This book was a tremendous disappointment. The instructions are at best vague and are too general to be of much use to anybody. In many cases key information is simply missing. Much better sources are available for free on the web (and are also better written). There may indeed be 50 projects described in the book (if you count a "hot dog cooker", "a marshmallow melter","building a solar cooker" and "building a solar camping stove" a 4 separate projects) but really I think that is stretching things.

The only spark of "genius" shown here is that Mr. Gavin D.J. Harper was able to convince a publisher to actually print this manuscript. It throws into question McGraw Hill's reputation.

No more Gavin D.J. Harper for me.

[Note: the illustration of the title page shows "30 projects" while the cover of the book sent to me indicates "50 projects"]

Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius

This is a fun book for people who like to stimulate their brains and do fun things. Most of the projects can be completed without additional help, except maybe the money to purchase the hardware. All projects are well described and well illustrated with photographs. Naturally the reader will probably use various ideas to construct inventions of their own design.

I especially recommend this book to teenagers who are imagination driven. But, heck, I'm 70 and I like it too.

I am thank full to the author for sharing all that knowledge with us. Full of ideas and information on energy that has been around for a while but I was unaware of it.

If this book included instructions on how to actually build the projects it discusses, it would be worth buying. As it is, there are only some vague guidelines and not-very-useful sketches. If you want to build any of these projects, you would in almost every case, be much better off using a search engine to find a page online that actually tells you how; It's free, and you're more likely to get detailed information.

The only reason I give this book more than 1 star is that there are at least a couple of projects that I haven't encountered online--so it seems to be at least somewhat original.

According to another reviewer here: "Instructions were incomplete."

He is being highly charitable.

There will be no more "EVIL GENIUS" books for me. You've been warned.

According to another reviewer here: "Instructions were incomplete."

He is being highly charitable. INSTRUCTIONS were virtually NON-EXISTENT!

Do not expect for one moment to find any instructions, schematics or diagrams that will remotely help you accomplish anything of substance.

There will be no more "EVIL GENIUS" books for me. You've been warned.

Excellent book. The only one that had exactly the information I was looking for.

There was some interesting info about solar power. But, the "Projects" were very weak. Instructions were incomplete.
I have been thinking of putting some solar panels on my roof, as an introduction to what I hope will be a big part of thr future. This book did not get me any closer.

I purchased this Book as a gift for my father. He loves to build things, and I thought introducing him to the wave of the future in engineering through "Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius" would be a fun way to learn something new. I was right. He loved it. I skimmed through the book, and it has detailed instructions, pictures, and tons of really great and practical ideas and projects...combined with some slightly rebellious ones. It truly is an original book and alot of fun..Highly recommended for those that like to create and build.

I purchased this Book as a gift for my father. He loves to build things, and I thought introducing him to the wave of the future in engineering through "Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius" would be a fun way to learn something new. I was right. He loved it. I skimmed through the book, and it has detailed instructions, pictures, and tons of really great and practical ideas and projects...combined with some slightly rebellious ones. It truly is an original book and alot of fun..Highly recommended for those that like to create and build.

I have been a solar electric and solar hot water installer for 3 years. I can design and install a system with ease and confidence, but the projects in this book increased my understanding to a whole new level. It was like learning about solar from the inside out. I always enjoy it when I can learn about something I know well from a different angle. Some of my friends bought the book for themselves after thumbing through my copy. I recommend this book for anyone who likes to have a hands on approach to solar in many different areas.

The author of this book was 19 years old when he published it. What an amazing 19 year old! He truly is a genius! My 15 year old daughter and I really enjoyed this book. One amazing project after another. Easy to understand instructions, easy to obtain materials--the author tells you how to order what you don't have--, and projects are easy to do. I especially liked the solar ice maker! I strongly recommend this book.

This book provides the fundamentals of working with solar energy to the extent that you can build the projects included in the book. The projects range from simple science fair type projects to converting a home to run on solar electricity. This book follows the pattern of the other books in the series. There is a short section describing the theory of operation of each project followed by schematics, parts lists, and detailed instructions. All of the projects are the size of table-tops, but they can be enlarged to scale if needed.

The book begins by discussing the reasons to develop devices powered by solar energy. Economics and efficiency comparisons are made to standard energy sources. Among the projects discussed are two model solar water heating systems, a solar oven for cooking food, a basic solar water distiller, and a simple solar furnace. The solar furnace generates temperatures high enough that paper products can be ignited and low temperature metals can be liquified. Information is included on commercial solar furnaces. Next readers are shown how to build a simple thermoelectric generator that transforms heat into electricity. You are shown how to power the generator using the solar furnace from a previous chapter. Next readers are shown how to build a homemade photovoltaic cell using a copper sheet. Photovoltaic cells generate electricity directly from sunlight. This is followed by an advanced photovotaic cell construction project. Here you make a solar cell that uses photochemistry to mimic photosynthesis using photosensitive dyes that promise cheap solar electric power. The reader is taught how to build a solar engine, which is useful for tasks such as pumping water for storage and irrigation. Solar collector efficiency can be improved by tracking the sun, and to that end the author includes a simple electrical feedback system that tracks the sun across the sky. Also included are five or six smaller projects to more fully demonstrate the capabilities of solar energy. These include a rechargeable flashlight, special lights for illuminating a walkway, and simple solar cells. The following is the table of contents:

Chapter 1. Why solar?
Chapter 2. The Solar Resource
Chapter 3. Positioning Your Solar Devices
Chapter 4. Solar Heating
Chapter 5. Solar Cooling
Chapter 6. Solar Cooking
Chapter 7. Solar Stills
Chapter 8. Solar Collectors
Chapter 9. Solar Pumping
Chapter 10. Solar Photovoltaics
Chapter 11. Photochemical Solar Cells
Chapter 12. Solar Engines
Chapter 13. Solar Electrical Projects
Chapter 14. Tracking the Sun
Chapter 15. Solar Transport
Chapter 16. Solar Robotics?
Chapter 17. Solar Hydrogen Partnership
Chapter 18: Photosynthesis--Fuel from the Sun
Appendix A: Solar Projects on the Web
Appendix B: Supplier's Index

This book isn't by any means a textbook on solar engineering, but it is a great projects book to accompany the standard texts on the subject that almost never provide the kind of practical experience you can get by building the projects in this unique little book. If you want a good textbook to supplement this book of projects, I heartily recommend "Principles of Solar Engineering" by Goswami. That book has all of the mathematics and theory that really don't fit into this one. That text assumes little in the realm of mathematical maturity, but if you are lacking prior knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and thermal circuits, you might find yourself a bit lost.

This book provides the fundamentals of working with solar energy to the extent that you can build the projects included in the book. The projects range from simple science fair type projects to converting a home to run on solar electricity. This book follows the pattern of the other books in the series. There is a short section describing the theory of operation of each project followed by schematics, parts lists, and detailed instructions. All of the projects are the size of table-tops, but they can be enlarged to scale if needed.

The book begins by discussing the reasons to develop devices powered by solar energy. Economics and efficiency comparisons are made to standard energy sources. Among the projects discussed are two model solar water heating systems, a solar oven for cooking food, a basic solar water distiller, and a simple solar furnace. The solar furnace generates temperatures high enough that paper products can be ignited and low temperature metals can be liquified. Information is included on commercial solar furnaces. Next readers are shown how to build a simple thermoelectric generator that transforms heat into electricity. You are shown how to power the generator using the solar furnace from a previous chapter. Next readers are shown how to build a homemade photovoltaic cell using a copper sheet. Photovoltaic cells generate electricity directly from sunlight. This is followed by an advanced photovotaic cell construction project. Here you make a solar cell that uses photochemistry to mimic photosynthesis using photosensitive dyes that promise cheap solar electric power. The reader is taught how to build a solar engine, which is useful for tasks such as pumping water for storage and irrigation. Solar collector efficiency can be improved by tracking the sun, and to that end the author includes a simple electrical feedback system that tracks the sun across the sky. Also included are five or six smaller projects to more fully demonstrate the capabilities of solar energy. These include a rechargeable flashlight, special lights for illuminating a walkway, and simple solar cells. The following is the table of contents:

Chapter 1. Why solar?
Chapter 2. The Solar Resource
Chapter 3. Positioning Your Solar Devices
Chapter 4. Solar Heating
Chapter 5. Solar Cooling
Chapter 6. Solar Cooking
Chapter 7. Solar Stills
Chapter 8. Solar Collectors
Chapter 9. Solar Pumping
Chapter 10. Solar Photovoltaics
Chapter 11. Photochemical Solar Cells
Chapter 12. Solar Engines
Chapter 13. Solar Electrical Projects
Chapter 14. Tracking the Sun
Chapter 15. Solar Transport
Chapter 16. Solar Robotics?
Chapter 17. Solar Hydrogen Partnership
Chapter 18: Photosynthesis--Fuel from the Sun
Appendix A: Solar Projects on the Web
Appendix B: Supplier's Index

This book isn't by any means a textbook on solar engineering, but it is a great projects book to accompany the standard texts on the subject that almost never provide the kind of practical experience you can get by building the projects in this unique little book. If you want a good textbook to supplement this book of projects, I heartily recommend "Principles of Solar Engineering" by Goswami. That book has all of the mathematics and theory that really don't fit into this one. That text assumes little in the realm of mathematical maturity, but if you are lacking prior knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and thermal circuits, you might find yourself a bit lost.