Rating: 
Summary: Introduction to Electrodynamics
Review: I read this book in library,a bit different from others ,and i think that it is not for those who do selfstudy.The third chapter is silly.Especially the part image problem.Author simply guess a function and showed that it satisfied boundary conditions and laplace equation.Then he said okay this is the function because the uniquess theorem said there is only one....I wonder if every physicsts used this way to figure out the nature law,what will happen....
Rating: 
Summary: mediocre, but better than his quantum mechanics text
Review: We used this text for a junior level year long E&M course at UC Berkeley. Griffiths electrodynamics text, as well as his quantum mechanics text, both suffer from the same problem of being too elementary. Classical electrodynamics is supposed to be the place where undergraduates start to really see some more complex mathematics. However, the only special function which is used in Griffiths is the Legendre ploynomial. No mention is given to Bessel/Neumann functions and their spherical cousins, Green functions, Fourier transforms, or spherical harmonics. Strangely enough, he uses Green functions in his quantum mechanics text in a place where they aren't even really necessary (the scattering section). When mentioned in the QM text, they aren't even really Green functions, but rather propagators which are distinctly different objects. On top of the rather low mathematical level of the book, there are many topics left out of the last sections on EM waves and radiation. No mention is given to diffraction or interference. Classical scattering of EM waves isn't covered (even though scattering is covered in the QM text in a confusing manner). For some strange reason, he decides to put the Lienard-Wiechert stuff before simple dipole radiation which is ridiculous because point charge radiation is a far more difficult subject than multipole radiation. Quadropole moments (in static potentials and radiation) are only covered superficially in the problems. Incidently, his multipole expansion of radiation only goes to the electric dipole term; the most boring term.On the good side, although using Green functions for the retarded potentials is more convincing, Griffiths geometric argument is nice. The parallel between the chapters on magnetic and electric fields in matter is very nice. The notation is very clean throughout the text (except for the strange u vector in the Lienard-Wiechert fields). All in all the first seven chapters are good and pretty solid. The last five chapters are pathetic. In the end, Griffiths text is nice, but it should really be augmented with the Heald and Marion text or (for the brave) the newer Schwinger text (very nice, mathematically rich). Undergraduate preparation with only Griffiths would leave one rather unprepared for Jackson as a graduate student.
Rating: 
Summary: Fresh Presentation
Review: This is the finest physics text I have seen. Griffiths writes in the first person! The book as actually fun to read. I read ahead in my E&M class just because I liked reading the book so much. Check out his particle physics and quantum mechanics books as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic!
Review: If you could call a physics textbook a classic, this would be it. This is the best textbook on any subject I have worked with. Griffiths has found the perfect balance between verbal explanation and mathematical rigor to gain maximum understanding while remaining readable. His writing style is also engaging and friendly without sounding patronizing. The book provides a good overview of the subject of electrodynamics and also serves as a useful reference for those of us who did not continue with graduate physics. I have refered to this book over and over in my other science courses when I wanted to find out what was "really" going on. I agree with the author that an answer key is not appropriate. That is only useful for calculations where knowing the answer and knowing the solution are two different things. The problems in this book are not of that type.
Rating: 
Summary: Great text
Review: This book was by far the most readable and conceptually logical of any text I've encountered in my relatively short career in physics. I agree with the others in that there could be definite improvements, but the deficiencies are not quite so severe as to refuse to recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Good Book With Flaws
Review: I have taught from Griffiths' Introduction to Electrodynamics twice now. It is a very good book. The selection of topics is good, and the mathematics is clear. The prose is enjoyable. A few problems follow each section. These problems need the material just covered. The end of the chapter problems can be very challenging. This distribution of problems is very helpful. There are useful references to American Journal of Physics. Time with Griffiths is very well spent. Here are a few flaws. The first half of the book is much more complete. Perhaps, Griffiths became weary after chapter 7. There are indications. Figures and references are fewer. Surprisingly, the third edition did not correct this imbalance. It is essentially the second edition with some renumbering of sections and problems (making the second edition less valuable as a used book). An even bigger surprise is that in the third edition some examples became problems! The text is often too brief. If you want the full text of subtle arguments, go to Purcell. Compare, for example, the two discussions of the average field, or the two discussions on multipole expansions. A more striking difference between Purcell and Griffiths is the special relativity connection. In Purcell it is the heart of the discussion of magnetism. With just the transformation of forces between frames, magnetism appears. In Griffiths it is the last chapter. Griffiths is very formal with superscripts and subscripts unleased in full force. The book (like Jackson) is often a vehicle to teach mathematical physics. There is very little real life electricity and magnetism in Griffiths, e.g. no bubble jet printers in electrostatics, no magnetic tape in magnetism. We need to look elsewhere for practical matters.
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Summary: The book is worthless
Review: May I ask what good a book is that presents many problems for each chapter but provides no solutions? This book has many good problems associated with each chapter - problems that test whether you understand the material. But the author hides the solutions from you! After doing the problems in each chapter you have no way of knowing if you did them right or not. If you are stumped by a problem, there is no source for finding out how to do it. You end up with a book that has a lot of text but very little usable practice in doing problems. The publisher provides the problem solutions - but ONLY to instructors. If you are trying to learn this material on your own, the publisher WON'T sell you the solution manual. Without the ability to do problems and check your answers the book becomes just about worthless.
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Summary: Well written, but not a good standalone.
Review: I used this book as a reference in a yearlong E&M sequence. Although I agree that the book is well written, I also think it has several flaws. First, the topics are presented in a desultory fashion (Special techniques in Chapter 3?). As many others have said, the book needs an answer key. Griffiths mentions that many people advised him against odd numbered solutions - tell them not to read the answers! I found 'EM Fields' by Wangsness to be much better as a text. I don't think Griffiths has enough math (or detail about electrostatics) in it. Granted, the book is meant as an introduction, but many people think they can read Griffiths and then go right into Jackson. I think many of the people who subsequently whine about Jackson simply haven't had enough of the basics.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional review of introductary E&M
Review: This book is by far in a class of it's own. I had the pleasure of going throught the entire book and loved every page of it. It is clear that Griffiths loves teaching, and his wit and humor throughout the book keeps a light atmosphere. One flaw: not nearly enough on transmition lines and the relativity section could use some work.
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Summary: This is an amazing book, even for non-physicists!
Review: Introduction to Electrodynamics is the most eloquent text I have ever read. Griffiths has an unbelievable knack for explaining the confusing nuances of the math behind the science. As a mechanical engineer I use this book extensively in the study of Fluid Mechanics, as it has the best explanation of Vector Calculus I've seen. Society will be blessed if Dr. Griffiths continues to write.
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