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The 10 Best Electrical Engineer Reference Books for 2023

November 06, 2023

They say knowledge is power, and for electrical engineering, this statement couldn't be more accurate. The field of electrical engineering is constantly evolving, and keeping up with the latest advancements and technologies is vital to your success as an engineer. Reading books is an effective way for you to gain knowledge, hone your skills, and gain insight into your field.

Through books, you can learn about the basic principles of electrical engineering and gain insight into the practical applications of those principles. Books can also provide in-depth coverage of specialized topics and emerging areas of research, which can be valuable if you want to stay ahead of the curve.

These books also provide a reliable source of information that you can refer to throughout your career. When faced with challenging problems, you can turn to these reference books for guidance to help you develop effective solutions.

Let's review 10 of the best electrical engineering reference books to help you expand your knowledge and better understand the field.

 

Top 10 Reference Books for Electrical Engineers

  1. The Art of Electronics – Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill 
  2. Electrical Engineering 101 – Darren Ashby
  3. Microwave Engineering – David M. Pozar
  4. Practical Electronics for Inventors – Paul Scherz
  5. Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics – Fawwaz Ulaby and Umberto Ravaioli
  6. Solid State Electronic Devices – Ben Streetman and Sanjay Kumar Banerjee
  7. Modern Control Systems – Richard Dorf and Robert Bishop
  8. Engineering Circuit Analysis – William Hayt, Jack Kemmerly, Jamie Phillips and Steven Durbin
  9. Instrumentation and Measurement in Electrical Engineering – Roman Malaria
  10. Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design – Constantine A. Balanis

 

 

1. The Art of Electronics – Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill 

 

Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill's third edition of The Art of Electronics, published in 2015, is an outstanding book and an excellent resource for both novice and experienced electrical engineers. It is known for its comprehensive coverage of electronics, from the fundamentals to advanced techniques.

Horowitz and Hill present this material in an intuitive and accessible manner, making it easy for readers to understand and apply. The book is practical and includes many real-world examples to illustrate the concepts discussed.

 

Strengths Weaknesses

One of the most notable features of this book is its emphasis on circuit design. The authors cover a range of circuit design techniques that provide valuable insight into the design process. In addition, the book covers a variety of topics including analog and digital electronics, signal processing and microcontrollers.

Another notable feature of The Art of Electronics is its clear and concise explanations. The authors use simple language and avoid technical jargon to make it easy to understand.

One weakness of the book is the lack of coverage of advanced topics. However, this should still be fine for new engineers who will benefit from the book's comprehensive coverage of basic electronics concepts.

Overall, The Art of Electronics is an excellent reference book that covers a wide variety of topics related to electrical engineering. The book is well laid out with numerous illustrations and diagrams that help to clarify complex concepts!

 

2. Electrical Engineering 101 – Darren Ashby

 

Darren Ashby's Electrical Engineering 101 is a comprehensive guide to the basic concepts and principles of electrical engineering. His third edition, written in 2011, is an excellent resource for beginners and students seeking an in-depth understanding of the subject.

Ashby has written the book clearly and concisely, making it easy to understand even for those with no prior knowledge of electrical engineering. The book covers a variety of topics, including circuits, power systems, electromagnetism, and electronics.

 

Strengths Weaknesses

One of the strengths of this book is its practical approach to learning. Ashby provides practical examples and applications of many electrical engineering concepts, which helps the reader understand the relevance and usefulness of the topic.

Another noteworthy feature of this book is its use of simple and intuitive explanations, which makes complex concepts easier to understand. Numerous illustrations, diagrams, and equations help reinforce the ideas presented in the text.

This book may not be the best choice for engineers seeking advanced or specialized topics. In addition, some of the explanations may be too simplistic for experienced engineers who already have a good grasp of the basics.

 

3. Microwave Engineering – David M. Pozar

 

Released in 2011, the fourth edition of Microwave Engineering by David M. Pozar is an in-depth textbook that explores the principles and applications of microwave engineering. Whether you are an undergraduate, graduate student, or engineer, this book will benefit anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of microwave technology.

The book begins with an introduction to microwave engineering, followed by a review of electromagnetic and transmission line theory. Pozar then describes a variety of microwave components, including microwave resonators, filters, amplifiers, and oscillators. The book also includes chapters on microwave antennas, radiation, and microwave measurement techniques.

 

Strengths Weaknesses

One of the strengths of this book is its clear and concise writing style. Pozar presents complex concepts in a simple manner, making them easy to follow and understand. The book is well organized with each chapter building on the previous one and each topic is logically presented.

Another strength of Microwave Engineering is its use of practical examples and real-world applications. Pozar includes a large number of examples of microwave circuits and systems, and the book contains many practical design problems and exercises. This approach makes the book useful for students who want to apply the concepts learned to real-world problems.

However, the book does assume a solid mathematical foundation, including differential equations, vector calculus, and complex analysis. If you are not familiar with these topics, you may find this book difficult to understand.

 

4. Practical Electronics for Inventors – Paul Scherz

 

The fourth edition of Practical Electronics for Inventors by Paul Scherz and Simon Monk, published in 2016, is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning the basics of electronics. Whether you are a hobbyist, student, or professional, this book provides a comprehensive and practical guide to electronics that is easy to read and understand.

Divided into four parts, the book covers a wide range of aspects of electronics.

  • Part 1 covers the basics of electronics, including power and circuits, semiconductors and diodes.
  • Part 2 covers amplifiers, transistors and operational amplifiers.
  • Part 3 discusses digital electronics, including logic gates, flip-flops and registers.
  • Part 4 covers power supplies, voltage regulators, and other general topics.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

The biggest strength of this book is its clear and concise writing style, which makes even the most complex topics easy to understand. Each chapter is well organized with plenty of examples and excellent illustrations to help illustrate the concepts discussed. In addition, the book includes a variety of real-world projects that you can build yourself, which is a great way to apply what you've learned.

One drawback may be that some of the topics covered in this book may be too advanced for beginners. But if you want to stick with it, Scherz and Monk do a good job of breaking down the topics and explaining them in simple terms, so even those who are new to engineering should be able to understand.

 

5. Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics – Fawwaz Ulaby and Umberto Ravaioli

 

Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics by Fawwaz Ulaby and Umberto Ravaioli provides a detailed introduction to the principles of electromagnetics. The 7th edition was published in 2014 and is an excellent tool for undergraduate students in electrical engineering as well as other fields such as physics and computer engineering.

The book is divided into 12 chapters covering the following topics:

  1. Electrostatic and magnetic fields
  2. Time-varying fields and Maxwell's system of equations
  3. Plane waves
  4. Transmission lines
  5. Waveguides
  6. Antennas

Ulaby and Ravaioli take a rigorous approach to the subject matter, providing plenty of examples and problems to help you grasp the concepts and apply them to real-world situations.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

One of the strengths of this book is its clear and concise writing style. Ulabi and Lavaioli explain complex concepts in an easy-to-understand manner, and they use a variety of analogies and visual aids to help illustrate key ideas. In addition, the book has many graphs and diagrams to help you visualize electromagnetic phenomena and better understand the concepts.

 

6. Solid State Electronic Devices – Ben Streetman and Sanjay Kumar Banerjee

 

Solid State Electronic Devices is the 7th edition, published by Ben Streetman and Sanjay Kumar Banerjee in 2016. This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in electronic devices and semiconductor technology.

The book is well organized and covers semiconductor physics, pn junctions, metal-semiconductor contacts, bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors, and optoelectronic devices. Streetman and Sanjay explain these complex concepts clearly and succinctly, making the book accessible to students and engineers alike.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

One of the strengths of this book is the large number of examples and problems at the end of each chapter. These allow you to practice and apply the concepts you learned in each chapter. With numerous illustrations and diagrams, this book also provides a visual way to get to grips with the material.

Another strength of this book is that it covers current developments in the field, including topics such as nanotechnology and quantum devices. The authors also provide a historical perspective on the evolution of solid-state electronic devices, allowing the reader to better understand the significance and impact of these devices on modern technology.

 

7. Modern Control Systems – Richard Dorf and Robert Bishop

 

Modern Control Systems by Richard Dorf and Robert Bishop, published in 2013, is the 13th edition of a study of the principles of control systems. It provides a comprehensive and detailed introduction to the fundamentals of control systems, covering topics from modeling and analysis to design and implementation.

The book is organized into 15 chapters, each covering a particular aspect of control systems. The first few chapters introduce basic concepts of control systems, such as modeling, feedback and stability. Dorf and Bishop then delve into different types of control systems, such as digital and analog systems, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each.

 

Strengths Weaknesses

One of the best features of this book is its extensive collection of exercises and examples. With these examples, you can better understand the concepts you are learning and apply them to real-life situations. The author also provides detailed explanations for each example, making it easier for the reader to understand each concept.

Another strength of this book is its use of modern technology. The authors provide examples involving the use of MATLAB, Simulink, and laboratory equipment to demonstrate control system principles and techniques. This helps the reader to better understand control systems by observing them in action.

 

8. Engineering Circuit Analysis – William Hayt, Jack Kemmerly, Jamie Phillips and Steven Durbin

 

Engineering Circuit Analysis by William Hayt, Jack Kemmerly, Jamie Phillips and Steven Durbin is a widely used textbook in the field of electrical engineering. The book provides basic circuit analysis concepts, starting with fundamentals and progressing to advanced topics.

Published in 2018, the 9th edition of the book is divided into chapters, each covering a specific topic. Chapter 1 introduces the basic concepts of circuit analysis, such as voltage, current, resistance, power, and energy. 

Chapter 2 introduces the basic laws of circuit analysis, including Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's law, Davignan's theorem, and Norton's theorem. Subsequent chapters delve into circuit analysis techniques, including nodal analysis, mesh analysis, transient analysis, and frequency response.

 

Strengths Weaknesses

An outstanding feature of this book is its comprehensive coverage of circuit analysis techniques. The authors cover all the essential topics related to circuit analysis, from fundamentals to advanced topics. The book covers phase analysis, Laplace transforms, Fourier series and filter design.

The book also uses numerous diagrams, equations, and examples to illustrate each concept. These visuals allow readers to visualize the concepts they are learning and understand them in greater depth.

 

9. Electrical Engineering Instrumentation and Measurement - Roman Malarić

 

Instrumentation and Measurement in Electrical Engineering was published by Roman Malarić in 2012. The book focuses on electrical instrumentation and measurement principles and is divided into 14 chapters covering the following topics:

  • Measurement systems and instruments
  • Fundamentals of electrical measurements
  • Measurement errors
  • Digital instrumentation
  • Signal processing
  • Data Acquisition Systems
  • Sensors
  • Sensors
  • Instrumentation amplifiers, etc.

The book also provides numerous examples and practical applications throughout the text. Exercises and problems are included at the end of each chapter to help you test your understanding of the material.

 

Strengths Weaknesses

This book does an excellent job of helping you take your understanding of instrumentation and measurement from the basics to a more advanced level. It covers all the major topics such as signal processing, transducers, sensors and data acquisition systems - and the numerous examples throughout the text help to illustrate the principles discussed in each chapter.

One drawback is that it lacks some of the more advanced topics and trends in instrumentation and measurement, and there is no updated version of any of them.

 

10. Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design – Constantine A. Balanis

 

Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design by Constantine A. Balanis looks at the principles, theory and design of antennas. His fourth edition, published in 2015, is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative and valuable antenna books, with an emphasis on practical applications and design techniques.

The book is divided into six parts.

  • Part I introduces the basic concepts of antennas, electromagnetic theory, and radiation.
  • Part II introduces antenna types, including wire antennas, aperture antennas, reflecting surface antennas, and array antennas.
  • Part III focuses on antenna arrays, covering topics such as array factorization and directional map synthesis, followed by an introduction to planar arrays, smart antennas and broadband arrays.
  • Part IV delves into the analysis of transmission lines, including Smith circle diagrams and reflection coefficients.
  • Part V details waveguides and horns.
  • Finally, Part VI covers antenna measurement and design, including antenna testing, numerical techniques, and antenna design software tools.

Balanis's writing style is clear, concise and easy to understand, and the book is well organized, containing numerous examples and exercises.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

One of the strengths of this book is its emphasis on practical applications and design techniques. Balanis provides detailed instructions for designing antennas for specific applications such as communications, radar, and satellite systems. He also provides examples of practical design problems, such as patch antenna design for wireless LAN systems.

Another advantage of this book is that it covers the latest advances in antenna technology, such as smart antennas, broadband antennas, and fractal antennas. Readers will need a solid background in electromagnetic theory and mathematics, which may make it difficult to understand if you are new to the antenna field.

 

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