5 comments about Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikola Tesla.

1. Here is a story of a man born in the glorious womb of science, a man who so completely understood the laws of nature and the scientific method that he commanded total dominion over the physical universe.

   Once you read this book you will find it difficult to name an aspect of modern life that hasn't been affected by the hand of Nikola Tesla.

   Some of Tesla's ideas were so far ahead of his time that to the people of his day, they were considered impossible; his vision of the world of the future was mocked and laughed at even by other scientists. Over time scepticism about the possibilities of science and technology has waned. Unfortunately for us the world was not yet ready for Tesla, this man out of time, and he died with his greatest achievments alive only in his mind.




2. This book tells the fascinating story of an amazing Serbian boy, Nikola Tesla, who was born in 1856, in the area we now call Bosnia. The author explains how Tesla's accomplishments brought forth our modern electrical power era and provide the foundation for the industrial system on which the entire world is built.
   
   Tesla's mother could repeat, without error or omission, thousands of verses of the national poetry of her country. Tesla shared her retentive memory. He had another ability that he only revealed to his mother. If Tesla thought of an object, it would appear before him exhibiting the appearance of solidity and massiveness. He used this ability to visualize the solution to creating the first alternating current generator.
   
   The first time Tesla's ability to visualize helped him in his quest to develop an alternating current generator, occurred when he suggested to a college professor that alternating current would solve some of the problems with a piece of electrical equipment that could be used either to generate electricity or if supplied energy could operate as a motor. As his professor demonstrated the machine, the solution to the problem came to Tesla in such a vivid, illuminating flash of understanding that he knew his visualization contained the correct and practical answer. He saw both the equipment operating without the problems and doing so efficiently, however, he could not see the essential details of how this could be accomplished.
   
   In Feb of 1882, Tesla took a walk in the city of Budapest with a former classmate. While a glorious sunset overspread the sky, Tesla engaged in one of his favorite hobbies-reciting poetry. The setting sun reminded Tesla of some of Goethe's beautiful lines:
   
   The glow retreats, done is the day of toil;
   It yonder hastes, new fields of life exploring;
   Ah, that no wing can lift me from the soil,
   Upon its track to follow, follow soaring...
   
   Suddenly, Tesla snapped into a rigid pose as if he had fallen into a trance. "Watch me!" he said, "Watch me reverse it!"
   
   Tesla's friend said, "I see nothing, are you ill?"
   
   "You do not understand," said Tesla, "It is my alternating-current motor I am talking about. Can't you see it right here in front of me, running almost silently? It is the rotating magnetic field that does it. See how the magnetic field rotates and drags the armature around with it? Isn't it beautiful? I have solved the problem."
   
   Tesla now had an electrical system utilizing alternating current, which was much more flexible and vastly more efficient than the direct-current system then being used. But now Tesla had another problem, convincing the rest of the world that his alternating-current power system was simpler, flexible and freed electricity to be sent long distances. The direct-current systems being used at that time were not able to send electricity long distances without major problems. The fact that our power system today uses alternating-current shows that Tesla was finally successful. The book, Prodigal Genius, provides all the fascinating details of this story



3. Once I got by the romantic flair of the first pages, I really enjoyed O'Neill's biography of Tesla. The subject of Tesla's life is certainly fascinating. He was a true visionary and a man well before his time.
   
   Minus one star for the romance (Is this typical of biographies of the era? I don't know.), for some circular logic (punishing Marconi for not seeing the potential of wireless transmission but lauding Tesla generating the first X-rays even though he did not grasp their potential).
   
   Over all, an informative and enjoyable read.
   
   P.S. I recommend Googling up Tesla's patents while progressing through the book.



4. Tesla was not prodigal by any definition of the term. He was a genius-fool with severe neurological problems. Omitting the real Tesla makes any biography of less worth than it could be.



5. Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikola Tesla is the amazing true-life biography of inventor extraordinaire Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), a friend of Mark Twain and George Westinghouse, and a rival of Thomas Edison. Tesla invented the AC electrical current; his talent for inventions and scientific advancement was enhanced by his ability to visualize three-dimensional images of his inventions, saving money and effort on prototype constructions. Though his prodigal talents brought him great wealth and recognition - he made his first million before he turned forty - he refused to accept the Nobel Prize, chose to give away his royalties as a token of friendship, and died nearly penniless. His dream was to provide the world with sources of energy and wonders of technology that were free to enrich the lives of all, rather than fuel the profit margin of corporate sponsors. Yet for his selfless ideals, he received derision and disdain. Written by John J. O'Neill, a personal friend of Tesla's, and originally published in 1944, Prodigal Genius remains the seminal biography of a staunchly ethical man of science, who deserves far more honor than history has given him.

3 comments about Lineman and Cableman's Handbook (Lineman's & Cableman's Handbook).

1. This book is very informative, realistic, easy to understand and very up to date. I have recommended it to others in the field. If most technical books were like that we may hardly have need for tutors.
   Thank You.



2. I carry this manual with me all the time ... great reference book. Would highly recommend to anyone in the electrical business.



3. I ordered this to replace my older apprentiship books and I was expecting more in-depth explanations of new equipment and procedures. While this was all the info needed for basic linework, I was disappointed with some very old information and old photos. I mean, for the money and hype I expect at least current photos and equipment.

5 comments about Angels Don't Play This haarp: Advances in Tesla Technology.

1. Got me started in the direction of Tesla. Didn't realize that Begich was so much of a Bush hater politically. Once detected political slant, I didn't trust further opinions.



2. Man's desire to be god will eventually lead him to the unltimate self-destruction and the demolition of the planet he inhabits. "Angels don't play this HAARP" is a book that must be read by every citizen who cares about the condition of this planet. It will help the reader learn about man's manipulation of mother earth, and the possibility of rendering this gift into ruin....



3. Using electromagnetic energies to control the weather, tamper with the capacity of the mind to think clearly, etc., is not science fiction. The great scientists, Albert Roy Davis and Walter C. Rawls, themselves world renowned experts in electromagnetics, wrote in their fourth book, "The Magnetic Blueprint of Life" (1979), that electromagnetic energies could be used to do exactly that. They stated in the book that the communications disruptions throughout the world in 1977 (1977 blackout?) were, they believe, due to experiments the Russians were doing, blasting enormous amounts of electromagnetic energy into the atmosphere, just like HAARP does. They also wrote that they believe that the upper strata atmospheric winds that control the weather have been changed (global warming?).
   
   In addition, Davis and Rawls stated that powerlines in the U.S. are above ground, unlike in Great Britain and other countries where they prefer to put them underground, and they will eventually cause a change in the protective ozone layer that surrounds the earth.
   
   We're still laughably told in the media and on TV programs that nuclear weapons are the most powerful weapons in the world. So in fifty years we haven't developed weapons that are more powerful? Consider how far computers, aircraft, communication systems, etc., have come in fifty years. All of that money spent on the military, and a fifty year old technology is still the best we have. Somehow I ain't buying it.
   
   The ultimate weapons of the 21st century are various forms of electromagnetic weapons. HAARP is one of them, and likely one of the most lethal.



4. HAARP stands for The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program. The goal of this program is to further advance our knowledge of the physical and electrical properties of the Earth's ionosphere which can affect our military and civilian communication and navigation systems. The HAARP program began in 1990 and operates a world-class ionospheric research facility located in Gakona, Alaska. This book tends to focus on the darker, more sinister side of the project. There are claims that the US Navy is performing experiments that would shock, frighten, and possibly outrage the good people of Earth. There are, in fact, some compelling "facts" and arguments that WILL make you pause and think for a while.



5. HAARP is an innocuous research station designed only to help mankind. It's a radio transmitter probing the secrets of the ionosphere for our mutual benefit, right?--Wrong.
   
   Dr. Nick Begich teamed with Jeanne Manning to write Angels Don't Play This Haarp, the book that exposes the potential dangers (and there are many!) of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Project in Alaska.
   
   Manning and Begich substantiate their theories and concerns with extensive research, documentation, interviews, and scientific facts. Some of the geopolitical and mega-corporate connections they have uncovered are as frightening as HAARP's possibly disastrous impact upon our planet and our lives.
   
   The military has invested heavily in HAARP. Why? Begich and Manning have supplied some very scary answers.
   
   HAARP's high-energy research system may very well have serious consequences for planet Earth. Its true purpose and actions must be revealed, and toward that end, Angels Don't Play This Haarp has fired a first and powerful salvo for "We, the People."

5 comments about Classical Electrodynamics Third Edition.

1. This book is an excellent assembly of theoretical classical mechanics. I am an undergrad physics student and I do admit that most of the time it is difficult to understand the basic concepts of electrodynamics, something Griffiths does much better. However if there is any need to go deeper into the mathematical rigor of the theory, look no further. This book is right up there with all of the Landau's collection. A true masterpiece. If you just need a textbook though Griffiths is a much better choice, but both of them are well worth your money.



2. Excellent masterpiece of the subject. Surely not a "Electrodynamics for dummies" book, but a good reference for graduated students and experts. The exercises are quite hard, but... that's physics!



3. According to some other reviews this text makes an excellent reference for professionals. However, they've already taken the tests, and been through the classes. In short they already have their Phd. If you know the majority of readers of your book are coming to you to improve their understanding or learn entirely new material, why would you make difficult stuff even harder by intentionally omitting derivation steps in every section of every chapter. With the deadlines and time constraints associated with student life it's almost impossible to get through all the difficult derivations in the reading before even getting to the sometimes insane problems in a reasonable time. Either try to make the reading as clear as possible, and the problems challenging, or reduce the difficulty of the problems and have the reading challenging like it is now, but don't challenge the usually involuntary student readers with both difficulties. I may change my opinion later, but for now I feel that the level of difficulty and style of this text is based largely on the cruelty of the author.



4. I, like many others, used this book for graduate E&M. The text is easy to follow, however, for those who haven't seen the mathematical derivation techniques for quite some time, it is best to pause and take a moment reviewing how one equation becomes the succeeding equation. Jackson often, but not always, quotes what technique was involved so it shouldn't be too hard to look up vector identities and techniques involving standard functions (orthonormal, Green, etc.) in any advanced calculus text. For those who love the challenge of solving a variety of problems, this is your book. Jackson exercises your mind in such a way that you should find yourself pulling everything and anything you can remember (as far back as those unpleasant undergraduate days) applicable to the problem at hand and piece the puzzle together until you arrive at "a" solution. During my graduate studies, we used F. Melia's "Electrodynamics" alongside Jackson. However, it was extremely cumbersome working with something in Gaussian units and MKSA at the same time between the two books, but there was a good reason to use both. Melia's book was first written to accomodate Jackson's 2nd and other E&M books written in Gaussian units, so I'm sure that the 2nd edition Jackson would work very well with Melia's book. Melia most respectfully spells out the conceptual ideas (physics) for you and Jackson will nail you with the mathematical techniques involved, especially in his problem sets. Overall, I rate this a 4/5 stars simply because the 3rd edition used MKSA units, where I think Gaussian is much more elegant. Jackson explains why he decided to do this in the preface to the 3rd edition and it's all fair game. Use this book to brush up on your mathematical techniques. To be honest, Griffith's "Introduction to Electrodynamics" would be an excellent text to use before you even decide to read Jackson's or Melia's. If you can master Griffith's book first, then it would make your life better when you adventure into Jackson's 3rd.



5. This book is tough and the problems can be a 'nightmare', but it is a great book. I am a graduate student in physics and I just love how it goes into so many aspects of Electrodynamics and in detail.

5 comments about Schaum's Outline of Electromagnetics.

1. It appears that the author assumes readers will already have a good understanding of calculus, vectors, and a somewhat advanced knowledge of electrostatics and electromagnetism! Readers without this background will likely struggle with the material!
   
   I have a reasonable background (to tertiary level) in mathematics and electrical engineering, but I still found this book difficult to follow in many parts!
   
   The reviews of theory at the beginning of chapters, are a bit too brief and therefore difficult to understand!
   
   Many solved calculations leave out intermediate steps, which makes it difficult to follow. The calculations should include all steps in their derivation and solutions, so that there would be no misunderstanding on how the solutions are determined.
   
   Therefore, this edition is NOT recommended for most people. This book is apparently only suitable for people who have a thorough knowledge of electrostatics, electromagnetics, calculus, and vectors.
   
   To make this book more practical and attractive to others, the material needs to be rewritten and expanded!



2. This is an excellent source of problems if you are an undergraduate electrical engineering student enrolled in a class concerned with electromagnetics, which is probably one of the toughest courses you'll face as an undergraduate. Although the selection of problems is excellent, there is something to be desired with the explanation sections of most chapters. The author makes numerous references in equations to vectors that he fails to identify either verbally, or with a diagram. Also, I thought there were insufficient diagrams to adequately convey the concepts being presented.
   
   I also thought it was odd that the first chapter was dedicated to such an elementary concept as vector analysis when there are much more complex mathematical concepts such as multivariable calculus and partial differential equations being used throughout the book that are not given an explanation. If you are studying electromagnetics, the best textbook out there is "Engineering Electromagnetics" by Nathan Ida. Ida explains absolutely everything about electromagnetics, and the problems in this Schaum's outline complement both the material and the problems in that book very well. The last few chapters in this Schaum's are on antennas and waveguides. It is a nice overview, but it is a somewhat shallow treatment.
   
   A good supplement for that material is a 1968 Schaum's outline that is now out of print - "Schaum's Outline on the Theory and Problems of Transmission Lines" (ISBN 0070107475). It contains complete treatments of impedance and admittance matching topics, Smith chart fundamentals, plus many good worked examples and practice problems. The only drawback of this older outline is that the techniques used don't incorporate more of the modern numerical methods that are now more prevalent.



3. I feel the transaction went well and i am always thinking of getting some good items as a reflection comes back to me. I thought initally it will delay but at a twinkle of an eye, ooops i was told my parcel arrived
   Keep the good work up.
   Cheers



4. The teacher chose a really sucky book for the course and this one helped out A LOT!



5. Horrid x 3! Effective in confusing and making you hate electromagnetics. Books like these, which only scrape a lopsided, mathematical surface without any context should be left for people who hate physics and want to quickly memorize some equations.

5 comments about Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Electrify the World.

1. This was exactly what I wanted, the history and description of how the early implementation, financing and design happened. I hate when we get an autobiography of the inventer's life and not a detailed description of how they developed the technology and what mistakes and breakthoughs the inventer got. This book is fantastic.



2. This book is so good they could make it into a movie. I've worked for an electrical power utility for over 38 years and I'm a history buff so this was a double pleasure for me. Jill Jonnes gives us a fascinating look at the origins of electrical power in the U.S.
   
   There is something here for everyone: the macabre account of the first execution by electrocution, and the equally gut-wrenching story of the lineman in New York who died a horrible death dangling from high-voltage wires forty feet above the pavement. His body burned and spewed blood while the frightened onlookers could do nothing to save him. Then there is the inspiring story of Edison, Westinghouse and Tesla, the three who get the most credit for advancing and solidifying electrical power as a viable business in the U.S. Whether they were "geniuses" or not is a matter of your own perspective. They were certainly workaholics who had extraordinary intelligence and vision about what could be done with new technology. (Edison once worked five days straight while inventing the phonograph.)
   
   There was a great battle between alternating and direct current. Edison stubbornly fought AC all the way. He felt it was unsafe for use by the general public because of the danger of lethal electric shock. He bragged that with his DC system, anyone would survive accidental contact, although the proponents of AC led by Westinghouse countered with the fact that Edison's DC system had caused many fires, both in customers' houses and in the central generating plants. The author points out that Edison may have had another reason, his own pride. Anyone in the business at that time could see the obvious advantage of AC over DC. DC was limited to about a one-mile radius of the generator, where AC could be transmitted several miles by stepping voltage up or down as needed with Westinghouse's new transformers. And once Tesla's AC two-phase motor was developed for commercial use, Edison's DC system was doomed.
   
   Tesla turned into a sort of benevolent mad scientist after the Niagara project--Dr. Frankenstein with his gigantic Tesla coils, shooting lightning into the atmosphere. At one point his lab pulled so much power he caused the Colorado Springs powerhouse to trip off line, throwing the entire area into a blackout. Tesla's visionary dream, apparently, was to develop a means of transmitting power wirelessly. All humanity could tap into the standing wave generated by the Tesla coils, or whatever, and thereby receive free electricity. Tesla naturally needed huge financial support for this and he turned to J.P. Morgan who had financed the Niagara project and many other large ventures. But Morgan had seen too many of Tesla's projects come to naught, so he declined to back any more of them. Among Tesla's many experiments were the fluorescent light and the radio transmitter-receiver, the later being carried forward by Marconi who may have purloined some of Tesla's patents.
   
   Two great projects did the most to advance electric power: the 1893 Columbia Exposition in Chicago, and the Niagara Falls hydro-generator plant. Tesla and Westinghouse were the brains and brawn behind the Niagara project completed in 1895, and it was Westinghouse who got the contract to light up the Chicago World's Fair. In 1893 only the wealthiest Americans could enjoy the advantages of electric light. The fair, known as the White City, showed all Americans the marvels of electrical light and appliances.
   
   The advent of electrical power in the U.S. was a struggle of hard-driven men plowing new ground against constant financial and legal setbacks, the intrigues and subterfuge of their competitors, and the race forward with a technology that was only barely understood at the time. But once it took hold it spread like wildfire as almost everyone, rich or poor, wanted to convert to electric. Indeed, the success of America in WW II, the great arsenal of democracy, was due in large part to the fact that by 1940 cheap electrical power was available in every part of the country, even the desert of New Mexico.



3. This was a great piece of narrative non-fiction - great for anyone who loves nerdy stuff or Wall Street - either story (both well told) are fascinating -



4. This book explained a lot to me. I selected over AC/DC based upon the reviews. I wasn't disappointed. Buy it, reading it, enjoy it.



5. Its fascinating to imagine the world as electricity was coming into its own. And then there's the reality.
   
   This book offers a perspective rarely seen of someone we consider a major American icon, and two others we all know were important but, unfortunately, often can't remember why.
   
   Living in Pittsburgh, I of course know the legend of George Westinghouse -- but most of my knowledge is of the more recent divestiture of his amazing company after years of mismanagement. I have to say I was pleased to find that while he was a Gilded Age industrialist -- perhaps with many of the characteristics that label implies -- his goals and intentions for his products, as well as his sportsmanly handling in many ways of Edison's ridiculous and often atrocious behavior, were quite noble.
   
   I was shocked to learn more about Edison -- our most celebrated inventor -- particularly his tunnel vision and ruthlessness in preserving his self-decided reign over a technology that had more to offer society than any one man could take credit for. Condoning Brown's dog experiements with AC was sick enough -- to hear that he promoted the development of the electric chair simply to get a leg up on his competition (Westinghouse)was truly sad.
   
   As a publicist, I find Jonnes descriptions of information, disinformation and yellow journalism paint a picture of Gilded Age America steeped in lessons we should have learned long ago about news, business and the legends of American icons.
   
   Well worth the read for anyone who loves to find those places where history repeats itself over and over again.

1 comments about The Physics of Solar Cells (Properties of Semiconductor Materials) (Properties of Semiconductor Materials).

1. Though it is of softcover instead of hardcover edition, but totally new and mailed quite quickly.

5 comments about The Body Electric: Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life.

1. The first half the book held my attention like when I read a Clive Cussler adventure.
   
   Dr. Becker patiently explains both biology and electricity building up to providing the understanding of regeneration as his research progressed.
   
   The next half of the book explains first how electromagentism affects humans, then the potential hazards of electromagnetism are addressed.
   
   Overall this book is very well written and I recommend it to all my friends whether they are engineers like me or not.



2. If you are pretty well versed in physiology and basic biology, you will probably love this book! As an engineer and experimental scientist Dr. Becker opened my eyes to a whole new area of study which, politics aside, has the potential to change almost every person's life.



3. I'm not really one for science books, but this book has got to be the exception. If you have any chronic or 'incurable' disease, try to hold on - because fortunately there are at least a few doctors and researchers out there who are bright enough to think outside the box and challenge existing theories regarding the workings of the human body - in particular, the electricity of the human body and how it coincides with the universe.
   
   The author walks the reader through his discoveries that not only is it feasible for the human body to regenerate (just like the salamander's), but most likely, this is what our bodies were designed to do from the get-go, until we surrounded ourselves with electromagnetic fields of pollution so powerful that our perfectly designed DNA, immune systems, cardiovascular systems, endocrine systems, neuromuscular systems became 'confused' by all the external commotion.
   
   The author of this book represents what research 'should be' about, but for the most part isn't, and the reader cannot help but become a part of this researcher's emotion.
   
   If I ever have a chance to meet the author of this book, I will be honored. Until then, I will recommend this book to anyone who values the perfectly amazing life God gave them and the perfectly synchronized universe He created to sustain that life. I only pray that there are more reseachers out there bravely willing to poke holes in the current theories that the human body is merely a collection of chemical reactions, unopposed by a higher force.
   
   The author touches on this, and I am in agreement - I have to wonder if perhaps all the bad we see around us today - broken marriages, suicides, bombings, disease, pain, suffering, greed - is this merely a by-product of all the manmade electromagnetic distress surrounding each and every one of us on a daily basis? After reading this book, you will think twice about what we've sacrificed for the sake of 'technology' - everlasting life on earth.



4. Honestly, if I could give this book 10 stars, I would.
   
   I was worried this would be some hippy-dippy, new age ride, based on some of the chapter headings. But concealed behind the facade of odd chapter headings is a truly amazing scientific work. I'm blown away. Becker & Selden go into excruciatingly beautiful detail of any number of experiments exposing some of the electrical plumbing and electrical signaling going on in complex bodies. This includes bone regeneration through electrical currents, partial or complete limb regeneration in Rats and salamanders through electrical processes. It refers to known cases of young children (under 11 y/o) regrowing fingertips that have been severed in accidents and NOT been operated on, or had skin grafts that inhibit the regenerative process. They also go into the removal of bacterial infections with positive silver electrodes approximating the body's natural healing electrical currents. (I think I now know why colloidal silver is popular as an anti-infections agent and silver nitrate {I think?} is used when babies are born to ward off infection...)
   
   This book is written with the lay reader in mind. You don't need a medical background to understand and be enraptured by this book. As I may have said already (or not), I can't put it down. It's THAT GOOD! I hope this stuff is taught in medical school and more research goes into this field. I have the feeling it holds the key to higher level human regeneration and life extension (through making use of and maintaining the body's existing electrical systems)...
   
   Just... WOW!



5. The information was not what I expected in regard to a misleading title. Anyone in the acupuncture field, as I am, should not be persuaded to buy this book. It basically deals with reptilian experiments done 50 or more years ago. It is a biology book, in a sense. I wish I had not purchased it!

5 comments about Introduction to Electrodynamics (3rd Edition).

1. A fantastic textbook, ideal for any undergraduate, and highly recommended to a graduate student for a "grounded" reality of what one is talking about in doing problems in Jackson! One can teach oneself from this book. Griffiths is a master of understanding and showing.
   
   This is written as a graduate physicist.



2. My favorite thing about Griffiths is the way he writes. At times, the book can be a little frustrating, but Dave Griffiths knows how to write a book, and you can tell that he enjoyed it. Its written in the first person, first of all, and the sense of humor that comes with that is very obvious. It is cogent and concise, sometimes to a fault, but always supplies plenty of examples in just the right places that will provide you with everything you need to solve the homework problems. There are times when the problems can seem very difficult, and even impossible, and this is what the solutions manual is for though I wish I wouldn't have had to resort to it as often as I did.
   
   Highly recommended.



3. According to the Preface, this book was designed for classroom use. Maybe so. But it's the best self-study book on Emags I have found in 4 months of searching.
   
   This is the first author that acknowledges some of the more common mathematical pitfalls (the ones mathematicians all too often get into and really can't get out of). CHECK THIS!:
   
   (from page 10)
   
   "The definition of a vector as 'a quantity with a magnitude and direction' is not altogether satisfactory: What precisely does ' direction' mean? This may seem a pedantic question, but we shall shortly encounter a species of derivative that looks rather like a vector, and we'll want to know for sure whether it is one."
   
   If you're looking for a fast, straight-forward way to get a better understanding of e-mags, this is it. Overall, this book is WAY, WAY better than Volume II of Feynman (Feynman still has own tricks, suspect he will always keep his edge in some ways; QED by Feynman was written more in the style of Griffin than Feynman's Volume II).



4. This book is typical of most E&M text books on a purely theoretical level. They present E&M as a collection of symbols and rules for manipulating them. The development is full of incomplete, unintelligible statements with gaps in between, without any indication that these occur. I find this at best inconsiderate, and at worst nasty and arrogant.
   
   In chapt 1 Griffiths "stumbles" across the problem of integrating over the origin with 1/r^2 in the integrand and then uses this to define the dirac delta function. In chapt 2 the problem of integration with 1/r^2 (and 1/r) is ignored and Gauss' law (divergence theorm) is "derived" by a combination of poor intuition (field lines improperly explained) and half-baked math, finishing with, "Evidently the flux through any surface enclosing the charge is q/eo." No one could possibly "get" this, but they could accept it, depending on their style of learning. "Double Vectors" are introduced later in the book. Wow! Cutting edge science? No, just the old, still very useful, dyadics with a new name.
   
   I am reminded of books on Windows Server. The words are there but somehow they don't make sense. Then you look at the authors who it turns out are in marketing or sales.
   
   To the good, honest, students who genuinely want to understand and learn E&M. Don't be intimidated by the E&M textbooks written for quantum physics (?), or the other reviews. The presentation is incomplete and often unintelligible, and the underlying message of the authors and the reviewers seems to be "I'm smart, and you are dumb if you don't understand this." Somehow struggle through the course knowing that the lack of understanding is not your fault. If after the course by some miracle you are still interested in E&M, teach yourself.
   
   I appreciate that there is a school of thought that doesn't really care where the equations come from or what they mean, that just wants to get E&M out of the way and get on with quantum physics or partial differential equations, ie, learn the language of E&M without the grammar. You will get the words in this book.
   
   A major problem with E&M textbooks is they use vector calculus with total disregard of the content, so that the results don't make sense.
   
   I will try to fill in some of the math gaps. E&M here is the study of continuous charge and current distributions.
   
   Math Prerequisites:
   Intuitive notion of continuity, convergence, partial derivatives (lim [f(x+e,y,z)-f(x,y,z)]/e as e-> 0), Definitions of U & E (potential and electric field vector) as volume integrations over charge distributions. A vector is continuous and differentiable if its components are. E&M integrals are improper at 1/r and 1/r^2 when r=0. Because U is an improper integral inside V, you can't assume E = delU. To get this write U and then delU by taking del under the integral sign. This is the same as formula for E. But you have to prove this is OK because normally you can't differentiate under the integral sign if integral is improper.
   
   E&M
   
   U & E due to a volume distribution of piecewise continuous charge rho in the bounded volume V exist at points of V and ARE CONTINUOUS THROUGHOUT SPACE. U is everywhere differentiable and E=delU THROUGHOUT SPACE.
   
   Where U and E are continuous, U has continuous second derivatives (E has continuous first derivatives) and then from the divergence theorem:
   del^2U = -4pirho.
   del^2U is discontinuous at the boundaries because it has different values on either side.
   
   A lighter requirement for del^2U to exist at an interior point of V is that U be piecewise continuous and satisfy a Hoelder condition (believe me, you don't want to go there).
   
   Similar theorems apply for surface charge.
   
   Model Problem in Electrostatics: Charged conducting sphere of radius a:
   a) U=constant 0=a
   b) U everywhere continuous
   c) first order derivatives everywhere continuous except at r=a where dU/dn+ - dU/dn- = -4pisigma where sigma is surface charge density.
   d) rU -> E as r becomes infinite.
   
   c) is from Gauss' theorem and pillbox. I don't get d).
   
   Appendix
   
   Given a vector field with components X,Y,Z and Normal region N:
   Divergence Theorem. Assume X,Y,Z and first partial derivatives are contiuous within and on the boundary of N.
   Extension: X,Y,Z are continuous in the region R and on its boundary, and R can be broken up into a finite number of regions for which divergence theorem holds, and in each of which X,Y,Z have derivatives which are continuous, the boundary included. This means that as P approaches the boundary from one of the partial regions, each derivative approaches a limit, and that these limits together with the values in the interior form a continuous function. The limits, however, need not be the same as P approaches a common boundary of two partial regions from two sides.
   
   Stokes" Theorem
   X,Y,Z and their partial derivatives contiuous in a region of space with S in its interior. The surface S is two-sided, and can be resolved into a finite number of normal surface elements. The functions X,Y,Z are continuous at all points of S, and their partial derivatives are continuous at all points of the normal surface elements into which S is divided. (See above)
   
   References:
   Phillips, Vector Analysis, 1933, pg 122 and on.
   Kellog, Foundations of Potential Theory, 1929, pg 126 and on.
   Kaplan, Advanced Calculus, First Ed 1952. Beautiful, Classic Text. THE book for mathematical background if you want it.
   
   Don't bother trying to learn the proofs in Kellog- they are impossible if you are not a born mathematician. They are not hard, but you have to keep in mind the steps as you go along which is difficult if you can't associate an image with them (remember them, what do you register in your mind if you can't recall the printed image?). Also, the algebra of limits gets monstrous.
   
   With that said, you can forget the above and read an E&M book knowing that it's not you, its the book, and learn the language and hopefully figure out a few problems.



5. Let's just summarise here
   Pro's to buying this book and using properly...
   1. You will actually learn Electrostatics
   2. You will actually learn Magnetostatics
   3. You will actually learn Electrodynamics
   
   Con's to buying this book and using properly...
   1. There will not be much left to learn about electrodynamics (at least on an introductory scale).

1 comments about Practical Photovoltaics: Electricity from Solar Cells.

1. Practical Photovoltaics is one of the finest, most comprehensive guides to the world of solar energy. The book starts with a beginer's course in solid state physical devices (which taught even an Electrical Engineer such as myself new things) and leads into the history of solar cell materials and procedures over the years. Next comes an in-depth discussion of the various types of materials, and how they are suited for different applications. He makes logical predictions about the future of some of these materials, and hints around at what new techniques scientists are starting to look at today.
   In the appendix, he even describes how to assemble your own array of solar cells for those who wish to try a hands-on approach to learning.
   Oh, yeah, one more thing: he has a decent list of recomended readings at the end of each chapter, allowing you to select topics that interest you to continue your reading.