Rating: 
Summary: hoyabird, I agree. Harvard calculus ...
Review: ...P>I don't have a Ph.D. from Harvard either, but I should be getting one next year.I have had to teach an introductory calculus course at Harvard that follows the "Harvard Calculus" treatment that originated with this book (though the course did not use this book). It was awful. It is no easier to teach this course than it is to learn from it. Students need to learn calculus first *before* applying it to the various fields they will study.
Rating: 
Summary: Fresh approach to a dry subject
Review: A calculus book that actually helps you *understand* the concepts; it isn't just endless repetition of alien instructions - although that does exist too, after all it is a mathbook. Would have given it a higher rating but, again, it is a mathbook.
Rating:
Summary: Limits?
Review: After reading the previous reviews, I would have to agree with many of them. However, I think I should explain in detail what I feel is lacking. One important thing to note is that I am writing about the first edition. First: The authors introduce the concept of the derivative _before_ the concept of a limit? Excuse me? Which is more fundamental, and should be introduced first? The author just uses the word limit before defining it. A no-no in mathematics. The concept of a limit is the most important in calculus and absolutely foundational to the rest of the subject. Second: Even worse than the first complaint: the author never even gives the delta-epsilon definition of a limit! This is not optional! Especially for students going on to Calc 3 and Real Analysis, they must have exposure to delta-epsilon proofs. It took me that many different exposures just to get it! Third: the authors noted in their introductions (I always read introductions to books: gives you their philosophy), they mention that the book, the way they wrote it, helps students with weak algebra backgrounds. Forgive me for being hard-nosed, but I would say that students with weak algebra backgrounds ought to strengthen their algebra before tackling calculus! It's hard enough with an adequate background! Mathematics is hopelessly cumulative, and going on without thorough mastery of previous concepts is foolhardy. It seems to me that the most logical development in calculus is the following: functions, limits, derivatives, integrals. The author has not followed this arrangement. To its credit, however: the author reviews functions in chapter 1. The chapter on using derivatives (5) seems to use the logical development: from more simple graphical concepts (increasing or decreasing functions and max and min problems) to more complex ones (concavity and points of inflection). While the book has some strengths, I believe the weaknesses to be too severe, and I would discourage its use.
Rating: 
Summary: Great introductory calculus text for the SERIOUS student.
Review: As one first pages through this book, it is apparent that this is not a conventional math text. Every previous text i've had through school gave everything to me on a silver platter. This book encourages critical thinking rather than "plugging and chugging" useing memorized formula. This is one of the reasons people don't like the text. Students cannot simply page through the chapter they didn't read and memorize the formulas for the test. The only bad points i can make are: 1. The student solutions manual is way too short(everyotherodd). 2. Chapter 7 section on the analysis of Simpson's rule and Improper integrals was a bit vague. To sum things up, if your serious about learing calculus-buy this text.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book! Easy to learn from.
Review: Great calculus book. Interesting problems and easy to learn with things presented in three different ways.
Rating:
Summary: This book is a stinker!
Review: Had to suffer through this book for undergraduate science background requirement. Also used the multivariable book by same authors for Calc2 requirement. Full of extremely poor explanations, expects you to jump from simple examples to complex problems. This would be fine if I was a Harvard math wiz like Deborah Hughes-Hallett. However, few of us are, so how about some better examples and explanations that a normal human being can follow. Also, try examples without skipping so many steps.
Rating:
Summary: for those trying to understand calculus, BURN THIS BOOK!!
Review: I am a very serious, 4.0 GPA student majoring in civil engineering. I do not whine when I get into a muck; I push and push and work my bottom off. My theory is "your class is only as easy as your instructor". If the instructor has communication problems, you turn to your text. But what if your text really, really sucks too?? This book has extremely inadequate examples, and they cover only 20% of what they end up giving as homework problems. You simply cannot turn back the page to the explanatory section to see how that particular type of problem is solved. Please, DO NOT purchase this book. I aced trig and pre-cal...both the texts and the teachers were perfect. But I have had to drop my first calculus class because of this bad teacher-text combo. BUY IT. BURN IT. MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. hehehehe
Rating:
Summary: Oftem confusing, strange irritating format
Review: I am using this book for a calc II college course, after taking AP Calculus in high school. The book in high school was great, unfortunately this one is horrid. The examples are confusing, and the problems very vauge. I am going to get another book to get through this course, as this one is terrible.
Rating:
Summary: Total Dissapointment
Review: I am using this text to teach myself Calculus. Explanations are skimpy, and offer very few practice problems with each of the steps worked out. Only odd answers are printed in the back (and some odd answers are not printed). I'm using the Schaum's OutLine Series, and it's MUCH MUCH better. I bought this book used, and for what I paid for it, I could have gotten the Schaums Calculus and Pre-Cal, and still had enough left over for dinner and a movie. Sad.
Rating:
Summary: A terrible book
Review: I cannot understand why at one time not to long ago this approach and this text were considered the way to go in math education. The explanations are unclear and often concepts are assumed before they are introduced. I tutor math at my university, and I have a terribe time trying to help tutor students in calculus because they're stuck with this abysmal book as a "guide." I would recommend the text by Zill if you can find it (it's out of print), but any other calculus text couldn't be worse than this one.
| 
