There Are No Electrons: Electronics for Earthlings - Softcover

Amdahl, Kenn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0962781592 ISBN 13: 9780962781599

Publisher: Clearwater Publishing Company, Incorporated, 1991

Synopsis

An off-beat introduction to the workings of electricity for people who wish Richard Brautigan and Kurt Vonnegut had teamed up to explain inductance and capacitance to them. Despite its title, it's not wild ranting pseudo-science to be dismissed by those with brains. Rather, Amdahl maintains that one need not understand quantum physics to grasp how electricity works in practical applications. To understand your toaster or your fax machine, it doesn't really matter whether there are electrons or not, and it's a lot easier and more fun to start with the toaster than with quarks and calculus. The book is mildly weird, often funny, always clear and easy to understand. It assumes the reader doesn't know a volt from a hole in the ground and gently leads him or her through integrated circuits, radio, oscillators and the basics of the digital revolution using examples that include green buffalo, microscopic beer parties, break-dancing chickens and naked Norwegian girls in rowboats. OK, it's more than mildly weird.

The book has been reprinted numerous times since 1991 and has achieved minor cult status. Reviewed and praised in dozens of electronics and educational magazines, it is used as a text by major corporations, colleges, high schools, military schools and trade schools. It has been studied by education programs at colleges across the United States. This book was making wise cracks in the corner before anyone thought of designing books for dummies and idiots; some say it helped to inspire that industry.

It may be the only "introduction to electronics books" with back cover comments by Dave Barry, Ray Bradbury, Clive Cussler, and George Garrett, as well as recomendations from Robert Hazen, Bob Mostafapour, Dr. Roger Young, Dr. Wayne Green, Scott Rundle, Brian Battles, Michelle Guido, Herb Reichert and Emil Venere. As Monitoring Times said, "Perhaps the best electronics book ever. If you'd like to learn about basic electronics but haven't been able to pull it off, get There Are No Electrons. Just trust us. Get the book."

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"There Are No Electrons changed my life. I lost 17 pounds in five minutes without dieting, and I feel great!" Dave Barry

"Fascinating and fun! We all feel somewhat dumb when it comes to electronics. There Are No Electrons would be a proper tonic for this ignorance" Ray Bradbury

"I think There Are No Electrons is a major breakthrough in teaching the elementary physics of electricity. It should be required basic reading for high school science students.

"After 58 years of wandering in an electronic void, even a blockhead like me, who could never visualize the abstract, was able to penetrate the nebulous mists of amps, volts, current, induction, and conductors, and actually understand what the hell they're all about.

"Who knows? Perhaps it will lead to a whole new concept of teaching." Clive Cussler

"I am sure that Kenn Amdahl's lively and entertaining book will be a whole lot of help to people who are seriously engaged in learning about electronics. And that is an important achievement. But, above and beyond the practical, Amdahl, with a magical energy all his own, has created a wonderful book about 'a beautiful and powerful mystery.' This book is about electricity and everything else, too. I can't wait to recommend it to all my friends." George Garrett

About the Author:

Kenn Amdahl lives in Colorado where he has been active in the writing community for many years. His other books include: The Land of Debris and the Home of Alfredo, Jumper and the Bones, Joy Writing: Discover and Develop Your Creative Voice and Revenge of the Pond Scum: Searching for the causes of Alzheimer s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson s Disease. He is co-author (with Jim Loats, Ph.D.) of both Algebra Unplugged and Calculus for Cats. A book of his poetry, "Stones in the Water" is scheduled for release in early 2015.

About this edition

• Publisher: Clearwater Publishing Company, Incorporated
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0962781592
• ISBN 13: 9780962781599
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 236