Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide, 2nd Edition

I am *so* happy I found this book! It's everything you could possibly want: it explains the information in a clear, simple, concise manner without ever coming off as condescending. As an adult with a strong curiosity for science, I found this book to include all of the information I could have hoped for.I bought it expecting a simple "Physics for Dummies" type of approach, but what I found was a detailed breakdown of physics, chemistry, electricity, and a handful of other fascinating subjects that are all directly connected to Physics. I never expected a single book to cover all of those subjects, much less in such a way as to show you how they are all connected. It's really quite brilliant. My favorite part is that each section includes a "Prerequisites" list, which is just a list of other sections in the book you should read first. This makes it very easy to skip around to the subjects that you're interested in.Finally, the book is full of questions and self-tests. This isn't an academic book that just throws information at you non-stop. Each section tells you what you should expect to learn, includes questions throughout, and then finally ends with a self-exam.I wish every academic book was this amazing. I've read $150 textbooks that aren't as well-structured and effective as this little $11 Kindle book. So if you want to learn about Physics (and all of the disciplines directly related to Physics), then do yourself a favor and BUY THIS BOOK!!!

Very few books are written in a clean and direct manner as this one. This is exactly what I wanted, all concepts in one place. I got this book for my 7th grader who goes to public school where the standards are still low in middle school. I wanted to cover concepts of Physics before it takes him by surprise in high school. As expected, the first chapter took a little adjusting, since physics is a new way of thinking that a student must understand. But then he got it and we are able to cover about 2-3 pages a day with him now understanding things intuitively. We hope to cover this book through the year, and man will he be ready for High School physics. The author has been conscious in presenting things in a simple and yet thorough manner. He doesn't meander with unnecessary verbiage. I had anticipated needing multiple books to cover physics concepts, but this is does it really well. I seldom devote time to write reviews, but this one was compelling.

This is the best book on physics I have read, which really makes it the least worse book on the topic. But this book, out of all the others, comes the closest to being good.If this book were just 50% longer it would be amazing. It's not what it covers that makes it fall short, it's what it doesn't cover. There are so many topics the author touches on then moves on from before he really makes a larger point. For example, he covers vector addition, but not subtraction or the use of more advance techniques; he covers basic motion and force, but ignores friction which has some really simple and basic equations; he covers gasses, but falls short of mentioning ideal gas law; he covers electromagnetism and induction, but fails to mention power generation; he has a great section on waves, but lacks any discussion of phase. And I could go on.Overall I wouldn't say this is even an introduction to physics, it's more a supplemental to intro physics. There are so many subjects that just get left out and that will be covered in any intro physics course that this book can't really be relied upon as a preparation.

This is right at the level I was looking for with teaching my son the basics of physics. It is a great home-school book that gives brief, yet effective overviews of the concepts they will get in high school and college. If you have a child that loves math and discussing why things work, then this is a great conversation starter. Quizzes and answers are at the end of each chapter. I copy the quizzes and give him open book tests. Then we discuss what he got correct and what he needs to study further. My goal for him was just to get him familiar with the terms of physics, then thinking and applying that knowledge to solving basic physical problems. We had a great discussion today about momentum of a fired bullet! I know, I know I am a GEEK. But the light bulb went on today and he was excited!

After muddling and struggling through physics with one child, I wanted a way to teach the younger without the pain and tears and I can gladly say I have found it. It has every equation you could possibly need for an intro to physics course with guided examples and answers. Added bonus, it even has preliminary material such as scientific notation and metric units. If I had one complaint is that the answers to guided problems are right at the bottom, so the learner has to be trusted to actually work out the problems. Therefore it is not a good book for unaccompanied minors, but great if you can be trusted to want to learn and there is no tedious flippinbg to teh back every few seconds.

Purchased for my daughter who is a freshman in college for her Physic's I class. She did not take Physics in High School. She said this book was very helpful, is tracking what they are covering in her class and that she sees where it will also be helpful in Chemistry. This is why I bought the book. In reviews and the descriptions, it was being said that it tied other sciences in with it. So, since she is happy with it, and it is helping her, I give it a 5 star. That was the point of the purchase. Book arrived very quickly and was as described.