Mastering Electronics, Second Edition

Mastering electronics with one book is a tall order. I set out to write this preface as a rationale for the book, and as an explanation of the reasons why I wrote it this way. I was going to des- cribe the electronics industry and the way it has grown almost beyond recognition in the last couple of decades. I was going to say how the changes in the technology have resulted in changes in the way the subject is-must be-taught. But, well into the third page, I decided not to. Much of it is in the flrst and the fmal chapters, anyway.
Instead, I will simply (and briefly) explain what I have done. Mastering Electronics is intended as an introduction to the subject for anyone who wants to understand the basics of most areas of electronics. I have tried to make the coverage as broad as possible within the confmes of an afford- able book. Most aspects of electronics-from basic semiconductor theory to television and computers-have been fltted in, but with deliberately unequal coverage. In what is intended to be a fairly basic book, it seems sensible to devote proportionately more space to the more fundamental topics.
On the principle that if a picture is worth a thousand words, a circuit diagram must be worth flve thousand, I have been lavish with the illu- strations. The concomitant is that the text is, in places, on the dense side and will repay rather careful reading.
I have written the book in a way that reflects modern thinking and requirements for the electronics technologist, placing an emphasis on systems and on electronics in 'real life' rather than in the laboratory. Following the structure of most recent syllabuses, I have reduced the number of mathematical descriptions to an absolute minimum, including only such formulae as are essential for calculations. This has saved a certain amount of space, which I have used to put in suggestions for practical circuits and experiments. Wherever I recommend a circuit for practical work, I have built and tested the design before committing it to paper.
Mastering Electronics can be used as a self-teaching book or as a textbook; I think that on balance it has probably gained something in being designed for this dual role.