I'm trying to understand the workings of an Op-Amp. 1.

The book says that even a slight voltage difference between relevant terminals causes it to be driven into saturation - yet! during negative feedback it acts like an amplifier! I don't understand this inconsitency! 2. Then the author goes on to say that: Vout/Ao = V+ - V- for all op-amp configurations and since gain is inf, therefore only for -ve feedback V+ = V-, ergo the op-amp tries to adjust feedback to keep the difference at 0. But why does this apply only for -ve feedback? 3. How is there a 0.6V voltage drop across the diode thus reducing the Vpeak by 0.6V? A diode requires 0.6V to conduct so the shape of the output voltage curve is altered but that is all. A drop is caused if the resistance of the material results in 0.6V at Vpeak.