» Classical Mechanics

Classical Mechanics Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: For once a decent undergraduate physics text
Comment: Like many physics majors, I have become used to dealing with undergraduate physics texts that are mediocre at best. The explanations are usually confusing, either because they are too dry or too verbose. If examples/derivations are included they are rarely practical and one tends to wonder at the author's reasoning for choosing those. I often find myself only using the textbooks to work the homework problems, and base almost all my knowledge on class notes.

This text is a welcome deviation from the standard: I have found it extremely easy to understand and follow. There are numerous examples and derivations, and I have referred to them more than once to gain familiarity with the topic. The book became my friend and ally; a priceless resource for the class. My course has only gone through chapter 13, but all the chapters that we covered were written well.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Very good for self-study
Comment: I strongly recommend this book, it is well written, clear, without typographical errors, with many excercises which you can really do after having studied the text. Some people say it is verbose: sometimes it is true, BUT when you study alone it is a lot better to have more rather than less explanations. I wish there was a similar book on quantum mechanics. The binding is good and this adds to the good feeling of studying it. This book should become soon a bestseller. I suggest only to add the answers of the even-numbered problems, sometimes it may help.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Great book
Comment: This book is well written and is easy to learn from whether taking a Classical Mechanics class or learning it on your own. Unlike some books that expect you to know Differential Equations, this one sets it up for you along the way.
It also has 11 chapters for a mechanics class and six bonus chapters that can be used as supplementary material.
I would recommend this book for future students.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: An excellent text
Comment: This textbook is comprehensive, clearly written, well-paced, and thoughtful. Taylor clearly is an experienced professor and understands well how to convey material to students. Whether this text is required for your intermediate/advanced undergraduate classical mechanics course or you are someone who wishes to brush up on mechanics, this is the book.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Clear, thorough, and enjoyable
Comment: "Classical mechanics" is a brilliant book, certainly one of the very best at this level. The author doesn't save space when a thorough introduction to a topic or problem is needed. Very often an intuitive explanation is given first, followed by a formal exposition, and then comes the real gem - a qualitative discussion of the mathematical results which brings physics again in the picture with full force. The chapters on oscillations are outstanding, same as the exposition of generalized coordinates and generalized forces. Of course, not every detail in derivations has to be given, and it is the choice of what to include and what to skip that makes the flow of exposition logical and coherent. This book is a joy to read, it is excellent for self-study.

---

More Reviews for Classical Mechanics