I purchased on of the versions of that book a long time ago; but, I found it to be weak. It gives you a decent start but it doesn't provide any practical real word grounding.
For any kind kind of analog electronics and a health discussion of topics in digital electronics I would consider _The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications_ great for any Hobbyist.
Myke Predko's _Digital Electronics DeMystified_ is great for discreet, gate-based digital electronics.
For MCUs etc, you will need to find a book targeting the actual product that you want to use. I have the Programming and Customizing the X Microcontroller for PIC, AVR, and 8051 MCU's. I really like the AVR version by Dhananja V. Gadre but the too by Myke Predko are a little bit disorganized which can make them a little bit disorienting for beginners. They are however cracked full of information that many other books seem to miss and they all provide more then just theoretical and programming information.
For a good all rounder, The Art of Electronics is still an excellent book.
To learn microcontrollers you cannot go wrong with the PIC from Microchip - stacks of code out there, free compilers for C (see their website), lots of application notes from them and other users of the PIC. If you want to learn C - C for Dummies All in One Desk Reference (6 books in 1) by Dan Gookin. It is cheap too
For analogue stuff, look at Analogue Devices, TI and National for some excellent application notes and circuit. Same for Maxim and Linear Technology if you want to master low power electronics. Maxim and LT give out free samples which always helps.
Digest all of this and you will get a good grounding in system level design.
Good luck
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Bill Naylor
www.electronworks.co.uk
Electronic Kits for Education and Fun
For a really good basic understanding of op amps I found the book " Op Amp Cookbook" by Jung to be very good. He does a discussion of "ideal" op amps and then goes on to do "real world" effects. It was around in the 70's. I haven't checked lately.
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