Photonics Essentials, 2nd Edition, published by McGraw-Hill Professional, offers to introduce the tenets of photonic devices to a younger generation of students and engineers. The 320-page text targets second- and third-year university students and engineers looking for practical points rather than abstract theory. It stresses hands-on measurement techniques and supplies real-world examples featuring commercially available products. Topics such as photodiodes, LEDs, organic LEDS, lasers and optical fibers are discussed. Thomas P. Pearsall; McGraw-Hill Professional; New York, NY; 2009; $89.95.