Book excerpt: Semiconductors and Modern Electronics is a brief introduction to the physics behind semiconductor technologies. Chuck Winrich, a physics professor at Babson College, explores the topic of semiconductors from a qualitative approach to understanding the theories and models used to explain semiconductor devices. Applications of semiconductors are explored and understood through the models developed in the book. The qualitative approach in this book is intended to bring the advanced ideas behind semiconductors to the broader audience of students who will not major in physics. Much of the inspiration for this book comes from Dr. Winrich's experience teaching a general electronics course to students majoring in business. The goal of that class, and this book, is to bring forward the science behind semiconductors, and then to look at how that science affects the lives of people.