My First Rant

[Shenandoah]

Hi all,

Would you really consider the book "The Art of Electronics" for learning whether at school or self-studying? I don't know why it's so popular but the content, IMHO, is poor, at least compared to other texts like S/S Electronic Circuits, or Malvino's Electronic Principles. It's heavy and thick, but it lack of details and in-depth discussion. It takes one skill from every trade. Someone may argue it's meant as a reference, but again there are better alternatives. And it's dated!

Thanks for listening to my short rant. 

[nctnico]

AoE is a book for nitwits (managers) so they think they know some about electronics.

[cthree]

Only one nitwit in this thread.

[c4757p]

And it's dated!

Well, I disagree pretty strongly, but in the interest of keeping my opinion out of the discussion, I'll just address this point: Have the transistors changed? No? The physics? What has changed so much that the material in the book is no longer relevant?

[cthree]

Hi all,

Would you really consider the book "The Art of Electronics" for learning whether at school or self-studying? I don't know why it's so popular but the content, IMHO, is poor, at least compared to other texts like S/S Electronic Circuits, or Malvino's Electronic Principles. It's heavy and thick, but it lack of details and in-depth discussion. It takes one skill from every trade. Someone may argue it's meant as a reference, but again there are better alternatives. And it's dated!

Thanks for listening to my short rant. 

Did you read the preface where is states who the book is for and what there are intending to discuss? Maybe you should have because in it there they say specifically that it is a course for scientists and others who are not engineers but need to understand and build electronic systems in connection with their specialties, that means physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, other applied sciences and so forth. It's not an engineering text and they say so right up front. They also tell you that they are not going to cover theory or math except when there is no other option and they tell you they are going to offer practical rules of thumb instead. Their intent is to get a non engineer up to a working level of basic electronics in the course of a single semester.

You should read the label before bitching that the contents aren't what you expected.

[free_electron]

oh, and the next iteration has just been released or is close to release ..

[Shenandoah]

You should read the label before bitching that the contents aren't what you expected.

You are so funny...

For all your bitching about my "bitching" there's a better alternative:

"Practical Electronics for Inventors"

Their intent is to get a non engineer up to a working level of basic electronics in the course of a single semester.

 

[Shenandoah]

Only one nitwit in this thread.

I did not know you are a manager. 

[jancumps]

Love your rant. But love the book too.

[uoficowboy]

Hi all,

Would you really consider the book "The Art of Electronics" for learning whether at school or self-studying? I don't know why it's so popular but the content, IMHO, is poor, at least compared to other texts like S/S Electronic Circuits, or Malvino's Electronic Principles. It's heavy and thick, but it lack of details and in-depth discussion. It takes one skill from every trade. Someone may argue it's meant as a reference, but again there are better alternatives. And it's dated!

Thanks for listening to my short rant. 

I agree completely that AofE is not a book for beginners.

[Shenandoah]

I agree completely that AofE is not a book for beginners.

I'm not saying it's hard at all. It's very elementary very superficial. It does not suite both a beginner and advanced reader. Check uni curriculum if you can find any one using this for all level electronic courses.