A bookish life in amateur radio
I enjoy reading essays, so when I saw a collection of essays from Joseph Epstein, Familiarity Breeds Content: New and Selected Essays, on the new books shelf at my local library, I checked it out. The essays were fine, although Iβm not sure that I agree with David Brooks, who called the essays βfunnyβ and full of βcharming banter.βΒ
One essay in the book, βThe Bookish Life,β did catch my eye. The essay discusses lists of books that a βwell-readβ person might be expected to have read. Epstein notes the difficulties with such lists and writes,
Such lists reveal a yearning for a direct route to wisdom. Brace yourself for the bad news: none is available. If one wanted to establish expertise in a restricted fieldβeconomics, say, or art history, or botanyβsuch a Β list might be useful.
Iβm thinking that such a list might be useful for amateur radio, and I donβt think that Iβve ever seen such a list. So, letβs start one.Β
Scanning my bookshelves, I offer the following:
- The ARRL Handbook
- The ARRL Antenna Book
- The ARRL Operating Manual
- The Art of Electronics, 3d edition. Horowitz and Hill.
- Electronic and Radio Engineering, 4th edition, Terman.Β
- Antennas, 2d edition, Kraus
- Experimental Methods in RF Design, Revised Edition; Hayward, Campbell, and Larkin.
I have not actually read all of these books, so I canβt claim to be a bookish radio amateur. I have cracked them open on occasion, though. Some Iβve cracked open more than others.
Iβve never owned a copy of Experimental Methods, but every time itβs mentioned, it seems to be mentioned with a certain reverence. Thatβs why Iβve included it in this list. Itβs no longer in print, though, which is curious. If itβs such a great book, youβd think that the ARRL would continue selling it.
Anyway, Iβd like to get your nomination for the essential amateur radio book list. Please comment below or email me directly.Β