Book excerpt: Useful information on radio-frequency circuit design is hard to find. Most of it comes in the form of highly technical manufacturer's literature & bulky math-oriented textbooks, or from oversimplified books for amateurs & hobbyists. So, most electronics practitioners end up having to learn RF techniques by trial & error. Now, thanks to Irving Gottlieb's Practical RF Power Design Techniques, circuit designers can have at their fingertips all the hands-on instruction they need to translate RF theory into functioning hardware. Gottlieb thoroughly explains the theory behind RF circuit design & operation. But, unlike other books, he doesn't stop there. He supports his discussion of principles & formulas with examples taken from real-world applications. He uses actual values for electronic components currently on the market, instead of hypothetical figures that are hard for readers to visualize. And, by concentrating on general uses that aren't affected by changes in industry standards, Gottlieb ensures that the book will enjoy a long shelf life.