[NLRS] Recommended books and other reading

[David Palm]

I wonder if you could help a newbie to the SHF world by recommending some
key books and references that would be practically oriented and fairly
easily digested on microwave hardware.  I'd like to learn more about
striplines, hybrid couplers, MMICs, cavity filters, pre-amps, amps,
antennas, etc.  Although I have degrees in electrical and computer
engineering, I'm not really looking for something thick with equations.
Basic explanations of how things work and why, with practical (i.e.
build-able) examples would be most welcome.  I'm also interested in
references that are not too dated, so probably less than 10 years (?) old.

The ARRL has a number of titles along these lines, but I'm not keen on
plunking down the money without a specific recommendation.  Any of those
titles particularly good?

Thanks for your suggestions and 73,

David  W9HQ