Rating: 
Summary: Not for premeds taking the MCAT
Review: This book is great if you are majoring in Physics or Engineering. But NOT great if you are a premed, planning to take the MCAT. I had to buy this book for my physics class. It was very frustrating because it was calculus-based. The book is mostly about how the formulas and laws were derived using calculus and trig. The MCAT mostly tests on conceptuals and problem-solving using basic algebra and geometry. Also, our exams only tested on conceptual physics and simple problems using the equation sheet. So, for me this book was useless. My professor told us that the reason why this book was required for the class was that the Department of Physics and the publisher have a contract. And since our physics class was designed for premed students, not physics majors, the professor and the teaching assistants weren't very excited to help us. But anyways, I would recommend Cutnell and Giancolli (BOTH books, not one or the other; because there are certain sections which are vague).
Rating:
Summary: Not Good
Review: This physics book "helped" me through two horrendous semesters of Purdue University physics. There is absolutely no correlation between the text and the homework problems, which lead all of us engineers to wish bad things upon the Purdue physics department and the authors. If the chapters were a bit more clear, maybe I'd have gotten an A first semester and a B second, rather than B and C, respectively.
Rating: 
Summary: WELL-ABOVE AVERAGE, BUT NEED SOME TOUCHES
Review: The reputation of this book is well-deserved. But, it is good to note that any student whose foundations in Geometry and Algebra are wanting, may not cope very well.
Most of the chapters which make-up the Mechanics section have solid back-bone. I am particularly impressed by the way it handled Rotational Dynamics, Gravitation, and Simple Harmonic Motion. Its Electricity and Magnetism sections are equally grounded. However, the same cannot be said about Optics, Heat, as well as some of the chapters that belonged to Sound. Also, this is not among the texts that I regard as beginner-friendly; but if your background in Mathematics is above average, there is very little to worry about.
Overall, this is a nice Physics text, although that its authors need to improve on the sections describing Heat and Optics.
Rating: 
Summary: greatest physics book ever
Review: I have been using this book for a semester now and I think is is great, every student in my high school class has found it immensly helpful, but then again we are the smartest students in the school; several other students parents are engineers and they have kept their first edition books as a reference. Also my physics teacher is the head of the textbook committee and she has used this book for over twenty years, and most, if not all, students recieve fives on the AP exams. I don't know about the students that are badmouthing this book, maybe they just aren't meant for physics, not that I am saying they are stupid, lazy or anything of that nature...
Rating:
Summary: This book is useless!!
Review: Warning, please, please, please, do yourself a favor and don't buy this book. You are going to waste your money for it. I would suggest getting any of Walker's or Giancolli's book. This book DOES NOT explain the concepts of Physics. All it does is to prove to you how those "uber-great" scientists came up with the equations. Yes, this book is supposed to be for Physics that is calculus-based. BUT it doesn't mean that the focus should mainly be in the Math of the Physics concepts. It doesn't explain to you any ideas behind the phenomenons that's going to be observed.
All you can see are derivation, not even any illustrations. Examples are not good, 'coz they are easy and basic but the problems afterwards are more complex and sometimes you just can't see the relationship between them. Arrangement of topic can also be improved, so students can see how one topic relates to the other, rather than to jump suddenly in a completely different topic that leaves the readers hanging.It was the textbook for my college so I have to buy it, but the only use that I could get from this is formulas. This is my so-called "formula reference". If I want to understand the concepts, I would read another book. This book was assigned as our textbook by the "oldest professor" at school. Our new teacher, who focuses more on the beauty and practical application of concepts, despises this book as well. And he's not just your young, or novice professor. He has his PhD in Physics as well, so he knows what he's talking about... Oh and another note, everybody in our class hates it! Nobody ever liked it. And they usually just buy another Physics book or borrow from the library.
Rating: 
Summary: a poor book...
Review: This book really did not cover any topic thoroughly enough for the reader to get a thorough understanding of the topic. I found that the authors did not use vector notation at all,(they were introduced once and then never used again) apparently deciding that vectors were too advanced a concept for introductory students. The only thing I have to say is that my general high school physics course was more advanced than this. This book truly does not convey the fun that physics can be.
Rating:
Summary: good book- missing a couple things though
Review: This book starts basic wtih any new topic. It is good for new students to physics. It covers most of physics, but some parts, such as free body diagrams, it does not cover that well. If you havent taken calc, doent bother with this book- or with ap physics c. If you have a good teacher, like Mrs. B, it will be easier.
Rating:
Summary: Worst Physics Book!!!
Review: As others have already stated, this physics book does not cover physics in terms that beginning college students can understand. This book is made for those in advance courses that already have the fundamentals and just need something easy to thumb through for reference. I guess the author expects the professor to discuss all of the topics in a more broad sense and only use the book for a reference. I know this is not true because I got my hands on an older edition, I think the second or third, and it was not nearly as bad as this edition. Recommendation is to not listen to your teacher and purchase another Physics book. I used Contemporary College Physics second edition in a previous course and it was just as good in the course that this physics book was needed.
Rating:
Summary: Problem solving or real physics?
Review: The title of this book really agrees with the content it contains inside. Its all about fundamentals. The only good thing about this book which makes it better than some other textbooks written at the same level is that it has plenty of exercises and problems. It gives problem solving tactics at the end of almost every topic followed by 2 or 3 examples.
If you are looking to master problem solving techniques then it might be the best book you can get but if you are looking for some real physics, I am afraid you'll have to consult other books for that. Its like Schaum's outline series. A brief look at the theory, then some solved examples and in the end exercises.
The reason I've given it a good rating is that I only used it to master problem solving and am still using it.
Rating:
Summary: The book is just O.K.
Review: The book is really extended. It included almost everything you need to know about physics, but you have to be super-smart to understand what the author is talking about. Actually, you don't need it for high school level. To pass the AP Physics exam, you must have a review book, but not this textbook.
IT IS FOR YOU TO TAKE AN ANVANTAGE IN THE MYSTERY OF PHYSICS!!!
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