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Open Circuits: The Inner Beauty of Electronic Components
Open Circuits is a photographic exploration of the beautiful design inside everyday electronics. Its stunning cross-section photography unlocks a hidden world full of elegance, subtle complexity, and wonder.
Our phones, computers, and appliances are made of hundreds of internal components, each precisely engineered to perform a certain function, but none intended to actually be seen. Through painstakingly executed, vividly detailed cross-section photography, Open Circuits reveals the surprising—and often accidental—beauty hiding inside the electronic components that drive our everyday devices.
From resistors to LEDs, USB cables to headphone jacks, stepper motors to nixie tubes, the book’s arresting imagery transforms more than 130 components into delightful works of art. As you visually dissect the components’ insides, you’ll learn about how they work and how they were made. Open Circuits has something for everyone to appreciate, whether you’re a seasoned electrical engineer, an amateur tinkerer, or simply a lover of art and photography.
Our phones, computers, and appliances are made of hundreds of internal components, each precisely engineered to perform a certain function, but none intended to actually be seen. Through painstakingly executed, vividly detailed cross-section photography, Open Circuits reveals the surprising—and often accidental—beauty hiding inside the electronic components that drive our everyday devices.
From resistors to LEDs, USB cables to headphone jacks, stepper motors to nixie tubes, the book’s arresting imagery transforms more than 130 components into delightful works of art. As you visually dissect the components’ insides, you’ll learn about how they work and how they were made. Open Circuits has something for everyone to appreciate, whether you’re a seasoned electrical engineer, an amateur tinkerer, or simply a lover of art and photography.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
83 people are currently reading
1567 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 3, 2022
Finally got my hardcover copy! Beautiful to flip through every page. Probably the best "coffee table" book for an engineering company, especially one in hardware. Loved flipping through each section
July 3, 2023
This ended up on my radar while I was looking for nonfiction with a good combination of visuals and info. I don't actually know much about electronic components, so I was somewhat reluctant to take the plunge and get this, but then I spotted it on sale and snatched it up, and I'm glad I did.
This lovely book is organized into six sections: passive components (resistors, capacitors, fuses, etc.), semiconductors (transistors, LED, diodes, etc.), electromechanics (various switches, motors, buzzers, etc.), cables and connectors, retro tech (cathode ray tubes, vacuum tubes, neon lamps, incandescent light bulbs, etc.), and composite devices (circuits boards, microSD cards, LED displays, etc.). The book wraps up with a "making of" section that describes how the various electronic components were prepared and photographed, plus a bit about macro photography.
No Starch Press's product page has some great resources showing you what to expect from the text, photography, and overall look of the book, which was reassuring to someone like me, who's purchased stuff specifically for the illustrations before, only to find that the pages were too small to properly show off the art and/or that the printing wasn't good quality. That wasn't the case here - this book does a fantastic job of showcasing the various electronic components, with many of the photographs taking up full or half pages. Each component gets at least two pages for photographs, occasional diagrams (to highlight things the photographs don't show well), and explanatory text that provides enough context to help even a newbie like me understand what I'm looking at.
Although everything was beautiful and more interesting than I expected, my favorite chapter was probably the electromechanics one. My inner child appreciated the peek inside various switches, learning how they work, and why they feel so satisfying to flip. Still, every chapter had something I enjoyed, and I definitely have a new appreciation for my smartphone.
Overall, highly recommended if anything about this book piques your interest even the slightest bit.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
This lovely book is organized into six sections: passive components (resistors, capacitors, fuses, etc.), semiconductors (transistors, LED, diodes, etc.), electromechanics (various switches, motors, buzzers, etc.), cables and connectors, retro tech (cathode ray tubes, vacuum tubes, neon lamps, incandescent light bulbs, etc.), and composite devices (circuits boards, microSD cards, LED displays, etc.). The book wraps up with a "making of" section that describes how the various electronic components were prepared and photographed, plus a bit about macro photography.
No Starch Press's product page has some great resources showing you what to expect from the text, photography, and overall look of the book, which was reassuring to someone like me, who's purchased stuff specifically for the illustrations before, only to find that the pages were too small to properly show off the art and/or that the printing wasn't good quality. That wasn't the case here - this book does a fantastic job of showcasing the various electronic components, with many of the photographs taking up full or half pages. Each component gets at least two pages for photographs, occasional diagrams (to highlight things the photographs don't show well), and explanatory text that provides enough context to help even a newbie like me understand what I'm looking at.
Although everything was beautiful and more interesting than I expected, my favorite chapter was probably the electromechanics one. My inner child appreciated the peek inside various switches, learning how they work, and why they feel so satisfying to flip. Still, every chapter had something I enjoyed, and I definitely have a new appreciation for my smartphone.
Overall, highly recommended if anything about this book piques your interest even the slightest bit.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
October 18, 2022
The book is big. The print quality is great. The photos are detailed and staged well. The content is thoughtfully arranged. 5 stars.
December 12, 2023
No Starch Press's tagline is "The finest in geek entertainment", and this book is a fine example of that. Many and varied electronic components, precisely cut open and very clearly photographed, accompanied by brief explanations.
More than simply educating and entertaining, it also stimulates your curiosity and makes you want to look up even more information on electronics, fabrication technologies, even on things such as the materials which go into such things.
A good book and a great present for someone even a little interested in the field.
More than simply educating and entertaining, it also stimulates your curiosity and makes you want to look up even more information on electronics, fabrication technologies, even on things such as the materials which go into such things.
A good book and a great present for someone even a little interested in the field.
September 22, 2022
Fantastic photography of the insides of components and assemblies. Interesting text, but oh man, the pictures. See the inner beauty of the colorful blobs inside the things that make your life work.
March 11, 2024
At this point i can only think that magic exists.
Thx teeno
Thx teeno
September 5, 2022
(I've just finished the early-access PDF, but will try to follow up when the print edition arrives.)
Basically, this is "Modernist Cuisine" for electronic components, from the latest modern cellphone parts and advanced connectors, back through nixie tubes and core memory. Intricately dismantled and photographed (there's a "behind the scenes" epilogue with details) with enough detail in the text for the context of each piece (what it was for, and what replaced it.)
Aside from the impressive precision of these components (though there are exceptions, a particularly poorly made coax cable is roasted by the authors) the photography is really notable for bringing out glorious color in these components - sometimes included for manufacturing reasons, sometimes an artifact of the materials themselves - but normally not seen by human eyes at all, safely enclosed in plastic, ceramic, or metal boxes.
While it will definitely be a "geek coffee table book" for me, I would very much have appreciated it when I was 12 years old and first getting into electronics (though this particular book would have been about half the length, 7-segment LEDs were a Cool New Thing at that point.)
Basically, this is "Modernist Cuisine" for electronic components, from the latest modern cellphone parts and advanced connectors, back through nixie tubes and core memory. Intricately dismantled and photographed (there's a "behind the scenes" epilogue with details) with enough detail in the text for the context of each piece (what it was for, and what replaced it.)
Aside from the impressive precision of these components (though there are exceptions, a particularly poorly made coax cable is roasted by the authors) the photography is really notable for bringing out glorious color in these components - sometimes included for manufacturing reasons, sometimes an artifact of the materials themselves - but normally not seen by human eyes at all, safely enclosed in plastic, ceramic, or metal boxes.
While it will definitely be a "geek coffee table book" for me, I would very much have appreciated it when I was 12 years old and first getting into electronics (though this particular book would have been about half the length, 7-segment LEDs were a Cool New Thing at that point.)
April 30, 2025
Resistors are devices that restrict or limit the flow of electricity. They’re used wherever a controlled amount of current is needed in a circuit.
A potentiometer, or pot, is an adjustable resistor. Pots are used as front panel control knobs on everything from laboratory instrumentation to guitar amplifiers—anything where you turn a knob to adjust a setting.
As the wiper moves away from or toward a terminal, the resistance between the wiper and that terminal increases or decreases because electrical current has to flow through a different amount of resistive wire. An amplifier circuit translates this changing resistance into a louder volume, or a hot plate interprets it as a temperature set point.
A capacitor’s amount of capacitance— the electric charge it can store at a given voltage—depends on the surface area of the conductive plates, how close together they are, and the type of insulator used between them. The insulator is called a dielectric. While almost any insulator—even air—can be used as a dielectric, certain materials provide far more capacitance than an air gap would.
Aluminum electrolytic capacitors pack a large amount of capacitance into a small space, and are very common in power supplies.
A transformer is an inductor wound with more than one coil of wire.
when multiple coils are wound around a single core, changing the current in one wire changes the magnetic field, which creates a changing current in the other wire. This provides a method of electrical isolation: transmitting power or signals between wires without an electrically conductive path connecting them.
Having a different number of turns on the different windings can transform AC voltages from low to high or high to low. This kind of transformer is often used in power supplies for stepping up or stepping down voltages.
Fuses are electrical components that break or “open” a circuit when more than a specified amount of electrical current passes through them, protecting other components from damage.
If the resistor overheats, it melts a dot of solder, releasing the spring and opening the circuit.
handheld digital multimeters
A thermal fuse, sometimes called a thermal cutoff, is like a regular fuse, except it opens an electrical circuit when it exceeds a certain temperature, rather than a certain level of current. coffee makers, hair dryers, rice cookers
Thermal fuses are available with a range of different temperature ratings, which simply represent different melting points of the wax.
Optical tilt sensors were used in early- generation digital cameras to determine camera orientation when taking a picture.
When the device is tilted left or right, the ball rolls, blocking the light from reaching one phototransistor or the other.
stepper motors are optimized for starting and stopping quickly in precise rotational increments called “steps.”
Solid and Stranded Wire. Seven-strand wire is common because the overall shape is roughly circular. For the same reason, you can also find wire with 19, 37, or even 61 strands. Stranded wire is more flexible, while solid tends to hold a shape but break if it’s bent too many times.
Embedded within the jack is a simple switch that some devices use to change from battery power to external power.
A consistent cross section and good shielding are among the things that make a cable perform well. A signal passing through this subpar cable will appear weak and noisy at the other end.
The Category 6 (Cat6) Ethernet cable contains four twisted pairs of copper wire. These common cables are used worldwide to carry local network and internet traffic.
suspended in the air by an array of spot-welded leads.
“rays” emitted by a heated cathode; we now call those rays electrons.
A potentiometer, or pot, is an adjustable resistor. Pots are used as front panel control knobs on everything from laboratory instrumentation to guitar amplifiers—anything where you turn a knob to adjust a setting.
As the wiper moves away from or toward a terminal, the resistance between the wiper and that terminal increases or decreases because electrical current has to flow through a different amount of resistive wire. An amplifier circuit translates this changing resistance into a louder volume, or a hot plate interprets it as a temperature set point.
A capacitor’s amount of capacitance— the electric charge it can store at a given voltage—depends on the surface area of the conductive plates, how close together they are, and the type of insulator used between them. The insulator is called a dielectric. While almost any insulator—even air—can be used as a dielectric, certain materials provide far more capacitance than an air gap would.
Aluminum electrolytic capacitors pack a large amount of capacitance into a small space, and are very common in power supplies.
A transformer is an inductor wound with more than one coil of wire.
when multiple coils are wound around a single core, changing the current in one wire changes the magnetic field, which creates a changing current in the other wire. This provides a method of electrical isolation: transmitting power or signals between wires without an electrically conductive path connecting them.
Having a different number of turns on the different windings can transform AC voltages from low to high or high to low. This kind of transformer is often used in power supplies for stepping up or stepping down voltages.
Fuses are electrical components that break or “open” a circuit when more than a specified amount of electrical current passes through them, protecting other components from damage.
If the resistor overheats, it melts a dot of solder, releasing the spring and opening the circuit.
handheld digital multimeters
A thermal fuse, sometimes called a thermal cutoff, is like a regular fuse, except it opens an electrical circuit when it exceeds a certain temperature, rather than a certain level of current. coffee makers, hair dryers, rice cookers
Thermal fuses are available with a range of different temperature ratings, which simply represent different melting points of the wax.
Optical tilt sensors were used in early- generation digital cameras to determine camera orientation when taking a picture.
When the device is tilted left or right, the ball rolls, blocking the light from reaching one phototransistor or the other.
stepper motors are optimized for starting and stopping quickly in precise rotational increments called “steps.”
Solid and Stranded Wire. Seven-strand wire is common because the overall shape is roughly circular. For the same reason, you can also find wire with 19, 37, or even 61 strands. Stranded wire is more flexible, while solid tends to hold a shape but break if it’s bent too many times.
Embedded within the jack is a simple switch that some devices use to change from battery power to external power.
A consistent cross section and good shielding are among the things that make a cable perform well. A signal passing through this subpar cable will appear weak and noisy at the other end.
The Category 6 (Cat6) Ethernet cable contains four twisted pairs of copper wire. These common cables are used worldwide to carry local network and internet traffic.
suspended in the air by an array of spot-welded leads.
“rays” emitted by a heated cathode; we now call those rays electrons.
February 2, 2023
A Work Of Art
This is a visually stunning and highly informative book on the inner workings of electronic components.
This book is a work of art in its own right, offering readers a close-up look at the intricate details of various circuit boards and components, including a detailed cross-section of popular electronic components.
One of the standout features of this book is the quality of the photography, which showcases the beauty and inner workings of electronic components with incredible detail and clarity.
The authors have done an outstanding job in etching and cleaning up the components, allowing readers to see the intricate details of each component in high-quality photos.
This book is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in electronics, computer technology, or circuits.
Whether you're a builder or user of electronics, the cross-section images and detailed information on modern and legacy components will give you a new appreciation for the inner workings of these devices.
The only downside to this book is the omission of mechanical keyboards, which is a missed opportunity for those (like me) who are interested in learning about the inner workings of these devices - specifically I would have loved to see a switch cross-section.
However, despite this oversight, I mark this book as highly recommended and a resource for anyone interested in the inner beauty of electronic components.
4.9/5
This is a visually stunning and highly informative book on the inner workings of electronic components.
This book is a work of art in its own right, offering readers a close-up look at the intricate details of various circuit boards and components, including a detailed cross-section of popular electronic components.
One of the standout features of this book is the quality of the photography, which showcases the beauty and inner workings of electronic components with incredible detail and clarity.
The authors have done an outstanding job in etching and cleaning up the components, allowing readers to see the intricate details of each component in high-quality photos.
This book is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in electronics, computer technology, or circuits.
Whether you're a builder or user of electronics, the cross-section images and detailed information on modern and legacy components will give you a new appreciation for the inner workings of these devices.
The only downside to this book is the omission of mechanical keyboards, which is a missed opportunity for those (like me) who are interested in learning about the inner workings of these devices - specifically I would have loved to see a switch cross-section.
However, despite this oversight, I mark this book as highly recommended and a resource for anyone interested in the inner beauty of electronic components.
4.9/5
July 14, 2023
A lovely book about electrical and electronic components that will delight those who have ever wondered what the insides of them look like. Lots of photographs showing the details of the components can be found in the book, along with descriptions of what they are made out of.
The book covers passive components (resistors, capacitors, inductors), semiconductors (individual transistors, diodes, chip packages), electromechanical parts (switches), cables and connectors (including jacks), retro technology (Nixie tubes) and composite devices (MicroSD cards, credit chip cards).
If you have ever wondered how an electrical or electronic part looks like or works, you may find yourself mesmerized by the details in the book. One thing I picked up: the correct name for the nine-pin serial connector is DE-9, not DB-9.
The book covers passive components (resistors, capacitors, inductors), semiconductors (individual transistors, diodes, chip packages), electromechanical parts (switches), cables and connectors (including jacks), retro technology (Nixie tubes) and composite devices (MicroSD cards, credit chip cards).
If you have ever wondered how an electrical or electronic part looks like or works, you may find yourself mesmerized by the details in the book. One thing I picked up: the correct name for the nine-pin serial connector is DE-9, not DB-9.
November 15, 2023
Las fotografías y el detalle es increíblemente bello.
Literalmente es la representación del arte en la electrónica, puedes observar con gran detalle la asombrosa complejidad que requiere la electrónica, así como también del pináculo de la física aplicada.
Ampliamente recomendable para cualquiera con interés en la electrónica, física aplicada o cualquier curioso que quiere comprender en detalle cómo se ve y cómo funciona físicamente un componente electrónico.
Cabe destacar que no cuenta con mucho detalle en la descripción de cada componente por lo que si no estás familiarizado con los conceptos básicos de la electrónica es probable que necesites realizar una investigación más detallada por fuera.
Literalmente es la representación del arte en la electrónica, puedes observar con gran detalle la asombrosa complejidad que requiere la electrónica, así como también del pináculo de la física aplicada.
Ampliamente recomendable para cualquiera con interés en la electrónica, física aplicada o cualquier curioso que quiere comprender en detalle cómo se ve y cómo funciona físicamente un componente electrónico.
Cabe destacar que no cuenta con mucho detalle en la descripción de cada componente por lo que si no estás familiarizado con los conceptos básicos de la electrónica es probable que necesites realizar una investigación más detallada por fuera.
October 18, 2022
I LOVE this book. The photography is stunning, the subjects are fascinating. The write-ups are clear and informative. Every part of this book shows a loving attention to detail. Reading this cover-to-cover reminds me of going to the library as a kid and loading up on books about all sorts of different subjects so I could flip through the pages to see pictures of machines and buildings and what-not and learn about them. I'll be keeping this remarkable book out on display in the living room to flip through (and maybe try to tempt the kids with) for a while. Get a copy of this - you won't regret it!
December 29, 2024
This book was an amazing read. I have long been curious about how various components look on the inside, and this book showed the internals of over 100 different components in stunning detail. Each component got at least 2 pages (with the exception of, like, 4 of them) with some explanation as to what they do, a model if the photos didn't show enough, and a few photos of the component. The book also ends in some information about how the photos were taken, edited, etc.
Overall, this was definitely a great book to pick up and I would recommend it to anyone who's into electronics (especially if they work with hardware).
Overall, this was definitely a great book to pick up and I would recommend it to anyone who's into electronics (especially if they work with hardware).
October 17, 2023
I thought this would be "just a picture book", not that that would be bad, But I want to contrast that then with what is actually in this book. All the gorgeous photos of cut and deconstructed components are accompanied by a few concise paragraphs explaining what they are, how they work, and often why they may be the way they are.
This book is lovely to look at, for sure, but it's also an amazing educational tool that I will now be recommending to young makers, or just curious and precocious minds of any age.
This book is lovely to look at, for sure, but it's also an amazing educational tool that I will now be recommending to young makers, or just curious and precocious minds of any age.
December 30, 2022
So this isn't a book for everyone, but if you've an interest (any interest) in electronics and components it's amazing. Beautiful images, nicely presented with clear and informative text. I've spent 30 years mucking about with electronics in various forms, but from the start I was learning more about how they're made and how that influences their behavior than I'd ever expected too.
July 11, 2024
What Theodore Gray did for the Elements, Oskay and Schlaepfer do for electronics. Spectacular macro photography of dissected discrete components and larger assemblies, described with insight into their operation. Three thumbs up!
April 30, 2025
Interesting exploration of components both old/obsolete and current/smart phone. The photography and techniques to showcase the engineering is eye catching. I was surprised how many small electronics parts exist and fit into tiny spaces. The next time you recycle an old device, try opening it. It will be full amazing transistors and capacitors.
December 3, 2022
As somebody who’s interested in electronics I was extremely happy with this book.
There are a lot of explanations of inner mechanics of elements i used, but never fully understood the exact principles of their work.
Very addictive, easy read with gorgeous photos.
There are a lot of explanations of inner mechanics of elements i used, but never fully understood the exact principles of their work.
Very addictive, easy read with gorgeous photos.
January 20, 2023
A fantastic piece of work. I can’t begin to imagine how much time went into this. It’s interesting to compare the messiness of the way analog components were manufactured compared to the microscopic precision of digital devices.
December 4, 2023
sooo many photos of electronics components taken apart, alongside a very simple explanation of how they work.
worth reading it if you don't know a lot and want to learn the basics of electronics components.
worth reading it if you don't know a lot and want to learn the basics of electronics components.
June 25, 2024
It was a fascinating journey through all the photos taken of all small devices used to to make appliances that makes us communicate and work productively.
I learnt about a few devices. It was a good read.
I learnt about a few devices. It was a good read.
November 16, 2024
An incredible book for visual learners, now each time i want to know more about a specific component, i go back to this book to find that intuitive description and photo of the insides of it, some components described aren't widely used anymore but it is still quite interesting to learn about them.
December 26, 2022
A great "picture book" (with explanations) of the insides of circuits. If you have ever wondered what the insides of the insides look like, this is a beautifully photographed book.
December 30, 2022
Awesome book abd illustracions, however I am missing a size scale in them.
February 3, 2023
need to stop reading coffee table books and get back into actual literature. to it's credit it's very cool i love macro photography
March 6, 2023
Remarkable insight into the complexities of the tech we take for granted each day. Beautiful work. Must read for electronic nerds.
July 4, 2023
Absolutely fascinating!
July 6, 2023
Buy this book only for its fantastic photos. The information is superficial and not on par with the insight the images provide.
September 3, 2023
Beautiful and fascinating!
February 8, 2024
Really cool book with cut aways of the internals on many common and old electronics.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews