Chapters 7 and 8 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 7: Assembly Required, when John was thirteen, he was given an electronics kit for Christmas. It was acutally a rudimentary computer that he had to assemble. His parents bought him "how to" books yet he struggled to get everything in place and operating. Even though he was just in junior high, he qualified for a high school electronics class. He accelerated in the class and finished it in two weeks—instead of the usual full semester. He began looking into college electronics classes. His mother contacted a family friend, Professor Edwards, at UMass. Dr. Edwards opened a whole knew world for him. He allowed him to work and study in the engineering labs. John went to the lab almost every day.

John started taking old TVs and radios apart to see how they were constructed. His father...