i like how this item is RoHS compliant.

This is a GREAT book! I'm an electrical engineer and I switched jobs a few months back that involved more analog and basic electronics than what I had been doing (high speed digital design). I picked up this book and I have re-learned so much from it. It's an easy read and Ashby does a great job explaining the basic electronic components including op-amps and transistors. He does it in an easy-to-read and easy-to-remember way. Even if you feel you have a good grasp of the concepts, Ashby puts it all together in a way to help with reading a schematic and intuiting what it does without having to break out the SPICE simulator.
I did get tired of all of Ashby's initial comments about how certain concepts are not taught in college, like unit math. I had unit math drilled into me as well as several of the other concepts he complains are not covered. It had me initially questioning what his education background was. However, IMHO, simply ignore those comments and the rest of the book will be great.

This is a great book. I'm a sophomore in EE, and I read this book and it made me look like a genius in front of my profs and fellow students so much so that I have seniors asking for my help with their senior design projects. I highly recommend this book and actually getting your hands dirty with prototyping.

Sure, you COULD go to some web giant and buy it cheaper. But why would you take your business elsewhere? Why not support the great guys @ sparkfun?
I'll be picking one up for my friend in engineering as an Xmas gift (and one copy for my self). :)

I really enjoyed this book. As a software and electronics enthusiast, I found the info relevant and helpful. Such as calculating turn-on current for bi-polar transistors and 16-bit division in assembler code. It's a great book all around.

Please consider retiring/replacing this item as the third edition has been released. It corrects the majority of errata that will confuse you for hours.

Great book. Bought it off amazon but if i had known sparkfun stocked it i would of bought here just to support the website/company. Currently using it for revision for my end of semester exam. I see it as a tool and have used it throughout my first year of college and use it at home for my home projects.

IMO ,Horowitz and Hill, the Art of Electronics is a much much more in depth read. Ashby's book is designed to give the newb engineer some insight on what they should be focusing on fundamentally especially if they want to have a successful career as an engineer, and not as a paper pusher.

How does it compare to Horowitz and Hill?

30$ on Amazon ! :$