Recomendations on a good book anyone..........

Any recomendations out there for a couple of good 'PRIMERS' which explain in laymans terms, the electronics of amps, preamps, solid state, tubes, single ended triods, gain stages, etc., etc., etc..

Something along the line of Harleys 'Guide to Hi-end Audio,
but geared more to understanding the difference behind the electronics in stereo components.......Thanks