I agree that Mims' books are easy to understand, but for me they are boring and painfully behind the current state of the art. Horowitz and Hill's Art of Electronics (the third edition is out) on the other hand is readable and holds your interest, and gives you an up to date forest for the trees perspective (it is even funny in places). I also feel obligated to point out Mims' controversies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Mims#Controversy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Pianka#Texas_Academy_of_Sc...