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Rating: 
Summary: I was self taught with this book
Review: I just graduated high school. While still in school, I used a swokowski book. It was perfect for me. The first year I took first semester college calculus in an AP class. I was introduced to calculus through this book. Personally, I thought it was a very good textbook, especially compared to previous ones I had used. I got an A in the class and a 5 on the AP exam. Perhaps partly because of the teacher, but the book was essential. The next year I (effectively) had an independent study class for Calculus II (much harder class/concepts!) Once again, I used swakowski. I passed the exam again, this time with a 4 (5 subscore in Calc I). The merits of the book lie in it's concept as calculus as an accumulating course - everything builds up. First we learn the concept of limits, then derivitive, then area, and integrals, then series... and on and on to ifinity ;) Many of the practice exercises draw upon concepts learned much earlier. My favorite part of the book (and perhaps this is only me) was that it showed every derivation for all major theorems. I understood where the theorems and equations were coming from -I understood the concept behind it, rather than learning by rote, which is (shockingly) becoming more the norm (easier for teachers...?). For someone interested in mathematics, especially in the higher-level study, this book is ideal. Also nice: wide margins, extensive example problems, answers to odd problems in back, numbered theorems for reference in later chapters (easier to find!) Not so great: uses a lot of technical/"math" terms - good if serious about math, bad if just started/dabbling/unsure
also, tends to build on concepts, so if you're starting this book 1/2 way through, expect some page flipping Also see if you can get a copy of the solutions manual. helpful to see the STEPS to solving the problem. nice. One more note. My teacher senior year used a new textbook geared entirely toward AP students (ie it took all of the thinking out of the math). I didn't like it. I preferred swakowski. It's a college textbook, so it's not easy. But it gets you thinking the right way. :)
Rating: 
Summary: Buy Some other Book
Review: I really dont like the way author explains in this book. He makes easy things seem hard. It's like one of those teacher who dont know how to teach. Well consider this author much worse. There is no point of having this book unless you are in the calc. class that requires this book, even much much worse if you are trying to self teach. DONT with this book. Try some other Calculus Author.
Rating:
Summary: great, easy to read calc book
Review: Swokoski's book is easy to read and presents the topics with lots of explaination. There are at least 7 examples fully worked out to help you understand, usually they take 2 or 3 pages per example to show you how he gets the answer and why that method works. The exercises are pretty thorough. With this book and a good professor you can gain a solid calculus foundation.
Rating:
Summary: great, easy to read calc book
Review: Swokoski's book is easy to read and presents the topics with lots of explaination. There are at least 7 examples fully worked out to help you understand, usually they take 2 or 3 pages per example to show you how he gets the answer and why that method works. The exercises are pretty thorough. With this book and a good professor you can gain a solid calculus foundation.
Rating:
Summary: swokowski's calculus
Review: the above reviewer was a bit harsh in their treatment of this fine text. I found this this to be an excellent calculus text for all three semesters of calcI, calcII, and calcIII. It does not however, alleviate the need for hard work and determination in studying, no text can do that. The level of rigor is equivalent to any other text such as stewart's claculus or anton's calculus but does not delve into theory at the level of tom apostol's calculus. An excellent resource for learning basic calculus.
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