Just this morning, I received an email from someone who attended Joe Grand's Basic Hardware Hacking course and was given a signed copy of Manual PCB-RE: The Essentials:
Here's the content (partial) of the email (reproduced with permission):
Subject: Thank you for the knowledge
I received your book from Joe Grand after his "Basic Hardware Hacking" course (I'd like to think he gave it to me because I was the best) at hardwear.io 2022. I've been into hardware for quite a while (I own a tech heavy escape room that uses a large amount of Arduinos and Raspberry Pi's). I recently retired from the Navy and attended Joe’s course because I wanted a deeper understanding for my new job.
Currently I work for a small company that does RE and penetration testing. While everyone has their unique skill set, I fancied myself the "hardware hacker" of the group. In the last 10 months I have learned so much and would frequently thumb through your book for answers. It wasn't until three months ago that I brought your book home and read it from cover to cover. Then I picked up two more of your books.
To be frank your books scared me into taking anything apart...initially. I realized that although I was doing a great job on my tests, I could be doing a much better job. I lacked the methodical approach you take with your projects. The way you have written your books makes it seem as if you were sitting next to me teaching me the ways of the trade. I plan to get all your books as I create a "hardware" section for our company.
I want to sincerely thank you for making such amazing books. I find myself re-reading the same sections because there is so much information. Some of your ideas seem so simple and obvious, but I know it's because you learned them the hard way and are saving me years by not learning the same lessons through pain.
It certainly made my day and my wife's as well.
I reckon that many readers felt the same way (the red highlighted text above), because I believe in engaging my readers on a personal level through my style of writing. This is my method of 'coaching' to transfer my knowledge as a fellow engineer and friend, not a lecturer or instructor.
As this reader told me, he had wanted to write to me earlier but could not find my email address, until he bought The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering and found it in the ending of the Preface section. So if you have something to say to me, and have a copy of this book, look it up and have your say. My wife and I would love to hear from you too!
Take care and stay safe, as always.
