Statics and Strength of Materials, Fifth Edition

Rating:
Summary: Poorly written
Review: Although many of the examples in the book were sufficient, there were so many mistakes that it was easy to lose confidence in the material (especially the first time through it). There were problems in some of the chapters that included concepts not covered until later chapters, and there is no student solutions manual available. Overall, I'd say thanks but no thanks.

Rating:
Summary: Poorly written textbook
Review: I find it hard to believe that whoever gave this book five stars has actually read it and gone through the problems. The solutions in the back are often wrong. At first, I thought I was making mistakes in solving the systems, but after I approached my instructor and solved them together, we found that a lot of the author's solutions are incorrect. The text also lacks continuity and quality examples. After going through my statics and strengths class, I have a sneaking suspicion that the author had an undergrad formulate the problems. One star is too generous.

Rating:
Summary: Poorly written
Review: The book was very difficult to follow in some chapters. The example problems and explanations of the subject area were very confusing at times. Some example problems allowed for assumptions by the student because the author didn't show cause for the results. I acknowledge the subject and course of study is for more advanced students. This does not condone the assumption that certain things are to be intuitively deduced. Also; as the book moves through the chapters there is a lack of continuity of usage of identifiers. Sometimes up is + and sometimes down is +. In the discussion of moments the derictions are defined, but later on the ups and downs used by the authors have no rhyme or reason because of a lack of explaination. The use of or the explanation as to the best points to use for reference in diagraming problems in the later chapters was not explained. A general consensus as to a point of reference for diagraming a problem should be announced so each person approaching the problem would come to the same conclusion (correct, I hope), following the same procedures. Several persons solving the same problem would have the same model and values determined.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent to re-cap your fundamentals
Review: The solved problems are terrific and classic examples encountered.The text is well written and understandble.