The Best Electrical Engineering Textbooks of 2024

If you’re looking to get into electrical engineering, you’re going to want to take courses and classes, but you’re also going to want to take a closer look at some of the different books available on the topic. Each of the best electrical engineering textbooks we’ve got here are ones we know are going to make it easier for you to follow along with your class and understand what’s going on at all times.

For anyone who’s been struggling, or even if you’re just getting started and want to make sure that you don’t struggle, this is precisely the way to go about it. Make sure you take a look and see which books you like best. We’ve sorted them based on the ones we think will help you the most, but of course, it’s going to be up to you to see what works best in the end.

Don’t be afraid to try out several books and make sure that you have the right one for you. Everyone is different, after all, and we want to make sure that when it comes to your electrical engineering class, you’re going to be more than prepared to get the grade that you want and get a great understanding of what you’re studying.

This way, you’re going to be better prepared for the future career that you want and for everything that it’s going to require, no matter where you’re starting out from.

Last update: 2024-04-26

Our Favorites for the Best Electrical Engineering Textbooks

The first thing we’re going to take a look at are our favorites. These are the best basic electrical engineering textbooks that you definitely should take a closer look at because they’re going to make it a whole lot easier for you to understand different aspects of the topic. Not only that but they approach it from a way that’s easy to understand. So, make sure you’re taking a look at each of these books before any of the rest (if at all possible of course).

Electrical Engineering: Principles and Applications by Allan R. Hambley

If you’re looking for a book that’s going to help you learn the basics of electrical engineering even if you’ve never studied it before Electrical Engineering: Principles and Applications is where you want to go. It’s a moderate length text and one that is considered one of the best electrical engineering textbooks around. It can be a little boring for some who already have the necessary knowledge and foundation, but for newbies, it’s an excellent way for you to get started, whether with a regular class or on your own entirely.

Electrical Engineering: Principles and Applications is definitely a good one for those who are in a class because it does cover so much and it’s written by someone who definitely has the understanding that you’re looking for. All of this means that you’re going to know what you’re doing by the time you get to the end of Electrical Engineering, so it’s a great way for you to start studying alongside your current class and to make sure you’re prepared to jump further into the field. If you’re thinking this is a subject you want to get into, it’s definitely time to start looking closer.

What Makes it Unique:

• Illustrations and demonstrations are utilized throughout to back up information
• Develops a basic foundation of the subject, especially when combined with a course
• The information is provided in a clear and simple manner for anyone to read

Why Choose This Book:

• Additional information is included through practice tests and resources
• Offers the same information as pricier books without the high cost

Last update: 2024-04-26

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Delmar’s Standard Textbook of Electricity by Stephen L. Herman

What’s really important about Delmar’s Standard Textbook is that it gives you all the information you would get in your class and then some. That way, you’re getting the whole experience. You won’t even need a teacher if you don’t have a class currently. It frequently updates to get you the latest and greatest information, and it’s easy to understand, even if you’re just getting started. There are even answers shown within Delmar’s Standard Textbook that will help you to check your work as you’re practicing and getting to know everything.

Designed to provide you with not only the essential information and foundation that you need but also a hands-on tool for how to get things done, Delmar’s Standard Textbook of Electricity is one that goes over a lot of different areas. It looks at some of the basic math and gives you examples and also provides you with schematics and illustrations so you can learn the foundational aspects of electrical engineering. All of these things are going to be essential whether you’re looking to pursue a career in this subject or you’re looking to get a little understanding for your own personal uses.

What Makes it Unique:

• Hands on tool for showing you how to do things rather than just providing information
• Offers schematics and illustrations that can be referenced later
• Provides information in a format that works well for self-study as well as courses

Why Choose This Book:

• Starts from the basics and builds upward for new students or interested parties
• All the math is broken down step-by-step to make it easier to learn and follow

Last update: 2024-04-26

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Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineers by Surya Santoso

This is a relatively new book that’s designed to give you a good understanding of the topic. It’s written by professionals within the field, who have spent their lives teaching and working within electrical engineering. That means you can count on them to know what they’re talking about and to explain it in a way that you can easily understand. It gets you through every aspect of the field and gives you a technical understanding. At the same time, Santoso’s Standard Handbook makes sure you can understand everything about the topic.

Written for students within the field, it’s very clear about everything you need to know and also provides you with a great reference piece. You’ll get the overview (and in-depth) on practically everything related to electrical engineering. That means you’re going to be pushing yourself even further and getting an even better education, even if you’ve already started on it. If you’re looking for a way to refer back to information or to brush up on some of the areas while you’re studying in class, Santoso’s Standard Handbook is definitely going to be a great way to do it.

What Makes it Unique:

• Written by those who have worked within the field for others looking to work in the field
• Includes newer information and references
• Great to pair with an introductory course on electrical engineering

Why Choose This Book:

• Provides information on nearly everything electrical
• Can be used as a reference guide for later review

Last update: 2024-04-26

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Runner Ups for the Best Electrical Engineering Textbooks

If you want to know the best electrical engineering books for beginners we’d recommend you start with the ones up above, but these ones are definitely going to give you some great features, and they’re definitely going to help you along as well. We really like these ones, just not quite as much as the ones in our favorites section. So don’t be afraid to try these ones out alongside the others or instead of the others. You’ll still get an exceptional understanding of the material.

Engineers’ Practical Databook by Jay Smith

If you’re in need of a reference book that’s going to help you find everything you need, when you need it, then Engineers’ Practical Databook is where you want to go. It’s going to be a great help when you’re studying because it actually offers a lot of the formulas, charts, and data, whether you’re still a student or you’re actually working within the field. It gives you the data you need without a lot of extraneous information too, so you’re going to be able to find the information you need quickly.

Overall, Engineers’ Practical Databook is definitely concise and still gives you all the information you’re going to need at the same time. It’s more practical than other guidebooks and definitely small enough that you can keep it with you to look at during your work. For those who are just getting started, it will keep all the information you need right at the forefront of your mind at all times. With plenty of information spelled right out in tables as well, you won’t have to do the calculations for yourself with Engineers’ Practical Databook.

What Makes it Unique:

• Great for students as well as professionals within the field
• Focuses solely on information a practicing engineer needs rather than foundations
• Offers practical guidelines and information

Why Choose This Book:

• Small enough to carry with you wherever you go
• No calculations are needed because they’ve been completed in the tables

Last update: 2024-04-26

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Basic Electrical Engineering by K. Uma Rao and A. Jayalakshimi

Basic Electrical Engineering is a book that’s designed to help you not only understand the foundation of electrical engineering but actually figure out how to apply it in day-to-day functions. It uses two different sections that go over various topics related to basic instrumentation and circuit analysis as well as concepts with electrical machines. You’ll have a good understanding of each of these areas when you’re done reading Basic Electrical Engineering.

The more important concepts and elements are the main focus of Basic Electrical Engineering, which is excellent for students and it’s actually designed to follow most syllabi for engineering. That means you shouldn’t have any problem following along with a professor and making sure that you’re getting the additional help that you need whether you’re struggling or not. If you’re just trying to make sure you get all the information necessary you’re definitely going to have it here.

What Makes it Unique:

• Bridges information from real life to how electrical engineering applies
• Uses two sections to focus on the important aspects of engineering
• Designed to follow along with most syllabi even when not used as the course textbook

Why Choose This Book:

• Presents all the information in an easy to understand method
• Focuses on the most important concepts rather than the basics of everything

Last update: 2024-04-26

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Value Picks for the Best Electrical Engineering Textbooks

If you want to get a good handle on electrical engineering but you just can’t afford to break the bank on your books this is where you want to be. You’re going to find some of the most popular electrical engineering books here, and they’re going to give you everything you need, but on a budget. You might not get quite as much when it comes to the scope of the book or the depth that they dive into, but you’re still going to have a lot of great features and plenty of great information to go off of.

Electrical Engineering 101: Everything You Should Have Learned in School … but Probably Didn’t by Darren Ashby

For anyone who wants to get a strong understanding of electrical engineering, starting with the things that you probably should already know, Electrical Engineering 101 is where you should do it. You’ll be able to go over some of the basics from figuring out what electricity is all the way to understanding what tools you should use for different types of problems. Not only that but it even gets you to how to maintain and even create design projects in electronics. There are step-by-step instructions, all kinds of detail and definitions and a whole lot more.

Electrical Engineering 101 is the kind of book that you should definitely pick up before you ever even start your electrical engineering classes. You’re going to love the way that it sums up the information and gets you started right from the basics all the way through the applications of electrical engineering. Not only that but it’s going to help those who are working on brushing up on some of the older techniques or things that they might not remember as much too. Even if you’ve been in the field for a while, you won’t have a problem using Electrical Engineering 101 to help you out.

What Makes it Unique:

• Starts from the ground up to teach everything you need to know about electrical engineering
• Great for revisiting information or for those who have been working in the field and want to brush up on techniques
• Looks at the function of components and doesn’t spend the time on theory and mathematics

Why Choose This Book:

• Clears up common confusions and mysteries related to electronics and circuits
• Information is presented in layman’s terms rather than in technical jargon

Last update: 2024-04-26

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How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic by Michael Jay Geier

If you’re looking to learn a bit more about electricity but maybe not go too far into the field, then you’re going to want How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic. It’s going to give you hands-on tips and tricks as well as step-by-step instructions to get you through some of the basic things you need to understand your electronics and more. You’ll also learn more about what you can do to fix some of your electronics that might not be working the way they should or to understand what’s going on with them at the very least.

The key in How to Diagnose and Fix Everything is to make sure that you really understand electronics because, well, they’re not always clear to everyone. It gives you a good perspective and also makes sure that you’re interested in the content that you’re going over. The important thing for electrical engineers is going to be about following along with your course at the same time. How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic is definitely the type of book that’s going to work for anyone, whether you’ve actually taken electrical engineering courses in the past or not. If you just want to have a good foundation, you’re going to get that start right here too.

What Makes it Unique:

• Personal anecdotes and stories make the information even more interesting to read
• Approaches circuits and signals in entirely different ways related to characters in a story
• Physics and theory are not the focus of this book, it’s more hands-on

Why Choose This Book:

• Information is discussed clearly including tools that are necessary to perform specific repairs
• Works well for professionals as well as hobbyists who want to learn to make their own repairs

Last update: 2024-04-26

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American Electricians’ Handbook by Terrell Croft and Frederic P. Hardwell

American Electricians’ Handbook is a fully updated version that offers everything you need to know about electrical codes and standards, properties, circuits, transformers, generators, outside distribution, interior wiring and a whole lot more. You’re going to get really deep into the details and the technical aspects that you most definitely need to know, but you’re also going to get a lot of information that you can use while you’re actually doing the work, so it’s not just a text to get you through that next class.

You’re going to learn about the entire process of electrical engineering from the design to the installation to operations and maintenance and not just with the electrical system but the equipment used as well. There are even pictures, charts, tables, calculations and a whole lot more in American Electricians’ Handbook to make the process much easier. You’ll get information that’s intended for those who are a little more advanced, and you’ll have a book that you’re going to want to keep updating as time goes on.

What Makes it Unique:

• Provides connections between electrical code and practical work
• Designed for practicing electricians and those with an advanced knowledge
• Provides in-depth information about all aspects of electrical engineering

Why Choose This Book:

• Pictures, charts and diagrams make everything easier to understand
• Can be referred back to when you’re actually practicing

Last update: 2024-04-26

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Summary of the Best Electrical Engineering Textbooks

Wrapping everything up, here are the Electrical Engineering textbooks we went over today:

Last update: 2024-04-26

Any of these eight top electrical engineering books should help you on your path to studying and understanding electrical engineering. Each one ranks among the top electrical engineering books out there. No matter where you’re starting from, you’re going to get the information that you need, and you’ll be more than ready to dive in with both feet. You won’t need to worry about how to get started. Whichever one you decide is the best book for engineering basics, you’re going to be more than happy to begin your learning process. Plus, you’ll have no problem following along with your professor or teacher, and you’ll be able to get through the material in a way that’s actually easy to understand for most people.

If you found this post helpful, check out our other comprehensive textbook reviews.

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