Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Extended Version

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Summary: A review from someone who is also NOT retarded OR stupid
Review: The previous reviewer apparently feels that anyone who doesn't agree with him is "retarded" or "stupid". To criticize or classify someone for their spelling errors is pointless and juvenile. It contributes nothing to the book's evaluation. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, regardless of their spelling ability. After all, I could point out that he spelled "retarded" as "retarted" immediately before his spelling comment. Does that make him retarded or stupid? I doubt it. However, in regard to his book review, he is only half correct. The subject is a difficult one, especially for those who are first encountering it. Where he is wrong is in saying that "the way the book is written has nothing to do with this." The presentation of a subject can make it easier or harder; therefore, the book, along with the instructor, has everything to do with it. I've used many textbooks during my courses of study and my 35+ year career. This one is neither the best nor the worst. Textbooks are seldom presented to students for evaluation before publishing. At best, they are shown to people who are already familiar with the topic. This is usually done to locate errors. Very few reviewers approach a new textbook from the vantage point of a student who is looking at the subject for the first time. This textbook covers the topic sufficiently but it does show a weakness in clarity. When this book is used in a Physics class, it will require an instructor capable of guiding the student over its many rough spots.

Rating:
Summary: Useful
Review: The Tipler book has been useful since it is an introductory text based in calculus, not algebra. The calculus simplifies the subject matter and allows for unmatched conciseness in the text. Has also been valuable for Science Bowl competitions.

Rating:
Summary: PITIFUL
Review: The title of this book should be: "PHYSICS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS". This is a good idea gone bad. As others have said, the Chapter Reviews, illustrations, etc are helpful and I guess this is a terrific reference book for those people who already know most of the material. BUT, for a beginning Physics student, it is maddeningly incomplete. There are plenty of examples but very little explanatory text and the examples have a REALLY BAD HABIT of SKIPPING MANY IMPORTANT STEPS. The result is that if your particular problem is not specifically one of the examples, why then, you are most likely OUT OF LUCK! After using this book it would seem that the subject of Physics has gotten so huge with information that an overview course can no longer be covered in the traditional 2 college semesters. At least that is the impression. Why else would there be so little discussion of the IDEAS BEHIND THE PROBLEMS. But, at the very least, in the examples that are covered, could not ALL THE STEPS that are required to do the problem be included? When a beginning student has to attempt to "fill in" an author's blanks, learning becomes tedious and frustrating. I'm speaking not only for myself but for many of my classmates as well. Most of them are bright, energetic science majors who are thoroughly fed-up with using this poorly written texbook.

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Summary: Poor Physics
Review: There are one million better resources to learn physics. There are thousands of other books that would have taught physics better. I was required to use this text for a class, and the entire class cursed the text throughout the year. Do not volentarily subject yourself to this book...unless you enjoy self-inflicted pain.

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Summary: Forget Halliday and Resnick
Review: This book at first seems to be a purely introductory text, but the wonderful thing about Tipler is his incredibly easy to read writing style. The book is heavily illustrated with photographs, drawings, etc. and is exceptionally readable and thorough. I find myself turning to this book far more often than Halliday and Resnick for freshman/soph physics problems, simply because they are presented in a far less intimidating style. Take a look, I guarantee you will like this book.

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Summary: Tipler could be the best intro Physics text ever.
Review: This book contains pretty much everything that your average Physics student could ever need. It has clear and complete descriptions of just about any topic that you could ever want to cover. I have found myself returning to it again and again throughout my undergraduate career as a Physics major. Even as I entered my senior year, Tipler was a valuable aid. The problems in the book were very creative and often witty, and not only adequately tested my knowledge of the material, but challenged me further. Although the extended version is somewhat large, you can rest assured that if you need to find something, it is in there, and the index actually helps you find it (unlike other texts I know). It is nice to have all of the major topics of Physics collected in one well written and approachable text. It is without a doubt the best money I have ever spent on a Physics text.

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Summary: Good Concepts but Poor Examples
Review: This book is certainly one of the most widely used textbooks at the calculus-based level. However, Dr. Tipler doesn't tell you much about how to solve those more complicated problems. The example problems are quite easy and mostly single-step. I believe, most students will have no difficulty dealing with those Level I, and sometimes Level II, problems provided at the end of the chapter. Those Level III problems are beyond students' abilities. There is not a complete solution manual out there for students. Students can not check whether they do right or wrong. However, I don't think any calculus-based physics has a complete solution manual for students. My opinion is that the gist of Tipler's text is the Level III Problem. No doubt, his book is, again, one of the best. But I would recommend those who use Tipler's "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" buy a supplementary text. Dr. Raymond Serway's is recommended.

Rating:
Summary: In a Word: Horrible
Review: This is a poor excuse for a physics textbook. The explanations are terrible: Dr. Tipler goes on and on explaining each topic without motivating the student with a real-world application of what he is presenting. Also, the end-of-chapter problems seem to be designed more to trick students rather than to provide them with problem-solving "know-how." Better book: Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday and Resnick

Rating:
Summary: The best general physics book I have ever used
Review: Tipler is easy to read, has an abundance of examples, and explains its concepts much more completely than any other book I have used. Throughout my schooling I constantly refered back to it, for all my more advanced classes, so clear were its explinations. It made my life considerably easier.

Rating:
Summary: Bad writing style
Review: Tipler writes in such a way that his explanations seem to contradict each other. Very confusing textbook. Get Halliday and Resnick instead.