Hi there! I'm Jay, a passionate radio communication engineer fascinated by the world of radio communication, electronics, and wireless technologies. I’ve got decades of experience designing and building projects in the industry, and I always try to stay up-to-date with the latest innovations in the field.
This site curates what I believe to be some of the most insightful books in the tech sector, from radio and electronics to wireless networks, the Internet of Things, and smart home technologies.
If you are a fellow engineer, a tech enthusiast, or simply want to learn more about this exciting industry, I promise you’re going to find some valuable recommendations on Star28.
I wanted to highlight exactly 28 books on the site initially, but I simply couldn't replace some of them. So, the site includes 30+ books as of today.
If you’ve got a tech book recommendation, drop me a note. I’ll read the book, and if it’s got what it takes, I promise I’ll review it and add it to my list.
Let’s dive in!
"RFID Handbook" by Klaus Finkenzeller is an essential resource for people who want to learn more about the Radio Frequency Identification technology. It covers not only the fundamental principles, but also the practical applications of RFID, making it an indispensable resource, especially for beginners to radio technologies.
Each chapter focuses on a particular aspect of RFID. The first chapters explain how radio waves and electromagnetic fields work. Then, the author discusses transmission methods and data encoding mechanisms.
As the book progresses, it tackles advanced RFID elements, including modulation techniques, transponders, and more. This section may be a bit dry for people who don’t have a tech background, I suppose...
The book written by Pratap Misra and Per Enge has been widely recognized as a key resource in the GPS tech field. It’s hardly a surprise, because lots of students, engineers, and researchers have been using it for over a decade now.
"Global Positioning System: Signals, Measurements, and Performance" begins by presenting a succinct history of GPS technology, and then continues by exploring the L1 & L2 frequency bands and CDMA.
The following chapters highlight GPS signal structure, modulation techniques, data message formats, etc. Error sources are not ignored, whether we are talking about atmospheric delays, multipath effects, and/or receiver noise.
The book would not be complete without reviewing a broad array of practical examples: differential GPS, network design, receiver and system performance, Wide Area Augmentation Systems, Local Area Augmentation Systems, and more...
"Blockchain Revolution" by Don and Alex Tapscott discusses blockchain technology, and its impact on several key industry sectors. The authors have managed to create an accessible overview of this important technology, making it an easy-to-digest book for beginners as well.
The book starts by discussing the core principles of blockchain, emphasizing its differences from centralized tech systems. Then, the father-and-son duo explore various applications of blockchain in the finance industry, healthcare, governance, and more.
In the end, future opportunities and challenges are discussed, along with advice on how to use this emerging technology...
Maciej Kranz’s book is a key guide for people who want to understand and implement IoT in their businesses. The power of "Building the Internet of Things" lies in the author’s ability to make complex theory accessible to company owners and business leaders who don’t necessarily have a technical background.
The book includes lots of case studies and examples from various industries, including healthcare, transportation, and energy, highlighting the ways in which the Internet of Things has revolutionized them. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to use IoT with the goal of transforming their industries and gaining an edge over their competitors.
The first section explains the Internet of Things basics, emphasizing the four IoT pillars: people, processes, data, and things. Then, Maciej Kranz discusses how specialists can build reliable IoT systems, while taking into account their security and scalability...
"Practical Internet of Things Security” by Brian Russell and Drew Van Duren is a very comprehensive guide for people who are or want to get involved in IoT. It’s a niche book that discusses the essential issue of securing IoT devices and networks, and does so by blending theory and actionable strategies.
The book uses a structured approach, starting with the basics, and then gradually moving on to complex security mechanisms. By doing this, the authors have ensured their work caters to novices and seasoned industry professionals alike.
I especially liked the real-world IoT security examples. The book discusses secure boot processes, secure firmware updates, secure data encryption techniques, and more. The in-depth sections that tackle IoT privacy and secure ecosystems are very valuable due to their relevance in today’s high-risk cyberthreats landscape...
"The Fourth Industrial Revolution" by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, highlights the transformative impact emerging technologies have on our lives.
The author places this set of breakthrough discoveries within the context of the previous industrial revolutions, emphasizing the unique way in which the physical, digital, and biological areas merge, reshaping our future.
It’s a book that discusses AI, IoT, biotechnology, and more. One of the chapters focuses on the way in which automation and AI will displace some jobs, while creating new ones. Schwab mentions that for this to work, governments need to join their forces, with the goal of equipping the workforce with the required skills...
"Home Attitude: Everything You Need To Know To Make Your Home Smart" is an essential guide for people who want to improve their living spaces using smart home technologies. The author has managed to dissect the complexities of fully-featured smart home setups, presenting his findings in a practical manner that’s suitable for people who are new to technology, as well as to tech enthusiasts.
The book starts by discussing the inner workings of a smart home, along with the benefits it brings to the owner. The first section explains smart hubs, thermostats, and intelligent lighting systems, helping readers avoid common installation and configuration mistakes.
John R. Patrick has a lot of practical experience, and his book clearly shows that. The author tackles advanced topics such as data protection, data privacy, advanced integrations, automation, and more...
"Designing Connected Products" tackles the challenge of designing fully functional, and yet easy-to-use interfaces for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. I know it’s not a book for everyone, but designers, developers, and product managers will find it valuable for sure.
The book focuses on three main aspects:
It’s a holistic view of UX design for Internet of Things devices, which takes into account the entire ecosystem, from hardware/software to user experience...