Ladyada interview with Paul Horowitz - The Art of Electronics @adafruit @electronicsbook

[@NOTuNOTme]

Teaching electronics for decades and still gets excited talking about it, what an inspiration you are Prof. Horowitz. I own the 2nd edition so the 3rd edition is on my to get list.

[@romani008]

Which edition should I get?

[@marcdraco2189]

@@romani008 3rd. First one is a mess for JFETs (according to Horowitz/Hill).

[@davidjohnston4240]

1991, fresh computer science degree in hand, competent in database design, DSP, graphics algorithms and many other software things. Then I get my first job and through some miscommunication it turned out to be for microelectronics design. So after the first Monday on the job, I dug out my copy of Horowitz and Hill and faked it until I maked it. 30 years later I'm a principal engineer design circuits like I'm some sort of qualified person.

[@patrikjonas3633]

Awesome!

[@nitro-ww6sk]

Did they teach you any electronics in your computer science degree back then ?

[@davidjohnston4240]

@@nitro-ww6sk Yes. Electronics 101 and some electives. Digital was covered in much depth. Not enough to do serious board design, but I did make a board in my third year project (a scsi ram disc for local sun workstation paging). So I had enough to get going.

[@MuantanamoMobile]

@@davidjohnston4240 Turned those rocks into lemonade. 😂 Outside of a few Universities these days or innately tenacity, I doubt many CS undergrads would be able to pull off what you did, due to the prevalence of so-called "Java Schools".

[@24tcwarrior]

2 Questions Did you read the whole book, page by page? Or did you skim until you found what you were looking for? How were you able to read and understand the material?

[@dell177]

I graduated from Don Bosco Tech in '66 and worked in electronics for 42 years (as a technician and then engineer). Books like this are worth their weight in gold because they cut to the meat of the subject. I have the 89 version and just ordered the new edition and am looking forward to reading it.

[@bestfriend5293]

انت حقا مذهل. ليتني اتعلم عندك لفترة وجيزة

[@ChipsMicrochips]

Paul Horowitz is an engineering rockstar. Art of E 2 was the last book my dad signed and gave me for my bDay before he passed. The BEST book on the subject for getting circuits to WORK… with theory at an absolute minimum. EE with TI then IBM here.

[@diptree]

Absolutely thrilled to hear Prof. Horowitz. I came across "The Art of Electronics" way back in 1985 (when I was an undergrad in India) and immediately fell in love with the way you approached electronics design - like a designer does. I use to enjoy the sections "bad ideas" which illustrated your knack to think like a new-comer to the subject and sense what mistakes they are likely to make. Of course the 'transistor man' analogy was so refreshing (works so well with a common emitter configuration). It had slipped my mind that you were at Harvard, else I would have really wanted to meet you (during a visit to MIT a few years back).

[@kevinobrien8803]

Shame about constant interruptions. Clicked video link to hear him speak not an ingratiating interviewer butting in every two seconds. Good though all the same. Be great if they could get Dave Jones to do an interview with him, give the man a chance to make his points. His reference to Edward Purcell was absolutely fascinating. Purcell was a genius, a Nobel prize winner and wrote the best book on EM theory. I would have love to have heard some more anecdotes about that.

[@MrMartinRose]

What a great experience to listen to Prof. Horowitz and feeling the spirit he spreads out to us to work with electronics in every way. I ordered the book and I will enjoy every tiny phrase. Born in the 50s in Berlin I was in contact with electronics as a hobby as a small boy and I remained until today. Paul Horowitz is going to refresh my ambition to try things out and building small circuits. Back in the days I built small am radios with even one tube to listen to radio kairo in the night, what an experience! Paul Horowitz makes me feel that this lust will never end. I am shure that I wouldn’t read his whole book and might not understand many or most of Pauls sophisticated content and I apologize that I use this book as entertainment for me growing old instead of using it for serious studies. I might me feel young again, as young as Paul appears in this interview. Awesome! Pleas tell him my best wishes, from Martin from Germany.

[@vegsalad]

I have a 1st edition from the 80s when I was doing applied physics and later electronics as an undergrad. It is the one book I treasure to this day - we called it the bible on my course. In this interview, he is as sharp as a razor, quick-witted, and full of exuberant enthusiasm. I had some great lecturers in my education two guys who paid homage by their book title "The art of Control Engineering" but am so envious of those who learnt from him. I am in my 60s so he must be in his 80s and still inspirational - what a great man. Going online to buy the 3rd edition...

[@hanznel8488]

Bought the second edition of his book while at varsity doing electronics engineering. One of the most valuable books I ever owned. Awesome interview. Will definitely get the 3rd edition. If you are new to electronics, buy the lab manual that complement this book and start experimenting. You will be up and running with electronics in no time.

[@clearwavepro100]

Author of "The Art of Electronics" Paul Horowitz, shares something you WOULD NOT EXPECT him to say, but it is true. ** that he NEVER TOOK AN ELECTRONICS COURSE, and he still is the writer and authority on his subject as a premiere expert ... very inspiring! Thank you much for sharing this interview; AND all of the work you do!

[@physiqueDrummond]

ya, but he studied physics 8-) B.A. + M.A. + Ph.D.

[@jlmurrel]

@@physiqueDrummond - Yes, and studied many electrical and electronic principles more deeply as a physicist than an EE would.

[@TheEvrythingsjake]

There is really something going on here with Horowitz that I think we are absolutely swinging and missing at in modern engineering education, and that is the topic of "synthesis vs. analysis" that was discussed about 1/6 through the vid. Not only do some people learn better by taking a problem and building a solution, but new ideas are formed that way and often quicker, more direct routes to the solution are found. In my experience as a chemical engineer at a top undergrad university, I was asked to "design a process that does x" only a tiny handful of times. This not only downplays that critical skill, it shortchanges "synthetic thinkers" in favor of those who can churn out answers in strict adherence with the examples in the lectures & homeworks. Not that analysis is a bad thing- it is a fundamentally critical skill because a lot of the time engineers don't have the ability to build something new - it's quite often "fix this thing." Has anyone else had these thoughts?

[@TaiViinikka]

TheEvrythingsjake Horowitz has this synthetic perspective because he doesn't have to be conservative and he *does* have to solve hard problems. Being the instrumentation lead for astrophysicists and astronomers must be amazing. I think the "design a process that does X" teaching method can and should extend well beyond engineering, too, into many other aspects of education.

[@Shaybay922]

I was the top student in my Electronics courses at a top University. I left not really knowing how to use an Oscilloscope, let alone design a "real" circuit. I've learnt more about electronics than I did in my entire degree by building projects at home in my own time.

[@HeerdyesMahapatro]

Agree completely. Analysis has been done to death in engineering universities!

[@arthurswanson3285]

This was my chief complaint. No focus on putting things together, just endless analysis with no big picture coherence.

[@DJTrancenergy]

@@HeerdyesMahapatro True, but AoE doesn't help with "synthesis" either. I mostly see a bunch of solutions (some very creative for sure) thrown at you with a good or less good explanation about how it works. Some practical information about passives and other things for sure, also precision design, but I can hardly see any "synthesis" there.

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

Absolute joy to watch charismatic Paul Horowitz talk about his and Winfield Hill's creation. Respect! We're not worthy... Shame about the data books library - it's a bit surprising that any of the electronics and computing museums did not spring up to snatch it.

[@JetNmyFuture]

Never took an electronics class. Awesome.

[@NOTuNOTme]

JetNmyFuture Never took an electronics class but wrote the book on it :)

[@southjerseysound7340]

+NOTuNOTme Kinda gives some hope and credit for those of us that are self taught ;)

[@8kigana]

well he's a phd in physics at Harvard who worked on radios since 8 years so the principles are the same.

[@vegsalad]

Never took an electronics class. But taught a lot wrote a book on it and inspired generations!

[@geetasingh6463]

Self stuff is beter than class

[@GCKteamKrispy]

Dude is so humble!

[@theovannieuwenhuizen5756]

What a terrific and knowledgeable person! Very interesting to watch. Big thanks!

[@42_10_]

this book is amazing. wish I found this book during my electronic circuit analysis class

[@ericksonengineering7011]

Great interview of one of my heroes! Many thanks to you both! I just finished your wonderful AofE X-Chapters book. It is like a detailed history document of my 45 year EE career! Get the latest (3rd) edition of AofE. It's a text book for circuit design, plus a reference for many things you may need in the future. Then get the other AofE books if you want more.

[@sprink88]

My copy of "Learning the Art of Electronics" lab course book arrived this morning, and I'm already deep into it! Thank you, Paul Horowitz, and a HUGE ENOURMOUS GIGANTIC thank you to Limor Fried for quite literally changing my life. (And kudos to Lada Ada Lovelace - the first programmer and an inspiration to all ).

[@sundog486]

I learned a great amount from this book. It became my spring-board to learn more, but even so, I still pick it up from time to time.

[@gblargg]

Skipping to the end where Horowitz gives her a watch, I realized that this interview is in the style of a late-night talk show, and it's with Horowitz as a personality. It's not a chance to hear him talk at length (uninterrupted) about the book and get into technical topics very deeply, its about personalities and chit-chat. Within this context, her shallow comments make sense and are appropriate. Horowitz is trying to respond as if it's for a different audience, so him talking at length about anything is constantly interrupted.

[@abdifatahaden4761]

Her comments aren't really shallow. When they were discussing termination he said characteristic impedance is created when you add a termination resistor but you only get characteristic impedance under the assumption that R and G are very small and can be ignored. If they can't be ignored (because you added a termination resistor) the R term re-introduces frequency dependence and some amount of small reflection (or what he's referring to as capacitance) because you no longer have a characteristic impedance.

[@peterm8605]

Such an engaging talk. I kept my original (black) book and lab manual just to follow along the design principles. Just like so much in Knuth's "Art of computer Programming" is still relevant today, the "Art of Electronics" remains a standard.

[@douglasstrother6584]

Fun to see Paul Horowitz! Bob Pease was The Wizard of Analog Electornics, "What's all this about ?"

[@ukaszbudzynski9113]

Great to be able to watch this interview. It was very interesting and inspiring for me. Thanks a lot!

[@satchelfrost6531]

When's the Hill interview coming?

[@AshisKumarMal]

Best book to learn Electronics !!!

[@berkol1407]

Great and historical co-authors! Thank you Mr. Horowitz and Ladyada for this amazing interview.

[@physiqueDrummond]

"Winfield Hill" and ladyada repplied "We're gonna get here him too!" Is there an interview of him somewhere?

[@gcrady]

" That was more than 5 minutes " LOL. Thank you for so much Paul.

[@ramirosuarez9537]

What an amazing chance to go through all those details in such relaxed and informal interview. Thanks!

[@ear4funk814]

A great conversation ... I had 2nd Edition ... this convinced me to get the 3rd. Thanks!

[@seancrandall1291]

Used this book in school (as a EE). 15 years later, I'm now a patent attorney. But I still have my copy of The Art of Electronics on my shelf for handy reference (and I still use it). Thanks, Prof. Horowitz, for a great book! (And thanks, Adafruit! I just ordered a Raspberry Pi to use as a media center.)

[@Thoughtflux]

Hi, how much does it cost to file a patent? I'm working on an idea.. Nothing earth breaking but maybe people might want it.

[@damirko]

MIT meets Harvard, electronics will never be the same. Great Interview. And an awesome book "The Art of Electronics" The sat. dish question was Awesome!!!

[@ibendwires5805]

Awesome interview. Thanks Professor and Ladyada. I went and purchased the 3rd edition after watching :)

[@tarekyoussef5590]

بصراحة كتاب ممتاز Really a very interesting book in the field of electronic circuits

[@ChrisGrazioli]

I can't say I've ever been interested to read 1000 pages of anything, but if anything could ever motivate me to start, it's this interview. That was cool

[@AreYouKenneth]

Where can I get those electronics component dolls in the back?

[@shoobs6848]

Though frenetic at times, I felt you guys gelled after a bit and started to get a real dialogue going. This was an enjoyable interview. Thank you!

[@longbra]

This was an awesome interview. Love the inspiration from both of you. I'm sold on this book. Love Paul's personality and really appreciated his comparison describing his teaching style versus the podium-style many professors use. If you are going to learn, you have to get more hands on and do things yourself. This is more likely with smaller classes and a teacher that comes down to your level to work along side you.

[@TheGazanews]

really enjoyed to watch every minute of this interview thank you

[@robertcameronjones]

Great interview. Had this book in College in the early 80's. Excellent book - got me hooked on electronics! Love how he showed his co-writer so much respect.

[@mrx.2233]

I have a copy of his book. The grey one. So glad you interviewed Paul. Great to see the people behind these books and so humble too.

[@douglasstrother6584]

I still have and use my 2nd Edition. "The Art of Electronics" is a great resource.

[@Rodewerksahed]

Good interview. I think you had a good rapport. Fun to watch. Paul Horowitz is one hell of an interesting guy and I would love to watch a further interview with him.

[@campbellmorrison8540]

I wish I could go on one of his courses, I have his book obviously but wouldn't it be nice to hear the original flair

[@ryebis]

He's so excited to discuss all the things! The excitement's infectious.

[@VishalVerma-bq6ji]

When the students' manual for 3rd edition is coming up??

[@LennyGrayGuiltless]

Let the guru talk...

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

I had the early edition of this book recommended to me by a teacher and I always thought it was fantastic. What a truly wonderful and inspiring man Paul Horowitz is! Is there an interview with Winfield Hill anywhere?

[@tankgrrl]

I got to see this all unfold and I must say I was struck by how Lady Ada was always looking to ask questions 'for the audience', not for herself. (Off-camera it got _way_ more geeky between the two.) That sort of ego-less "it's not about me" desire to do for others is what really makes the maker movement work. Thanks for a great interview Limor, PT and crew.

[@nezbrun872]

Regretfully, that is not the way it came across to me. A great interviewee, but Spoiled somewhat as the author could barely get a word in without being interrupted. As for the interviewer being ego-less, I think the viewer can draw their own conclusions, but I fear that assuming authorship of the fourth and fifth editions is still somewhat beyond them from this video.

[@robertbass4590]

Nezbrun I understand your perspective but I appreciate her suggestion. One of the things I like about people who are real participants in the modern maker movement is the attitude "if it's worth doing, I can and should be the one who does it." I don't see her suggestion as bravado as much as I see her insisting she will take the torch rather than allowing it to fall.

[@tankgrrl]

Nezbrun " but I fear that assuming authorship of the fourth and fifth editions is still somewhat beyond them " You're being way too literal. It was a joke between two people bantering and enjoying themselves. Nothing more.

[@raccoonnyc]

Nezbrun This annoyed me a little at first but had to realize that this wasn't a professional 60 Minutes type interview - just two very passionate people talking about something they both loved.

[@rikimiki12]

***** sorry Ladyada, you get a downvote for not letting him finish at least a sentence.

[@yutubl]

Very interesting how such an important book project started, it seems to cover several books I needed to have, so I should have get this electronics bible after starting electronics with an experimental kit from Philips which led me to become a service technician for consumer electronics (Radio, TV, Alarm) ... BTW: german analogue television modulates the chrome signal also with alternating chrome-carrier-phase to compensate disturbed color effects over air transmission, thats why its called PAL= Phase Alternating Line.

[@bestfriend5293]

Who has original copies of these educational e-books, I would like them in PDF format

[@jasonlitz3523]

I'm sure this has been answered but I could not find it. Did you ever interview Winfield Hill? I enjoyed the Paul Horowitz interview and was hoping to see one with Hill. Thanks.

[@patkelley8293]

Just ordered Art of Electronics from Goodwill, pretty cheap. Looking forward to getting into it.

[@TaiViinikka]

Thanks for doing this, Paul; you're a gracious guy and an amazing communicator. Now get back to your Optical SETI!!!

[@bvds2007]

Fantastic interview!

[@woandersone6509]

Really interesting man, I enjoyed hering him talk, but that woman interrupting is just so annoying.

[@southjerseysound7340]

+Woanders One if you dont want to hear someone else speak go watch a lecture instead of a interview ;)

[@justingreen8006]

I so enjoyed listening to Paul, but what a frustration to have the ADHD girl constantly interrupting with her "captain obvious" comments or random irrelevant thoughts.

[@NickAlexeev]

Justin Green Yup. Constantly interrupting like that is not lady-like.

[@gblargg]

Nick Alexeev That's inappropriate for a technical interview regardless of the gender of the interviewer.

[@benish0r]

+Justin Green She's fucking annoying indeed. I get really frustrated when she interrupts Paul explaining things. He has some skill in teaching

[@soixantecroissants]

I thought she was fine.

[@miketony2069]

they are both clearly very familar with each other, and if you've ever been around uber technophiles like Lady Ada and Paul, you'll understand this is how conversations occur. From the outside looking in, it might seem annoying. She should for the future be mindful that the viewership will need to follow along and not make it feels like we're simply eavesdropping.

[@petersage5157]

Is that the TL07x series at like 30 on Paul's Favorite Graph? Are we saying there that "bugger it, the source noise and impedance are so high that we should just whack in a jelly bean jFET input voltage amplifier"? Guitarists will probably be so sad, since their pedal boards tend to have several of these in series. ...or does that graph even apply to voltage sources like guitar pickups that produce naff-all current?

[@bayareapianist]

In early 80s, i was a junior in college and someone refered this book to me. I think it was the second edition with all those bad idea and good ideas💡 but the problem was English wasn't my first language and I had to learn two things at once. I learn so much practical electronic designs from this book that I kept it closeby all the time. I think i still have the original book somewhere although I haven't used electrics stuff for over 30 years.

[@LynnetteReese]

I love the fact that this is a conversation, not a stuffy interview. On the contrary to some of the comments, I didn't even notice that she was interrupting. Conversation is a give-and-take, and in the North people talk like this constantly. In the South (I am a transplant to the South) I had to learn to not interrupt because people consider it rude, not a flattering indication that I was so eager to hear and learn that I couldn't get it fast enough. And this is all that is happening here.

[@mrx.2233]

Were can I get the latest copy?

[@andrejalbrecht]

If he has kids they should be really grateful to have a father with such a knowledge 😁👍

[@igsaturation]

A great interview, I feel I'm back in lab discussing circuit design, so so long ago. Its sad to see those databooks in the trash, I did so myself over 10 years ago but regretted it when I needed to fix some old devices with obsolete chips, and not everything is online. I hope some kind soul took most of them for scanning to preserve the specs of obsolete chips. I personally like the National series most, and luckily kept a few, the analog databooks. I've never heard anyone comment on the CMOS CD series as Dr Horowitz did and its my sentiments too. Luckily National came in with the 74C series and made life better. DEI.

[@dogastus]

Great interview. It's great to 'meet' one of the authors of that legendary book. Congrats on a very slick production too!

[@makarocket]

this is way cool !! really enjoyed it all!!

[@CraigKirkpatrickInnovator]

Fantastic and interesting interview. I'm ordering the book. Paul "I never took a course in electronics", Ladyada "Really?, that's awesome!". So many lessons in engineering are only learned through the school of hard-knocks. I advocate everyone who already holds an electrical engineering degree to also earn a PhD from OJT. Only if you are willing and able to work with your hands and perform experiments frequently can you learn from On the Job Training. I'm looking forward to reading the low-noise design section since I am most interested in measurements and calibration.

[@Kaneo_3987]

Fantastic!!!

[@monkeypoohonyou]

Way too many interruptions, other than that this was a good interview.

[@robert1352]

I wish I could give this video more than one like!

[@bk_sutherland]

I have the Gray one, it was soooooo much clearer than my university-recommended text.

[@sergeyivanov3453]

Paul, you are my legend!

[@factorylad5071]

Fun read but doesn't go down to device at atomic level. When you find out the direction of electric field within the depletion layer of a pn junction it may surprise you. Argued at length about it with my physics tutor but he had the red ink pen lol.

[@mrnarason]

Currently taking an introductory electronics class, amazing that i can understand this stuff!

[@rolfmissing4554]

I have the latest versions of the books. Can recommend.

[@tyes798]

its hard

[@AxcelleratorT]

WOW! That was a lot of fun! Ladyada, thank you for posting this interview and for everything you have done to make electronics accessible to folks like me.

[@dilpagalho4306]

One of the first books I bought as a practicing engineer. Good for analog circuits, but quickly outdated for digital electronics and programming...Looking forward to seeing the update

[@kieranj67]

Wow, great interview of a fantastic guy

[@Enigma758]

Clearly a genius too.

[@felixruiztorrez5192]

Such a beautiful video. I really enjoyed it. Thank you.

[@1mrGhost]

Who is this book for? is it for advanced electrical engineering or is it for a completley beginner who just knows ohms law?

[@ptdecker]

1mrGhost It is good for all. A complete beginner needs to have a bit of smarts, but with the brain as a tool this is a comprehensive guide to practical electronics.

[@miketony2069]

refreshing video - I'm a Computer Engineer (from way back in the day) and I remember these types of discussions, were you'd just "geek out" with your friends. I'm going to buy Paul's book at @adafruit!

[@emcgon]

One legend being interviewed by another. Inspirational.

[@LelandGreen]

I loved this video! Fascinating stuff and you both make it so understandable. Great job! I've just started these books, but I thoroughly enjoy both of them. (I'm a software engineer, by trade, for 21+ years, now on disability, so this is a hobby.) Lady Ada, when you write that 4th and 5th book, I hope to be around to purchase them both, and the lab books, too. And right now, I'm going to buy an oscilloscope! I thought I had to spend thousands. Just one of the tidbits that made this so fun to watch. :-) Now where can I get me one of those watches? ;-)

[@tunicana]

This interview was completely spoiled by the interviewer.

[@scasey1960]

An interviewer who hasn’t read this classic book on electronics. Is this an example of “I see me on the screen” if your an idiot?

[@arabiccola]

I waited my entire life to listen to this man tell me how this book came to be. It's painful to watch.

[@theovannieuwenhuizen5756]

That was really a big let down. Luckily Horowitz is a terrific guy!

[@lazyicebear]

2024 anyone???❤

[@richardgray8593]

This interview is more entertaining to me than what is generally considered to be entertainment.

[@vector8310]

I know this is stating the obvious but this guy has sheer mastery of his subject.

[@datech6274]

Just so happy seeing Paul. What a great professor he's.

[@PaulHartyanszky]

A fantastic interview. Loved all of it

[@johnjohn-ed9qt]

Still annoyed I couldn't get into the class when I was in grad school in cambridge (denied because my undergrad was EE, but it was also a conflict with a required seminar with Judah Schwartz). Used the first when I was in the lab at MGH, the second for over 20 years teaching, and now have got the third through approval. Nice to see that Paul is pretty much the same as in the 1980's.

[@ElectricEvan]

How about interviewing Thomas C. Hayes the coauthor of the student manual?

[@kungfumaster8171]

Excellent, just ordered the book. Indispensable reference.

[@upuldhanushkagajanayake2719]

Wonderful character

[@factorylad5071]

Rubidium Crystal high stability oscillators were used to create the analogue ctv video signal. Fun fact for you.

[@071Rishi]

I need to take loan to buy this book in my country

[@giovannimazzocco499]

Awesome interview! Thanks.

[@billmoran3812]

MIT is just down the street from Harvard.... Ouch! Also laughed at the "People's Republic of Cambridge" local humor!

[@diggleboy]

Fun fact: Similar to Paul Horowitz, the Godfather of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, never took a course in computer science.

[@UpcycleElectronics]

Thanks for putting this together and sharing. Sorry for the rude people in this comments section that expect entertainment or career professional level preparation like you have the time and 50 person staff to devote to a CBS interview production. As a fan of The Art of Electronics, future engineer, and slightly socially awkward technically gifted personality type, this was far better than anything I could do.

[@maximilliansbabo2099]

What a legend

[@scratchbuilder5952]

Great interview

[@shoobs6848]

The look on his face at 10:20: "You've got to be shittin' me." Priceless!

[@chickenstrangler3826]

More like 27:11