Learn Electronics with Arduino (Technology in Action) 1st ed. Edition

At this writing, one extreme says it's a great book for projects, but not learning electronics (and is misleading), and the other that it is wonderful not just for projects, but also for learning electronics. So-- here's a tie breaker.I tilt toward the reviewer that opines this is a unique self study guide to electronics. Is the title misleading? Well, that depends on your expectations. If you think this is going to give all the calculus to compute the integrals of coloumbs passing a point at time=t to calculate current, or detailed formulas on resistance, this isn't the book.But, actually, it is BETTER than that! Unlike ANY other Arduino, Raspberry, etc. "build this" book, the author really does explain in detail HOW the circuit works, WHY the circuit works, and WHAT the components do. I've reviewed over 200 electronics textbooks for the Library Picks text division and can honestly tell you not ONE does what this little gem does-- actually tell you WHY certain components were picked for what they do in a circuit!The problem is, really learning electronics usually happens in your job, not in a book, to be cruelly honest. This book is very different-- it gives the projects as if you had a kindly coworker or teacher watching you and explaining why you're doing what you're doing. Nearly every circuit today has a 555 timer and op amps. But when does someone tell you: "there are two different reasons those 555's are there-- in X case, it's bridged and becomes a little oscillator, like a scanner, and in Y case, it's like an alarm reset..."Sure, capacitors are like little batteries, resistors like thick and thin wires, transistors like little logic switches, but WHEN do we put them HERE in the circuit and WHY? NO electronic texts really go into those basics! This capacitor/resistor/transistor combinations solves square roots as a CAS component, because... x is a filter, y gives a sine due to the cross section of the resistance, and z is actually a signal that you have a close answer...IOW, this really is a unique book for learning electronics. A big text it's not, but the big texts simply do not cover the wisdom, applications and explanations you'll get here, and hands on to boot! In my humble opinion, it's almost as good as Maxfield's classic on learning assembly by building a virtual calculator in The Definitive Guide to How Computers Do Math : Featuring the Virtual DIY Calculator. I test circuits for payroy dot com so you know my point of view, mostly pulling code out of JTAG with custom built probes (for new electronic and algorithm inventions).Library Picks reviews only for the benefit of Amazon shoppers and has nothing to do with Amazon, the authors, manufacturers or publishers of the items we review. We always buy the items we review for the sake of objectivity, and although we search for gems, are not shy about trashing an item if it's a waste of time or money for Amazon shoppers. If the reviewer identifies herself, her job or her field, it is only as a point of reference to help you gauge the background and any biases.

Great book for doing more with Arduino. Knowledgeable author!

The author is a senior electronics engineer and author of hobbyist texts in robotics and computer-based systems. He has provided us with a unique text which takes a project-oriented approach (like many Arduino texts), but in the course of engaging experiments in computer music, motor control, haptics and display, he fully documents and explains the electronic principles which underlie these experiments. Each chapter contains a list of components, detailed assembly instructions, as well as schematics, systems block diagrams and where appropriate use of circuit simulation and test instruments (multimeter and oscilliscope). The underlying circuits are fully explained and simulations are illustrated with the National Instruments Schematic Capture Tool and Circuit Simulator "Multisim". It is no exaggeration to describe this workbook as unique in electronics pedagogy, because while there are many other books providing a project-oriented approach to electronics (and the Arduino in particular), few of these provide a full explanation of the circuit design principles, and underlying electronic laws which govern the behavior of such projects. Of course, full illustrations of the assembled systems and full code listings are provided in this comprehensive text.I highly recommend this exciting project oriented work book and electronics teaching manual to all who seek to master software-based electronics based upon the Open Source Arduino Microcontroller platform.--Ira Laefsky, MS Engineering/MBA IT Consultant and Human Computer Interaction Researcherformerly on the Senior Consulting Staff of Arthur D. Little, Inc. and Digital Equipment Corporation

This book contains a number of interesting projects for the Arduino, but I feel that the title is misleading. If your goal is to learn electronics, this is not the book you are looking for. It does not explain the rudimentary concepts of electrical and electronic circuits that are essential to advancing in the field of electronics. Sure, if you already know these things and want to expand on your knowledge, this is probably a good book.There seems to be an unfortunate trend among publishers of technical books to give a book a title that will generate purchases instead of giving a potential reader an idea of what is contained in the book. This book might warrant five stars, but I took off two stars for being dishonest.