If you're shopping for editor-written reference books, the decision isn't just about which title sounds interesting. You also have to balance format, condition, and how you'll actually use the book. In the magazines, textbooks, and reference space, that usually comes down to a hardcover you can keep on a shelf versus a paperback you can flip through at a desk. These four books represent that trade-off nicely: a 1974 circuit design paperback, two hardcover listings of a 1979 computer projects book, and a compact brain science hardcover from TIME.
Quick take
If you want a big 1979 reference for computer projects, the two Giant Handbook listings are your hardcover options. If you want a portable circuit design reference, the Electronic Circuit Design Handbook is the paperback middle path. If you want a lower-priced, general-interest science read, TIME Your Brain: A User's Guide is the lightest entry point. Listed prices here run from $6.98 to $25.00, so the real choice is how much condition matters to you.
Listed price comparison
| Listed item | Listed price | Condition & format | Price bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Circuit Design Handbook by EEE Magazine Editors | $15.99 | Good, paperback | |
| The Giant Handbook of Computer Projects by 73 Magazine Editors | $25.00 | Good, hardcover | |
| Giant Handbook of Computer Projects by The Editors of 73 Magazine | $25.00 | Acceptable, hardcover | |
| TIME Your Brain: A User's Guide | $6.98 | Good, hardcover |
Decision matrix
| If your goal is... | Best match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One big hardcover with 1979 computer projects | The Giant Handbook of Computer Projects | Good condition and illustration across 503 pages |
| A lower-condition copy of the same projects | Giant Handbook of Computer Projects | Acceptable condition with a noted flaw, no writing or highlighting |
| A portable circuit design reference | Electronic Circuit Design Handbook | 415 pages in paperback format |
| A short, accessible brain-science read | TIME Your Brain: A User's Guide | Compact hardcover with editor-written content |
Product notes
Electronic Circuit Design Handbook by EEE Magazine Editors
This fourth-edition paperback from Tab Books contains 415 pages of circuit design material and is listed in good condition. It's the most portable option in this group if you want a workbench reference rather than a large hardcover. The 4th edition, third printing from August 1974 has the classic look of a hobbyist-era handbook, and the previous owner's stamp and cover wear are noted in the description. If you're happy with a used shop reference that's meant to be opened, this is a solid middle-ground choice. The obvious limitation is condition: cover wear, dirt, and an inside stamp mean it's not a display piece.
The Giant Handbook of Computer Projects by 73 Magazine Editors
This 1979 hardcover from TAB Books is a first-edition, illustrated, ex-library copy with 503 pages. It's listed in good condition and targets adult and further education readers, so it reads like a teaching reference rather than a quick intro. If you want the larger hardcover format with room for diagrams, this is the more presentable of the two Giant Handbook listings because its condition is described as good. The trade-off is the ex-library feature: you're getting library marks in a copy that's still in good shape. For a reader who wants the content, that's often acceptable; for a collector, it's the reason to pause.
Giant Handbook of Computer Projects by The Editors of 73 Magazine
This is the other 1979 hardcover edition of the same title, listed in acceptable condition rather than good. The description notes a coffee spot on the bottom of the book and no writing or highlighting. It's hardcover and shares the same author and publication year as the other Giant Handbook, so the content is essentially the same. The condition difference is the deciding factor: if you're not bothered by the coffee spot and a slightly stained start, this listing gets you the same projects at the same listed price. But because the other hardcover copy is described as good at that same price, this one is only worth choosing if the particular copy's flaws are acceptable.
TIME Your Brain: A User's Guide
Written by Jeffrey Kluger and the editors of TIME, this hardcover is a 0.5-inch-thick volume with an 11.2-inch page height, making it a compact, shelf-friendly pick. It's listed in good condition and is the lowest-priced item in this group. If you're looking for an accessible brain-science read rather than a technical project book, this is the obvious match. Its focus is brain science, so it sits apart from the project-oriented reference titles in this group. For a general reader interested in how the brain works, it's the easiest way to start without committing to a large technical handbook.
Final recommendation by use case
- For computer projects, choose The Giant Handbook of Computer Projects if you want a good-condition hardcover and can accept ex-library marks. Choose the other Giant Handbook listing only if you're comfortable with the coffee-spot flaw.
- For circuit design, pick Electronic Circuit Design Handbook when you want a portable paperback with 415 pages.
- For a general brain-science read, pick TIME Your Brain: A User's Guide for the lowest listed price in this set.
