EE Books

The average person in the US now uses a computer. Typically running a Microsoft operating system or unix or linux. Yet there is an entire ecosystem of embedded computers out there, invisible to most people. Wolf's text explains how you can program such computers as well as design the circuitry in which they might exist. Here, "computer" in the book essentially means microprocessor plus some off-chip memory. The book surveys two main microprocessor families - ARM and SHARC. These are not the most common microprocessors. (Which might be by Motorola.). But Wolf chooses them to illustrate different design ideals for their instruction sets.

One nice thing about the book is that you get a direct grasp of the hierarchy of design and logic. Climbing from the low level devices of latches, gates, flip-flops and the like, to the microprocessor and its machine language, to the corresponding and far easier to use assembly language. Then, upwards to an operating system.

Do you know what percentage of all computers run Windows or some kind of Unix? Guess. I'll give you the answer later.

This book is about all the other computers out there - the ones in your car's airbags and antilock brakes; in your watch, cellphone, TV and its remote, CD player, and computer keyboard; in your implanted defibrillator.

Wolf starts with an introduction in terms of a personal-scale, practical example. Next he goes into what a CPU is in lots more detail than most programmers ever think about - the kind of detail you need when the CPU interacts so intimately with the other components in the system. Maybe you never heard of the ARM or SHARC processors (unless you already do embedded work), but they're good representative choices. ARM is an incredibly common core architecture, with supervisor mode and memory mapping, what it takes to run a "real" OS, whether it does or not. SHARC is a signal processor - a real processor, but with extras for fast artihmetic processing. Together, the two stand adequately for a large fraction of the embedded processors in use.The next chapter goes over hardware basics: the bus, memory mapped IO, interface issues, and in-circuit debugging.

The rest of the book generally covers higher level issues: software design, embedded and real-time OSs, coprocessors, and networks. Although coverage of IIC and similar board-level communication is good, I found the ethernet discussion weak. Anyone working at this level is likely to need 802.2 protocols, which I did not see mentioned. The book's strengths far outnumber its occasional soft spots, though.

Embedded computing is a huge, many faceted field, so no book can cover more than a tiny fraction of what it means. Still, this addresses a broad, useful range what you need to program 99% of the computers out there - because only about 1% run Windows or Unix.

//wiredweird

When talking about the relatively recent phenomenon of state schooling in the history of mankind, the U.S. experience is said to have been initiated by Anglo-Saxon Protestants in reaction to Catholic immigrants and their schools. But Joel Spring writes that "A factory-like system in the nineteenth-century schoolroom was not accidental". These government indoctrination centers were designed to not only produce obedient, tax-paying citizens but also obedient factory workers. Teachers had little say in what their students would learn; they did not even have the opportunity to choose classroom texts - these were chosen by officials, not teachers.

This book covers a dynamic period in the history of state schooling. If you agree with Pink Floyd's plea - "We don't want no thought control", you'll like this book.

Well, maybe not...

The book was informative. I'll give it that. But it just didn't hold your attention. Though, I can't say this detracts too much from it because the topic just isn't something you can make very interesting.

Spring goes over many people's ideas about how schools should be run and ties it together with how factories came to be run to show that schools are a sort of training center to pump out workers like they're a sort of product. It's well documented and I did find some of the ideas, like vocational guidance pointing kids not where they'd be happiest but where they'll help the economy most, intriguing.

Given what he had to write about, I can give it four stars... But don't expect to lose yourself in this one...

I would like this book better if there were not the tech problems. Someone tried to cram a lot of writting into a little Kindle space, thus causeing a number of difficulties. I would be glad for a rewrite.

One of the most fascinating accounts of sailing, history and economics I've ever encountered, this book is a must if you have an interest in the great age of sail.

Certainly more than a dry recounting of historical events, Morrison helps you understand the passions, motivation and impact on the economic development of the western world of those who came and went from Boston and other East coast ports in the early to mid-1800's.

The last two chapters, in particular were absolutely rivetting. The era of the clipper ships was not only amazingly brief, but possibly one of the biggest catalysts for economic change in the 19th century. In particular, the extremely detailed description of the activities on the deck of a huge clipper moving into a berthing at a Boston pier, completely through the skill of the experienced captain literally moved me to tears. Understanding the pride of a seaman in presenting the best face of his ship and crew to the watching throngs on shore is something that any sailor can readily identify with.

You'll find it a very rewarding read.

As a student who doesn't always understand what they're talking about, this book was wonderful. Very clear, very easy-to-understand language. Thanks!

Priceless to those of us who study pedigrees in depth. Invaluable to my breeding program.
With Chesapeakes being my breed of choice I was delighed to get this addition to add to my CBR titles which include fact as well as fiction.
Unfortunatly many of the pictures are very dark and hard to make out and the copies could have been better for all the information pages.

Shannon

Anyone studying the history of the Mexican-American war should read this book. Brooks provides a clear documentary history written shortly after the war in which he quotes extensively from hard to find primary sources. It is more of a blow by blow account than an analytical narrative which is refreshing. All in all this is a very balanced account of the war.

If you enjoy reading about first-contact experiences between European (esp. Spanish) conquerors and native american indians, then you will definitely like this book. The book gives some essential biographical information about Coronado, but focuses on his journey from Mexico deep into the southwest of the present-day United States. Like other Spanish conquistadores, Coronado was searching (vainly) for gold and glory, but ended up finding neither. Especially interesting are the accounts of Coronado's dealings with native american indians. I strongly recommmend this book. The back cover gives favorable reviews from a number of publications, including the NY Times and the LA Times.

America in the 21st century is changing and how we see our past should as well. Certain censues offer clear snapshots on where America is at a particular moment. 1890-the frontier is closed. 1920-more people living in urban areas than rural ones. 2000-for the first time there are more Hispanics in America than African Americans. This fact may change a great deal of how we look at the past. As opposed to North-South conflicts, historians may focus on East-West conflicts. Instead of talking about Massachusetts and Virginia, historians may focus on Florida, Texas and California. Instead of Abraham Lincoln being the dominant president of the nineteenth century, either Andrew Jackson or James K. Polk may be. Instead of focusing on Puritans and evangelicals, historians need to focus on Catholicism.

Michael Gannon, the dean of Florida historians, offers an excellent and readable look at the founding of the Catholic church in Florida. Focusing on St. Augustine and east Florida (Gannon is simply not as interested in central Florida or Pensacola as he is in his home area), Gannon offers an interesting portrait of cantakerous parish leaders, Jesuit missionaries, conquisdors, Franciscan martyrs and frustrated bishops. It is a fascinating tale and Gannon tells it well. The chief problem with the book is Gannon often seems a bit too breezy as decades seem to go by in mere paragraphs. Gannon is often a bit too partisan as well such as when he goes out of his way to justify Pedro Menendez's bloody actions at Matanzas yet condemning James Moore for employing crude military tactics.

Still, minor flaws aside, Gannon offers a readable account of the founding of the Catholic Church in the United States. American history starts not in Jamestown or off Cape Cod but at St. Augustine and the cross planted in the sand in 1565 has grown larger as the years have gone by. As America grows increasingly Hispanic and Catholic not to mention moving down I-95 and I-75, neglected areas like colonial Florida will demand more of our historic attention. Gannon certainly offers a nice starting point in helping a new America understand its past.

Having lived in a number of small towns, I am continually amazed at the relevance of this classic study to contemporary local politics and social relationships. Long before "investigative reporting", a grad student goes undercover for a year in a small town and reports his findings -- social groups, power, politics and tradition. This is not a dry scientific analysis, but a fascinating description of American life outside the city.

This book is a must read in high school or college.
I was exposed to a part history that is hardly address in school
and was most revealing to me.
The books touches a subject that is still current today, however
it would help a revision by an expert and scholar. And addition of current evets is most important.

Thanks