Make: More Electronics: Journey Deep Into the World of Logic Chips

In this review of Make: More Electronics, Charles Platt delivers a focused and hands-on exploration aimed at readers who want to go beyond beginner kits into the mechanics and intuition behind common electronic building blocks. The book's chief appeal is its clear, project-driven approach that connects theory to practice, making it useful for hobbyists, makers, and students who already know basic circuits and want confident, experimentable guidance. Our review finds it best as a workshop companion rather than a formal textbook.

Key Features

• Project-driven approach: Practical experiments encourage learning by doing and quickly reveal how logic chips, amplifiers, and sensors behave in real circuits.
• Focus on core components: Concentrating on logic chips, amplifiers, and sensors helps readers build transferable skills across many electronics projects.
• Accessible explanations: Complex concepts are presented in conversational language that lowers the barrier for intermediate hobbyists to grasp useful details.
• Emphasis on measurement: The text guides readers to observe and measure effects rather than rely solely on theory, which aids troubleshooting and design intuition.
• Encourages experimentation: Readers are invited to tweak circuits and try variations, fostering deeper understanding through hands-on iteration.

Who It's For

Make: More Electronics is best suited for makers who already understand basic resistors, capacitors, and simple semiconductors and who want to advance to practical use of logic ICs, amplifier stages, and sensor interfaces. It works well as a lab companion for hobbyists, community workshop instructors, or engineering students supplementing coursework.

It is less appropriate for absolute beginners seeking a gentle introduction to electronics fundamentals or for professionals needing exhaustive reference data; readers looking for formal specifications or comprehensive theory should consult dedicated textbooks or datasheets alongside this book.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Hands-on projects provide immediate, practical learning that accelerates skill development.
• Clear, approachable writing makes intermediate topics feel accessible without oversimplifying.
• Focus on observation and measurement strengthens troubleshooting skills and design intuition.

Cons

• Not a substitute for formal circuit theory or exhaustive component reference material.

Specifications

Title	Make: More Electronics
Subtitle	Journey Deep Into the World of Logic Chips, Amplifiers, Sensors, and Randomicity
Author	Charles Platt
Format	Book
Category	Books, Engineering & Transportation, Engineering
Primary focus	Logic chips, amplifiers, sensors, experimental techniques

Our Verdict

Make: More Electronics is a solid, practical next step for makers who want to apply and expand their hands-on skills with logic ICs, amplifiers, and sensors. It offers excellent workshop-style guidance and encourages experimentation, making it good value for hobbyists and students who prioritize learning by building rather than exhaustive theoretical coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this suitable for beginners?
The book assumes basic familiarity with common components, so beginners may prefer an introductory title first.

Does it include projects?
Yes. The book uses practical experiments and project examples to illustrate how components behave in real circuits.

Will it replace datasheets and textbooks?
No. It is a complementary, hands-on guide rather than a complete technical reference or substitute for formal theory.