach them. All of a sudden I found his hokey analogies and explanations enlightening and useful. Funny how that works, huh?
I still don't agree with certain things (like his glib differentiation of alternators and generators ("one's AC and the other's DC" - not so, my friend!)
Good read for those who are interested in understanding electronics without math.
The only specific error thus far is the confounding of work and power (I*V is called "work" instead of power and "power" is not what the electric company bills you for! (for the record power is the rate I*V, but you are billed for energy used which is Power * time)).
I'm only half way through so I will update this review if the author swings back through and fixes.
I may be overly critical because Mr. Amdahl seems to have a beef with physics teachers. He sets up a straw man science teacher and then take it down but does not replace it with a more sophisticated treatment (Why current does not flow from the + terminal of one battery to the negative terminal of another without a complete circuit is a good example of the author going to the heart of misconceptions but not actually clarifying the issue).
This is good reading for me, reminding me of how to balance metaphors in class with problem solving with direct attacks on misconceptions.
===============
Ok - Just finished the book and it is VERY interesting to me that I thought it was much better and more interesting when he got to electronics that I do not teach! AC circuits and transistors are subject I learned about but never had to really understand as I don't teach them. All of a sudden I found his hokey analogies and explanations enlightening and useful. Funny how that works, huh?
I still don't agree with certain things (like his glib differentiation of alternators and generators ("one's AC and the other's DC" - not so, my friend!)
Good read for those who are interested in understanding electronics without math.
March 28, 2012
Having been originally published in the early 90's, this book is starting to show some age. It's written in a very approachable way even though I felt the fantastical story the author included around his more technical sections was often distracting. Having studied physics in college, I was looking for something to re-familiarize myself with electronics, and I realized early on that this book was not geared towards someone in my position. I still found several of Amdahl's explanations and metaphors helpful and I definitely relearned some key concepts, but if you're looking to learn more than just the fundamentals of electronics or how more modern devices work (LCD televisions, solid-state computers, etc.), this probably isn't the best book for you.
October 10, 2008
I'm afraid I was severely disappointed with this book. It promised to give a new approach to teaching the principles of Electronics.
It did start out that way. But the author's need to tell a fictional story got annoyingly in the way of teaching electronics. Especially the "groovy" language that dates the text throughout.
By the end, it was a strange combination of fantasy story and a depressingly "normal" explanation of N and P junctions.
Though it helped my understanding of capacitors, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. Though I appreciated the attempt.
It did start out that way. But the author's need to tell a fictional story got annoyingly in the way of teaching electronics. Especially the "groovy" language that dates the text throughout.
By the end, it was a strange combination of fantasy story and a depressingly "normal" explanation of N and P junctions.
Though it helped my understanding of capacitors, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. Though I appreciated the attempt.
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