<p>Hey, class started for me today, and these are the AP books our school assigned. I go to a fairly average school, where a 3 is considered good, so I'm not sure if these books are the best ones to prepare for the AP Exam if I'm aiming for a 5. </p>
<p>I'm not sure if you guys would know anything about this, but if you happen to know if these textbooks alone (well, obviously along with the course) would or would not prepare for the AP tests, please comment. </p>
<p>AP American History::</p>
<p>America: Past and Present
A. Divine, T. H. Breen, G. M. Fredreickson, R. Hal Williams, A. J. Gross, H.W. Brands
2005 edition </p>
<p>AP Physics::</p>
<p>Physics: Principles with Applications
Douglas C. Giancoli
5th Edition</p>
<p>I know this is probably a long shot, but it seems like you guys know everything about everything. </p>
<p>I attend a fairly average school too, but we have a decent AP Program. For American History I have to experience with that textbook although it has been widely accepted that American Pageant is an excellent book. However, my class used A People and A Nation which is an amazing textbook. For physics this year we are using University Physics which is used a MIT I believe. Searching on waldenbooks.com these books that you are using tend to receive decent reviews. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Uh, that Giancoli book is algebra based.
It won't do you any good for Physics C.
Get the Engineering & Scientists version.</p>
<p>Edit: It will probably be good enough for Physics B.</p>
<p>My school used the algebra based book for a non-AP class.
All of the questions were way harder than the government exam at the end, so it was good preparation.</p>
<p>Do NOT use 'American Pagent'! This book is written like a novel; completely devoid of facts and merely discribes events in a false way. You will often find it written like this: "The Merits and Menace of Mercantilisim" and on page 127 they compare the French to hawks, the Americans to chicks, and England to the "mother hen". Writing a textbook like this takes away from the situations leading up to events, the facts, and the effects; what the exam tests on!!!</p>