Just as learning a few simple phrases can improve your
experience of a foreign country, gaining some familiarity
with basic wiring concepts will aid you in evaluating a
prospective job, and help get you on the same page with
your electrician. I checked out the following books to see
what they offer the informed builder or wire-puller
wannabe.
Wiring 101
If you really want to get grounded in practical principles
and basic technology, author Jeff Markel's Residential Wiring
to the 1999 NEC (5th edition 1999, $27 from Craftsman Book
Company, P.O. Box 6500, Carlsbad, CA 92018; 800/829-
8123; www.craftsman-book.com) promises to tell you just
about everything a book can to get you going