More than thirty years ago, when I was an engineering student, my physics "Bible" was Halliday & Resnick, Physics for Students of Science and Engineering, 1st Edition. This is a book that has aged gracefully. While the basic physics concepts were retained, the examples have been updated in each revision to keep up with the technology advances. Now in its seventh edition since Walker started to collaborate with the previous authors, it is still one of the most enjoyable readings in elementary physics. I recommend it without reservation.

I often use Halliday and Resnick when I teach calculus based physics courses. The ideas are presented clearly, without too many words, and the examples are well picked. I suspect, as happened to me, that you will appreciate the calculus better after getting past a calculus based physics course. Despite containing a few errors, a good return on your investment relative to the cost of this text, is the supplementary Schaum's outline: Physics for Engineers and Science. Each chapter of this Schaum's reviews things concisely, and is filled with tons of worked out sample problems. Try hard to work out these problem sets first, before looking at the solutions. Your grades will reflect YOUR efforts. The Feynman lectures are also useful, but not necessary to own.

Sincerely,

Alex Alaniz Ph.D.

1. Please see the reviews of my own strong science fiction book: Beyond Future Shock about the near-terms perils and promise of advanced bio/nano technology in a world still roiled with Middle Age religious conflict and ever growing extreme wealth gradients.

2. I have REVIEWED many books from undergraduate to graduate in: PHYSICS, MATH, ECONOMETRICS, and HISTORY among other areas.