San Francisco, CA, March 19, 2009—Rereko is just your average high-school girl from Electopia, the land of electricity. Except she's completely failed her electricity exam! Now she has to go to summer school on Earth—and this time, she has to pass. Luckily, her ever-patient tutor Hikaru is there to help. So begins the The Manga Guide to Electricity (March 2009, 224 pp, ISBN 9781593271978), the charming third volume in a series of technical EduManga titles from San Francisco-based geek book publisher No Starch Press.
The Manga Guide to Electricity combines an entertaining plot with authentic manga comics and lessons that offer readers a unique introduction to the world of electricity. Readers learn alongside Rereko as her tutor explains the basics of electricity by examining everyday devices like flashlights, heaters, and circuit breakers.
"I'm really excited about this latest Manga Guide," said No Starch Press Founder Bill Pollock. "I can't even count the number of people who have no clue about how electricity works or what diodes, resistors, and capacitors do. This is a great and painless way to sort through the mumbo jumbo."
The real-world examples in The Manga Guide to Electricity teach readers:
- What electricity is, how it works, how it's created, and how it can be used
- The relationship between voltage, current, and resistance (Ohm's law)
- Key electrical concepts like inductance and capacitance
- How complicated components like transformers, semiconductors, and transistors work
- How electricity produces heat and the relationship between current and magnetic fields
As they progress through the book, readers will explore more abstract concepts of electricity like electrostatic force, Ampere's law, and the Seebeck effect. Co-published with scientific and technical publisher Ohmsha, Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan, The Manga Guide to Electricity will make learning about electricity a shockingly good time for readers of all ages.
For more information, to schedule an interview, or to request a review copy of The Manga Guide to Electricity, contact Travis Peterson at No Starch Press (nostarchpr@oreilly.com, +1.415.863.9900, x300), or visit www.nostarch.com.
About the Author
Kazuhiro Fujitaki is a lecturer at the Tokyo Metropolitan Vocational Skills Development Center. He has written a number of books on electrical engineering and runs a website offering useful information about Japan's qualifying examinations for electrical technicians.
Sample pages from The Manga Guide to Electricity:
Additional Resources
Excerpt from The Manga Guide to Electricity
Table of contents overview
Detailed table of contents (PDF)
Index (PDF)
Large cover image
The Manga Guide to Electricity
by Kazuhiro Fujitaki, Matsuda, and Trend-pro Co, Ltd.
March 2009, 224 pp
ISBN 9781593271978, $19.95 USD
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
Available in fine bookstores everywhere, from www.oreilly.com/nostarch, or directly from No Starch Press (www.nostarch.com, orders@nostarch.com, +1.415.863.9900).
About the Manga Guide Series
The Manga Guides explain essential scientific and technical subjects using Japanese-style comics. Each guide is written by a scientist or mathematician with expertise in the field and illustrated by a professional manga artist and scenario writer, ensuring the authenticity and accuracy readers demand. Already bestsellers in their native Japanese, these unique books have been translated into English with the assistance and oversight of technical experts. The first three titles in the series, The Manga Guide to Statistics (9781593271893, November 2008), Databases (9781593271909, January 2009), and Electricity (9781593271978, March 2009), will be followed by Physics (9781593271961, May 2009), Calculus (9781593271947, June 2009), and Molecular Biology (9781593272029, September 2009).
About No Starch Press
Founded in 1994, No Starch Press is one of the few remaining independent technical book publishers. We publish the finest in geek entertainment—unique books on technology, with a focus on Open Source, security, hacking, programming, alternative operating systems, and LEGO. Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate, and our books tackle topics that people care about. See www.nostarch.com for a complete catalog.
About Ohmsha
Founded in 1914, Ohmsha, Ltd. is a science and engineering book publisher based in Japan. In addition to publishing dozens of titles a year in Japan, Ohmsha is also active in foreign projects, including co-publications with major publishers in Europe, North America, and Asia, and joint ventures with major international publishers. With the aim of contributing to the development and progress of science and technology in Japan, Ohmsha established The Promotion Foundation for Electrical Science and Engineering in 1951; through this foundation, the OHM Technology Award is given every year to those who have made significant contributions to the field of electrical engineering.
About O’Reilly
O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.