"This is teaching at its best!"
Hans
Camenzind, inventor of the 555 timer (the world's most successful
integrated circuit).
"A fabulous book: well written,
well paced, fun, and informative. I also love the sense of humor.
It's very good at disarming the fear. And it's
gorgeous. I'll be recommending this book
highly."
Tom Igoe, author of Physical Computing
and Making Things Talk.
A "magnificent and
rewarding book. ... Every step of this structured instruction is
expertly illustrated with photos and crisp diagrams. . . . This really
is the best way to learn."
Kevin Kelly, in Cool
Tools.
The first edition of Make: Electronics
established a new benchmark for introductory texts. This second edition
enhances that learning experience. Using full color on every page,
hundreds of photographs and diagrams convey concepts with unmatched
clarity.
Platt uses a hands on approach throughout. You learn
by building your own simple circuits.
You begin by blowing a
fuse or burning out an LED to demonstrate voltage, amperage, and
electrical resistance. As it says on the cover, "Burn things out,
mess things up that's how you learn!"
The hands on
approach continues with basic switching circuits. You can cut open the
sealed case of a relay to see exactly what goes on inside.

/>Unique 3D diagrams illustrate components as they are plugged into a
solderless breadboard. A simple circuit reveals how a capacitor stores
and releases electricity.
While Make:
Electronics minimizes the amount of theory that you need, it does
show you how to figure out Ohm's Law and do the simple math to
calculate the time constant of a capacitor.
A buying guide
shows basic tools ranging from pliers to a low cost multimeter.
Components such as transistors and capacitors are shown in color
photographs so that you will quickly recognize them.
A simple
"finger test" demonstrates how transistors switch or amplify
current. The book then shows functional circuits that you can build to
create light and sound, leading to a plan for a simple intrusion
alarm.
Platt includes three chapters explaining how to solder
wires and build a permanent circuit. However, the skill of soldering is
not essential for other projects in the book.
You learn all
about integrated circuit chips: how they work, what they do, how they
are identified, and where you can buy them. Build your own oscillator
and one shot circuits, and learn how to chain timer chips together.
/>
A simple circuit can test the speed of your reflexes. Other
circuits include a combination lock for a computer, or a game in which
players compete to be the first to press a button. There is a novel,
simplified circuit to build electronic dice.
Make:
Electronics includes advice about setting up your work area, storing
parts, and buying additional tools, if you decide to venture further
into the field.
The final section of the book explains
inductance and the components that make use of it, such as loudspeakers
and a simple AM radio. Finally, three chapters explain microcontrollers,
with projects that can use an Arduino.
A shopping guide will
minimize your investment in parts for the projects. Alternatively, kits
from independent vendors contain exactly the parts that you need.
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Ideal for Beginners
This book assumes that you
have no prior knowledge. It explains each concept in meticulous detail,
and is friendly, patient, and fun. Positive reader feedback has been
received from people ranging in age from 8 to 84. More than 200,000
copies have been sold. If you only buy one book about electronics, this
should be the one.