The book is divided into two sections. Section one covers fundamentals, while section two moves on to components and processes. Chapter one really does start at the beginning, with a discussion of analog versus digital. The fundamentals of such topics as electricity, semiconductors, logic, and boolean algebra complete the section. The second part of the book works its way from an overview of ICs to chapters on memories, ASICs, boards, and multichip modules. The last chapter rounds out the book with a discussion of alternative and future technologies.
Numerous appendices (including a seafood gumbo recipe) and a very thorough glossary provide additonal value. A CD-ROM contains a searchable version of the book, and also a bonus chapter called “An Illustrated History of Electronics and Computing.”
While the content is very good, it’s the author’s style that makes the book shine. Lively writing, with humor and interesting trivia scattered throughout, gives this book its jazzy ‘Bebop’ style.
If you’re interested in the basics of electronic design, you might also like these books: