I've had several people ask me about what the best book was to learn the really basic stuff about electronics and, up until now, I'd point to the various classics in that department. But they all still take a while to grasp if you're coming from zero.
Anyway, a friend just lent me a book called
There Are No Electrons: Electronics for Earthlings and it's amazing. It's completely absurd, involves extra-terrestrials, speedboat-piloting ducks and breakdancing chickens but all these stories have a serious point, that is to teach you electronics theory. And it does work, even though I already knew everything I read in there, it came from such a different/surreal perspective it actually gave me a better mental image of the way things happen.
Also it made me laugh out loud a few times too
So, if you're looking to get a good grasp on the basics, read it now.
From amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/There-Are-Electrons-Electronics-Earthlings/dp/0962781592/From amazon.co.uk sellers:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/There-Are-Electrons-Electronics-Earthlings/dp/0962781592/Colin
