<p>Any ideas? I've read the 'Dummies' book and it's watered down.</p>
<p>Cutnell Physics. That's algebra based. Are you looking for algebra or calculus based physics?</p>
<p>Don't do Physics for Scientists and Engineers - worst book I've ever used</p>
<p>lolcats, who was the author? There are a few different books by that name including ones by Giancoli, Serway, and Tipler/Mosca among others probably.</p>
<p>It's necessary to know what level you're looking for: what is your math/physics background what level of rigor are you looking for... there are algebra based books, many for those with a light background in calculus, and books like "An Introduction to Mechanics" by Keppler which is definately a higher level book if that's what you want</p>
<p>university physics by young and friedman (11th or 12th ed) was not bad. the book was very comprehensive with lots of quality problems. its calculus based</p>
<p>Friedman is good if you want calculus based. And Giancoli is terrible if you want algebra based.
That's all I know about physics books though.</p>
<p>I bet that the Physics for Scientists and Engineers that Lolcats means is the one by Serway. That said, it was my physics book, and I liked it (although it's definitely calculus based).</p>
<p>My son loves Serway and hates Fishbane. I looked at Tipler many years ago and picked Serway over Tipler but I don't remember why.</p>
<p>Serway is good but for introductory try Hewitt called conceptual physics or something. but yeah it gives you a reallly good foundation for basic physics.</p>
<p>For E & M, he liked Electricity and Magnetism, Vol. II by Edward Purcell. This is more of a theory-based book and knowing Vector Calc helps quite a bit.</p>
<p>Yeah I had the Serway. It's calculus based. I'm not saying it's terrible, but I don't think it's the best.</p>
<p>Yea I had Serway. I'll be the one who says its terrible. The book would be better if it spent a little less time on history and more on examples.</p>
<p>There's a thread on the parents forum about young adults and lack of historical knowledge and feel. I think that the historical bits add to learning the subject. It may not be the most interesting thing if you are under pressure to get homework done but it can be quite interesting if you are reading to learn without any time pressure.</p>
<p>lolcats, I agree with you.. was it the big blue book? God it was horrible!</p>
<p>
Cutnell Physics. That's algebra based. Are you looking for algebra or calculus based physics?
</p>
<p>Algebra based.</p>