[Elecraft] Art of Electronics

Sun Apr 8 12:05:57 EDT 2018

I own the second edition and I also own the student manual that goes along with the book.

To judge the usefulness of this book, it is good to learn why it exists.  As you read in the preface to the first edition, the book grew out of notes from a course at Harvard University on "laboratory electronics".  This type of course is similar to other courses at other universities and the important thing to note is that the target student is NOT an E.E. major.  In fact, the preface states that the book is designed to be used by students that do not have previous electronics knowledge or experience.  But, these were Harvard students so I grant those students' capabilities as better than average.

My undergraduate degree is Physics and back in the 1960s, my physics curriculum included a similar course study.  This was all about using lab equipment but also making the necessary little electronic gadgets that were important to work in a physics research laboratory.  When I took my course, the book "The Art of Electronics" did not exist and we never had a text book in our course.

I wanted more though so I also signed up for the EE department's equivalent course which started with FET transistors which was the new thing at the time and quickly went into digital electronics and digital logic circuits.  I never learned about building audio or RF circuits in my physics oriented electronics course nor in the EE course.  Importance was given to digital and computer circuits (~1967).  The book "The Art ..." is similar, its main focus is primarily in using electronics to interface with equipment, digital/analog, digital/digital, and so on with just a sprinkle, in comparison, for RF.

73, phil, K7PEH  

> On Apr 8, 2018, at 8:45 AM, Frank O'Donnell <vfo77 at inkbox.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi all, new ham/KX3 owner/list member here.
> 
> When this question came up in another forum, one member advised: "The second edition has circuit ideas and examples, where the third edition replaced it with chapter review exercises (more like an academic textbook). I have no interest in the homework assignments, and feel a lot of value was lost from this. Yes, there are minor updates like micro-controllers, but there are better resources for that. If I had to pick only one, I'd keep my 2nd Ed."
> 
> Based on that, I recently bought a (used) copy of the second edition.
> 
> Frank K6FOD
> 
> 
> On 4/8/18 8:28 AM, Robie Elms wrote:
>> Which edition is the most useful for hams?
>> 
>> Robie AJ4F
>> 
>>> On Apr 8, 2018, at 10:14, Mike Markowski <mike.ab3ap at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Chuck and all,
>>> 
>>> It really is a great book, the best I've found on the topic for my style of learning.  I really like math but also need concrete examples.  I like their approach of "here's how we might approach this," leading to shortcomings, to how to improve, etc.  Very methodical rather than jumping straight into the best solution without knowing where the model came from.
>>> 
>>> In general, I find electronics learning - or really, learning anything - to be iterative.  I'd take the math class, then the EE and understand some.  As more math or EE clicked I'd understand the other a little better.  And so on.  At long last, I'm ready to compete with those kids who skated through university effortlessly...as retirement is only a decade away!  Better late than never.  :-)
>>> 
>>> 73,
>>> Mike ab3ap
>>> 
>>>> On 04/07/2018 07:17 PM, hawley, charles j jr wrote:
>>>> That’s a great book, “The Art of Electronics”. Horowitz and Hill, Harvard and Rowland institute for Science. Interesting about the math. I learned the math, though, in EE courses and found that to be a plus. Math with an application.
>>>> Seemed like I was always taking the math course after I learned the math the semester before in an EE course.
>>>> Anyway, I bought the book when I was already on the job and it was a great source of ideas and understanding.
>>>> Chuck
>>>> KE9UW
>>>> Sent from my iPhone, cjack
>>>>> On Apr 7, 2018, at 3:35 PM, Mike Markowski <mike.ab3ap at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Many thanks to everyone who responded!  I have a clearer understanding now.
>>>>> 
>>>>> It reminds me of my own EE student days.  I found learning electronics challenging because our texts started with math and the useful properties of this or that circuit kind of fell out as a side effect or mini-miracle.  Then I discovered the text 'The Art of Electronics' which approached it from a different angle and things clicked much more naturally for me.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I like Skip K6DGW's description of the two approaches to Elecraft as orthogonal.  So I think I get it.  Thanks, all!
>>>>> 
>>>>> 73,
>>>>> Mike ab3ap
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