Book Description

Systematic problem-solving methodology.

• Extensive use of first law thermodynamics.
• Finite Element Heat Transfer (FEHT) program w/ printed user's guide--A new software program (from the makers of EES) that solves 2D and transient conduction problems. ... Read more

  Reviews (14)

  Thorough heat transfer book
  This is an excellent text for the heat transfer novice, both as a supplement to a class and as a personal teaching tool. The writing is easy to understand, and the chapters are arranged logically. The examples are well chosen and usually demonstrate how the theory and equations can be put to good use.

  I have only two complaints about this text: There are far too few sample problems (and no problems with only answers provided) and the mass transfer is not taught in a useful way. The prior is a failure of many text books, but the latter is a major drawback. Incropera and Dewitt basically say "Mass transfer is the same as heat transfer, except use these units and equations." All of the mass transfer is tucked into a few chapters, as if it was an afterthought.

  I recommend this book to anyone interested in the fundamentals of heat transfer, but look elsewhere for a useful introduction to mass transfer.

  Excellent general heat transfer book
  This is the best all around book on heat transfer I have come across. I have owned the 3rd edition for nearly 10 years and refer to it almost daily in my job (doing heat transfer and fluid flow analysis for a semiconductor equipment company). The theory is clearly explained and well illustrated by many worked examples. The extensive tables of thermal properties in the back are nearly worth the price themselves. I don't think the serious student of heat transfer can go wrong with this book.

  Excellent Heat X-Fer but So-So Mass X-Fer
  I used this textbook for a few years when teaching a course in heat and mass transfer. The heat transfer parts are some of the best I've seen. Very clear explanations and great diagrams. The mass transfer material is not all that great. The authors are mechanical engineers but mass transfer is really the domain of chemical engineers. They're not as often clear (or even totally correct) in the mass transfer sections. There used to be a heat transfer only version of this textbook which might be a better buy. For mass transfer I would use any established chemical engineering textbook.

  A great book
  Even if you don't need a course in heat/mass transfer, you could take it just for the book. One of the best engineering books I have ever read, Incropera and De Witt do a great job of explaining heat transfer. Throughout the book, they use clear examples to illustrate the material (and they keep the units throughout the examples!). The only flaw is the mass transfer section (Ch. 14 & 15, I believe). It is a little confusing, but a couple of trips to the professor's office will remedy this. A couple of typos, but not to the extent of other books I've read.

  Heat and mss transfer simplified
  Dear fellow readers: The subject of mass and heat transfer is very involved, and it has applications in many industrial processes. This book starts with a very fundamental explanation of heat transfer. The introduction seems to be from a grade ten science class, hence it is easily understood. As the chapters develop, other concepts such as thermodynamics, solids, and fluids come in to discussion. For this reason I recommend that any one who wishes to read this book, have a firm grasp on these subjects. These sections are far and few in between, so a reader can further develop their understanding with out much difficulty. As the title states the book is about both heat and mass transfer. It is interesting to note that, although these subjects are fundamentally different the calculations are very similar thanks to dimensionless numbers. The book does a very good job of explaining and relating these topics to each other. In my personal opinion, if there is one book that should be bought that encompasses these subjects, and can be used as a reference in the future, this book is my preferred choice. ... Read more

Book Description

Physics for Scientists and Engineers combines outstanding pedagogy with a clear and direct narrative and applications that draw the reader into the physics. The new edition features an unrivaled suite of media and on-line resources that enhance the understanding of physics. Many new topics have been incorporated such as: the Otto cycle, lens combinations, three-phase alternating current, and many more. New developments and discoveries in physics have been added including the Hubble space telescope, age and inflation of the universe, and distant planets. Modern physics topics are often discussed within the framework of classical physics where appropriate. For scientists and engineers who are interested in learning physics. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Excellent Introductory book!
I used this book in my four-quarter introductory physics sequence in college. This book does exactly what it's meant to do: give the reader an introduction to the concepts of physics. The book is more qualitative than quantitative, and uses only basic calculus that the student should be learning at the same time they are taking an introductory phsyics course. The book is very colloqual, and is a good read.

Some reviews complain that the book isn't rigorous enough, and glosses over material. They forget that this book is only meant to be an introduction to the ideas and basics of physics. Mathematical rigor should wait for upper division courses.

Other reviews claim the book assumes too much of the student. I disagree. The book rarely goes beyond basic calculus. Some ideas may be unintuitive, but you just need to wrap your mind around them. Some of the problems are definitely tricky, but they help develop problem solving skills.

Overall the book is a great reference on the concepts of phsyics. I still refer to it when I forget why a certain thing works a certain way.

Physics boot camp
This is a good book, but I hate it. I am in my second semester of physics at a Cal State school and have used this book for both mechanics, and now electricity and magnetism.

This book excels at forcing the student to develop problem solving skills. As others have pointed out: there is little theory. Each chapter starts with, maybe, a few pages of the basic theory (these sections can be quite interesting) and then immediately gets into the equations.

I love the conceptual side of physics, having read about the subject since I was a kid. But there is nothing interesting about calculating the electric field around a cylinder, or, better yet, the force of friction on a box sliding down an incline. But hey, we need to learn this stuff. And with this book, you WILL learn it.

In all honesty, I don't think that a physics book for science and engineering students could be written any better. Tedious, thorough, and forces you to learn the material no matter how dry it is. Thank God I'm not a physics major.

Physics Student
This is a great book for Calculus base physics. It offer in-depth explaintion of the theory and how it derive a theory.

The problem at the end of each chapter are challenging and encourge the student to work at it in able to solve it. Also, after doing these problem, it a guarantee that you will at least learn something.

blehhh
Like the other reviewer from UCB, I had to use Giancoli for two semesters of physics, and this book did not help me one bit. All it did was make me feel completely helpless. The explanations of most concepts are pretty clear and concise. The problem is when you get to the problems.

Most of the practice problems at the end of the chapters are much harder than the level at which the actual text covers the physics. As another reviewer said, this book may be good if you've taken a rigorous Honors Physics or AP Physics class in high school, but not everyone has. If your high school only offered a regular college-prep physics class (non-calculus based at that), you will suffer from all the knowledge that it is assumed you can automatically derive or figure out (as if it were common sense) on your own.

I highly regret not looking for other, better, physics textbooks at the time I took my introductory physics classes. I urge anyone who doesn't feel like they already have a good solid background in calculus-based physics, and is assigned this book, to go and find one that explains things in a more in-depth way. Physics is all about the problems, if you can't do the problems then you're screwed in the class. This book does not help you figure out how to solve problems.

well written
Great book, well written, great organization, one of the best books for classroom.
Very good and practical examples. You'll actually see how knowing a little bit of physics can help you understand your usage of daily appliances, and you can participate in intelligent converstaions without sounding silly! ... Read more

Book Description

"[Greene] develops one fresh new insight after another...In the great tradition of physicists writing for the masses, The Elegant Universe sets a standard that will be hard to beat." --George Johnson, The New York Times Book Review

In a rare blend of scientific insight and writing as elegant as the theories it explains, Brian Greene, one of the world's leading string theorists, peels away the layers of mystery surrounding string theory to reveal a universe that consists of 11 dimensions where the fabric of space tears and repairs itself, and all matter-from the smallest quarks to the most gargantuan supernovas-is generated by the vibrations of microscopically tiny loops of energy.

Green uses everything from an amusement park ride to ants on a garden hose to illustrate the beautiful yet bizarre realities that modern physics is unveiling.

Dazzling in its brilliance, unprecedented in its ability to both illuminate and entertain, The Elegant Universe is a tour de force of science writing-a delightful, lucid voyage through modern physics that brings us closer than ever to understanding how the universe works. ... Read more

Reviews (371)

Superb and exciting overview of superstring theory
It is fascinating and gratifying to read about the recent progress that young geniuses like Brian Greene (the author) are making in theoretical physics. This book is an exposition on superstring theory, which has the promise of being a "theory of everything", seeking to explain the origin of elementary particles as being different resonant patterns of a string or perhaps a membrane, as well as the unification of the various forces and the evolution of the universe. This subject is extremely difficult mathematically -- it occupies the very highest talent level in physics -- and yet Dr. Greene does an extraordinary job of explaining the essential ideas in non-technical language for the intelligent lay person. The book conveys the excitement about the recent discoveries, and recounts some of Greene's own original work, providing the reader a fascinating glimpse into the creative process. The explanations of relativity and quantum mechanics are among the best non-technical explanations I have read. The need for superstrings (or ultimately M-theory) is well motivated and the basic idea of the theory is well explained. The theory's limitations are discussed forthrightly. I was inspired by the discussions about the future directions of the research and the large questions that remain unanswered. As an experimental physicist who is far removed from these developments, I am admittedly not in a position to judge the true accuracy of the book, but at least it seemed fairly clear. One improvement I could recommend if there is a future edition: Although the author did comment that the experimental confirmation and characterization of supersymmetry would be important, more emphasis of this point may be warranted since the tax paying public will be asked for millions of dollars for a next generation of particle accelerators.

A peek into answers of Life, the Universe, and Everything
This book is absolutley amazing! Dr. Greene is an excellent writer and teacher. This book deals with the cutting-edge field of superstring theory--the idea that little vibrating loops of string are the most basic constituents of our universe, as opposed to "point" particles as presented for decades by the standard theory. Superstring theory may be the answer to Einstein's unrealized quest for a "Theory of Everything."

The book begins with a very lucid explanation of Einstein's Special and General Theories of Relativity, then leads into Quantum Mechanics, and discusses the inconsistencies between these views of physics on a large scale (General Relativity) and physics on a very small scale (Quantum Mechanics). Dr. Greene then goes on to explain superstring theory and how this new framework smooths out many of the contradictions between General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics.

Using this new understanding of superstring theory, Dr. Greene leads the reader through a myriad of otherwise mind-boggling topics such as: the beginning of the Universe, the possible existence of other universes, 11-dimensional existence, time travel, tears in the fabric of space, and black holes. It's written on a level for the layperson (like me) and I think most people will be able to understand and appreciate all the concepts presented.

needed more about the elegant universe
This books is over-rated, but still better than most books on the subjects he covers. I gave it two stars to get your attention. It is actually a 3 or 4 star book.

I was dissappointed because the title suggested I'd read more about the mysteries of the beginning of the universe and some of the philosophical issues pertaining to the nature of existance and ultimate reality. While the author did give me some good mindfood at the end of the book, the coverage was too brief and far too restrained. I think he was aware of his peers reading it and was being too conservative.

I skimmed a lot. I kept an eye out for places where he quit trying to teach me details and made some interesting comments. I'll give him credit--there were plenty of facinating paragraphs---but they were hidden in page after page of boring stuff. Lets face it, this is arcane stuff! But the implications are interesting, at least to me. I think the book should have been about half the length.

I personally don't think it is possible to understand things like relativity without working some problems. When I took physics, I had to work a few problems to think about the stuff deeply enough to "get it." I don't think many readers are looking to work that much--most of us want a stimulating read. And as the author mentions, many believe that no one really understands quantum mechanics. Also, I did not like the analogies as much as some other readers.

I recommend this book to really really smart readers or to readers who know how to skim without losing interest. Some of the insights were worth looking for.

Detailed but biased instroduction to string theory
Toe central problem of physics today revolves around this conundrum: Gravity is governed by Einstein's relativity theory, which requires that space-time is smooth. Gravity has been experimentally verified. Atomic forces are govered by quantum mechanics, which requires that space-time is bumpy, foamy, and irregular. These atomic forces have been experimentally verified.

How can space time be smooth for gravity, and yet be bumpy for quantum machanics? Enter string theory.

This book is a terrific introduction not only to string theory, but to relativity and quantum mechanics as well. The first half of the book reviews the history and development of these theories, since they are a fundamental component of string theory. In particular, Greene's treatment of relativity uses some outstanding analogies to explain time dilation and gravitational warping. I thought I understood the basics of relativity; this book still taught me a few things.

Analogies are this author's strength. He uses them at every step to avoid the need to complex mathematical formulae. There are no formulae in this book (some will think that a minus, but I view it as a plus.) Using analogies, he's able to provide a comprehensible view of what 10-dimensional spacetime would be like, and how expanding one of the other dimensions might affect life in the Universe. These 5 pages alone are probably worth the price of the book.

If you want a glimpse of one of the cutting-edge areas of particle physics research without needing to study math for 10 years, this book can give it to you.

The science of wonder
I have to credit Brian Greene. He did what I thought was the impossible: he got me interested in science. I've been a liberal arts-type since I can remember. The exact rules and laws of science always left me kind of cold, and so I found myself drawn to literature, poetry and music as the more complete descriptors of human experience.

But last Fall, I couldn't sleep one night and ended up staying up until dawn watching THE ELEGANT UNIVERSE. It was amazing and captivating. It got me excited in a way "science" hadn't since I was a kid, fascinated with the imaginative possibilities of space travel.

I was hooked and had to get the book. The tv program proved to be a great distillation of the book, but if you saw the program and your interest was piqued by the magical dance of superstrings and the mind-bending extra dimensional possibilities, you'll enjoy the full feast of Greene's book even more.

THE ELEGANT UNIVERSE is an enormous feat. It marries the rigor of scientific enquiry with the elegant, at times poetic, presentation of literature. Greene is such an able and down-to-earth explainer of complicated mathematical concepts that he makes even the most dyed-in-the-wool math hater think about signing up for some evening classes at the local college. ... Read more

Book Description

Built from the ground up on our new understanding of how students learn physics, Randall Knight's introductory university physics textbook leads readers to a deeper understanding of the concepts and more proficient problem-solving skills. This authoritative text provides effective learning strategies and in-depth instruction to better guide readers around the misconceptions and preconceptions they often bring to the course.The superior problem-solving pedagogy of Physics for Scientists and Engineers uses a detailed, methodical approach that sequentially builds skills and confidence for tackling more complex problems. Knight combines rigorous quantitative coverage with a descriptive, inductive approach that leads to a deeper student understanding of the core concepts. Pictorial, graphical, algebraic, and descriptive representations for each concept are skillfully combined to provide a resource that students with different learning styles can readily grasp. A comprehensive, integrated approach introducing key topics of physics, including Newton's Laws, Conservation Laws, Newtonian Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Wave and Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, and Modern Physics. For college instructors, students, or anyone with an interest in physics.

Reviews (2)

Preferable to other physics texts
I purchased this book after becoming extremely disappointed with Giancoli's treatment of electromagnetism. In kind words, Giancoli is less than clear. However, Knight's treatment of the subject is remarkably clear, with an emphasis on understanding the physical concepts that describe natural phenomena. He then progresses onto describing the mathematical models that help quantify the physical concepts. Giancoli, in contrast, focuses almost entirely on the mathematical models with little discussion on why they are important. The end result is exposure to a jumble of equations without fully grasping how to apply them. Knight's book does not suffer from this ailment and offers a deeper understanding of both the qualitative and quantitative models of natural phenomena. To professors: please choose this text for next year's course; your students will thank you.

BacktoschoolDad
I am currently in a second semester calculus-based general physics class, using Halliday's extended 6th ed., which I find to be a good text. My professor uses Knight's text as a reference and teaching tool to amplify and explain some concepts. I bought the text as a supplemental reference. This is a new text based on the principles of physics education research. Perhaps an example of the difference between the two texts might help your evaluation. Knight, in Ch. 25, uses 13 pages to cover the principles of charge, insulators, and conductors before he gets to Coulomb's Law. Halliday uses 3 pages. This chapter is introductory and foundational. Knight takes more time with the basics. I also prefer Knight's analogies, diagrams, and visualizations of concepts and mathematical explanantions. A student workbook is included. I recommend the book for the serious beginning physics student, and anyone who desires a great reference for general physics. ... Read more

Book Description

This best-selling classical mechanics text, written for the advanced undergraduate one- or two-semester course, provides a complete account of the classical mechanics of particles, systems of particles, and rigid bodies. Vector calculus is used extensively to explore topics.The Lagrangian formulation of mechanics is introduced early to show its powerful problem solving ability.. Modern notation and terminology are used throughout in support of the text's objective: to facilitate students' transition to advanced physics and the mathematical formalism needed for the quantum theory of physics. CLASSICAL DYNAMICS OF PARTICLES AND SYSTEMS can easily be used for a one- or two-semester course, depending on the instructor's choice of topics. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

No fuss over mathematical formalism here!
Why is everyone complaining about the mathematical formalism in this text? While perhaps such formalism requires a certain level of mathematical maturity on the part of the reader, it does *not* detract from pedagogy. In my opinion, it is better to become used to such formalism in the context of classical dynamics, where intuition can be of great help, than later on, and please, calculus and linear algebra is all that's required! It's not *that* formal!

I'd also like to say that the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian sections present one of the more lucid explanations that I have seen.

Finally, no, the author does not give you an example problem and then ask you to do the same problem with different numbers at the end of the chapter--he assumes you could do that. If you can't read a book that doesn't have such trivial problems for you to work, perhaps you should go elsewhere. The problems in this book are often challenging, and require you to extrapolate from the previous chapters. I find such problems more interesting than ones that require you to only look back in the chapter, grab two equations, eliminate one variable, and then plug in numbers. I'm not sure why everyone has jumped on the "the problems aren't worded well" bandwagon either, as I have encountered very little ambiguity throughout this book. If you want to master classical dynamics, this isn't the only book you'll want to work through, but it certainly should be on your list.

Solid Understandable Book in Mechanics
I took a mechanics course 9 years ago with an earlier edition, finished undergrad and left the study of physics. Recently I bought a new edition and I have just finished self studying this book and I felt that it's quite excellent. The problems are challenging but that is precisely what I expected. I think it really deserves 4 stars but I gave it 5 because the average ratings given by other reviewers is too low. I would like to go through the positives and negatives of this text. However keep in mind that the negatives of this text are apparent pretty much in every physics text.

Positives: 1) The text is easy to understand, the problems follow from the text 2) Answers to even numbers excercises in the back of text. This is absolutely crucial if you are self studying without an instructor. 3) Problems are random in their difficulty and individually comprehensive in their review of the chapter.
4) The Mathematics is pretty elementary, with a solid understanding of Calculus and differential equations you should be properly equipped to handle the entire text.

Negatives: 1) There are little to no difficult problems involving Newtonian formalism (Forces). Energy and momentum is predominantly used, for good reason, but it does not hurt to go back to the more rigorous approach of Forces for some difficult problems.

2) It would be nice to have a chapter dedicated to cyclic coordinates, Poisson Brackets and Canonical Transformations.

3)Impulses(chap 9) are dealt with in Integral form as opposed to differential form of the time change in momenta. The latter is much more intuitive and useful for solving problems.

4)Wider use in problems and examples of Poisson's equation for gravity.

5) Relativity should be introduced much earlier in the text. This is one of the formalisms of every undergraduate textbook in physics which I do not understand. Relativity always gets pushed back towards the end of textbooks. There is nothing particularly difficult about the subject that demands that it get treated in such a fashion. As opposed to the three chapters prior (dynamics of rigid bodies, coupled oscillations and waves) which are much more demanding. Furthermore it would be useful for students taking E&M at the same time as Mechanics to have had some experience with 4 vectors before dealing with Maxwell's equations.

A Road to Higher Realms
Whether knowingly or unknowingly, most of the physics text reviews that I have read may be divided into two categories:

- those who loved or hated the book because it was not written to teach physics through a conceptual framework.

- those who loved or hated the book because it was not written to teach physics through the development of skills.

Then the reviews may be divided again into two categories:

- those who loved or hated the book because it conveyed an exclusively classic and/or historical treatment of physics.

- those who loved or hated the book because it conveyed a modern treatments of physics.

Therefore, I will write my review within the same framework that everyone else seems to...

I loved this book because it was written to teach physics through the development of SKILLS; I loved this book because it did so through a CLASSIC TREATMENT of physics.

Now I will explain why...

The study of physics is FAR MORE than an extraction of information from a book, the way that, say, reading an encyclopedia entry is. The study of physics, rather, is a MENTAL DISCIPLINE, that takes 10,000 hours of intensive mental effort just to become a 'fairly skilled beginner', and at least half a lifetime of intensive mental effort to become an expert in just one, very small, sub-sub-field. It is a journey in which one must tavel the same mental footsteps that the great physicists of the past did before one is ready to travel the new and original mental footsteps of their own research activity. Along the way, one must start with easy treatments, must progress through the intermediate treatments, and must one day tackle the tremendously difficult advanced treatments, of every sub-field of study. Early in the study of a new stage of such a sub-field, one must obtain a solid understanding of every concept, and after this, they must move on from mere concepts, and must develop an exceptional skill set. And one day, if one has been utterly dedicated and unwavering, and if one has worked harder than they ever thought would be necessary when they stood at the beginning of the road... one WILL find that they have reached a higher realm.

I am utterly convinced that this book is the ideal written work that one should study at the time and place in the journey that it is usually encountered on this road.

Ad tedium
I came to this course after taking honors freshman physics at Yale with An Intro to Mechanics by Kleppner and Kolenkow. And, unfortunately, this book just is not as good. The mathematical derivations are often tedious and uninsightful, a good description as well for many of the problems. In addition, many of the problems, particularly the tougher ones, are already worked out in the text. For me, the text is a combination of mediocre treatment of material with exceptionally poor problems. The problems in this text are, in general, easier than those in K&K, but they often take three times as long to write out. Many of them are exercises in 10th grade algebra, or 12th grade calculus (read: horrible integrals and looong expressions to simplify). What is required is not insight, but exceptional care at not making simple errors and patience for long derivations of often obvious results. For a physics major, this book just seems like a colossal waste of time and money. If you want reinforcement of concepts, turn to Feynman in his lectures. For insightful and challenging mechanics (though Hamiltonian and Lagrangian dynamics are missing), Kleppner and Kolenkow is a far better text.

Utterly disgraceful! May be the worst in the physics canon.
(Disclaimer: All my criticisms are directed against Stephen Thornton, who prepared this edition when Marion died. I haven't seriously examined the earlier editions.)

Let it not be said that this book is utterly without virtue. It does have a good store of challenging, interesting problems. Also, the introductory chapter includes a unique (for this level) discussion of the Levi-Civita notation, which is great for managing complicated expressions in vector and tensor analysis (if you're currently taking junior or senior E&M, use this if your teacher asks you to verify all those crazy vector identities on the inside cover of your book!). But beyond this, I can see no redeeming virtues. In a genre which is littered with astoundingly bad books, this book is a standout, and is among the "hated classics" like Reif's statistical mechanics book or J.D. Jackson's E&M book. But even those books, which are admittedly overly-difficult and often obtuse, do contain a lot of quality thought and valuable knowledge. A good book, when re-read, will reveal greater and greater depths of insight and knowledge.

But rereading this book only revealed greater levels of sloppy thought. Only the more elementary derivations are comprehensible; the rest are befuddling, and I found that I had to write my own derivations and look up alternatives because the examples were either unconvincing, incomprehensible, or seemed to be based on incorrect physical reasoning. Ironically, I found that this book improved my confidence in mechanics because I had to spend so much time trying to compensate for the enormous failings logic, calculation, and pedagogy. But I'd still give it zero stars if I could.

This book is just plain bad (a judgement I very rarely make), and I am very curious as to whether the reviewers who defend the book really thought about its contents or tried to follow all of its logic step by step, as one should do during any serious examination of a science text. Now some reviewers had good teachers, in which case they probably paid more attention to their lecture notes than the book. An individual skilled with mathematical manipulation can do surprisingly difficult problems without thinking very much about the underlying physical concepts or looking at any part of a derivation other than the part in the box. Finally, a very bright person may simply think through matters for themselves during and after a class, not taking time to examine the book. So I am not insulting the readers who gave it good reviews; I'm sure they did well in class, since students who get good grades don't write vitriol-filled reviews about the required text on Amazon.com. But I know they didn't really read it carefully.

Instructors often choose this book because they were taught from previous editions (which may be superior), and may be too lazy or recalcitrant to change their ways. Although I often got cross looks from my professors for complaining about it, they generally agreed with my criticisms when I pushed the issue. But I didn't need to convince them. I overheard one professor bashing Chapter 4 as "just hacked together at the last minute because the material is sexy and fashionable." And right he was, for that chapter contains the worst explanations of nonlinear dynamics concepts I have ever seen (even if you discount the wrongly-printed Poincare sections towards the end). This same teacher admitted that he had spend over twenty minutes trying to understand the explanation of a very simple formula (and he is a theoretician who knows far more math than the average physicist).
Another fellow I knew, a Ph.D who was teaching an advanced mechanics class at my school for the first time, and was asked to use Marion, rewrote just about every example and explanation in the book for his students because he found them incomprehensible or too obtuse for beginners.

So don't feel bad if this book befuddled you. You're not alone, either among the great (Ph.D theoreticians and experimentalists) or the small (bile-spouting nobodies with undergraduate degree only).

Finally, a bit of advice for students: If you were made to buy this book, I recommend that you go to your library and find books about classical mechanics. Pick up a book or two that doesn't have the name "Thornton" on the cover. Now, it may be too easy (French's "Newtonian Mechanics" is less mathematical, but I still recommend it) or too hard (Goldstein is for highly motivated and prepared undergrads only), but I can tell you in all confidence that the random mechanics book you pick out will be better than the one you have now. ... Read more

Book Description

This text introduces the basic concepts of physics using examples of common occurrences. Beginning students will benefit from the large number of student aids and the reduced math content. Professors will appreciate the organization of the material and the wealth of pedagogical tools. ... Read more

Book Description

Conceptual Physics, Ninth Edition Media Update shows how a compelling book and innovative media can be integrated to bring physics to life for readers. Hewitt's book engages readers with analogies and imagery from real-world situations to build a strong conceptual understanding of physical principles ranging from classical mechanics to modern physics. With this strong foundation, readers are better equipped to understand the equations and formulas of physics, and motivated to explore the thought-provoking exercises and fun projects in each chapter. Mechanics, Properties of Matter, Heat, Sound, Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Physics, Relativity.For college instructors and students, or anyone interested in issues relating to conceptual physics. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

"Hand-waving" Physics
Two years ago, my daughter took a high-school physics course based on this book.She is mathematically able and found the whole approach extremely frustrating.The fact is that much of modern mathematics -- differential calculus is a prime example -- was developed specifically so that physicists could articulate their ideas.The "conceptual" approach may be OK for pop-science TV shows, but it is worse that useless as an education for anyone who wants to pursue a career in engineering or science.Now entering 12th grade, my daughter is faced with a major catch-up exercise if she wants to get into a worthwhile engineering program at college. Her school doesn't offer AP Physics, largely because the "conceptual" approach they started out with doesn't adequately prepare students to move to AP level.So she is spending a big chunk of time this summer on a distance-learning course that actually presents physics as a mathematical science, which is what it is.Quite honestly, I think this book should be titled "Armchair Physics" or "Physics for People who Don't Really Care about Physics" -- it should certainly not be presented as a serious attempt to teach a scientific subject.

Want to teach yourself physics?
I would imagine that the answer to my subject heading is, for most people, NO! But for me it was YES!, as I'd never had a physics class, and it was essential, for research that I am conducting, that I have slightly more than an elementary grasp of physics. I turned to this book, and am glad that I did.

This book, thankfully, is written in conceptual terms. There are few equations - because equations are necessary in science - but you don't need to know calculus or trigonometry to read this book and walk away with a solid foundation.

The author has a clear and easy tone about his writing, and breaks complex concepts down into their simple building blocks so that a typical layperson can understand. I know - because I'm as typical a layperson as they come regarding the sciences.

I can't recommend this highly enough.

Fiziks
We all know that Physics is a tough sport. But Paul Hewitt does a marvelous job describing complex issues in fairly easy to comprehend terms (not touching at all on calculations). This book also covers a wide spectrum of information about the world, from the intricate properties of electrons to color to Newton's laws of motion. I keep waiting for the price of this book to go down so I can buy it again to keep as a reference (I had used it with a college course previous). Worth having if you're one of those who loves reading about how things work.

The accompanying workbook is nice, but only if you're going to be quizzed on this sort of stuff. Other than that, it isn't that great a deal.

Excellent Service
I absolutely loved the service provided. I received the books 10 days early and in mint condition!!! Excellent job.

Wonderful primer or review...
This book manifests the proper perspective for both introducing students to physics and for refreshing those long out of college, or just anyone who wants to learn the essentials but does not have advanced math skills.

In this textbook for introductory physics, the author takes a wise approach by presenting the essential nuts-&-bolts of physics concepts. The concepts and principles should always come before the actual applications, i.e., involving the "math". Mathematics is certainly vital in physics, but any science book (or study course) needs to establish a foundation before proceeding with complex (and often confusing) calculations.

This publication has helped me immensely and I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Physics for Scientists and Engineers combines outstanding pedagogy with a clear and direct narrative and applications that draw the reader into the physics. The new edition features an unrivaled suite of media and on-line resources that enhance the understanding of physics. Many new topics have been incorporated such as: the Otto cycle, lens combinations, three-phase alternating current, and many more. New developments and discoveries in physics have been added including the Hubble space telescope, age and inflation of the universe, and distant planets. Modern physics topics are often discussed within the framework of classical physics where appropriate. For scientists and engineers who are interested in learning physics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent
This book is well organized, fairly rigorous, and contains lots of useful examples and problems. This text requires, at very least, a semester of calculus for an excellent understanding. 3 semesters of calculus will allow the reader to have a truly complete understanding of the text. The organization is mainly by color/font and is self-explanitory. The text is calc-based and the level of this material is the hardest that is actually covered in any freshman physics course in the country. (This is based off the info that that this text is used at MIT, which has one of the most difficult and best physics programs in the U.S.) The examples in this text really top it off; they lead the reader through the text and make all the problems at the end of the chapter feasible.

The main difference between this book and Serway's calc-based text (Serway's larger set ISBN: 0030317169) is that Serway's is slightly harder. (One review believed the Serway text to be easier, but I am guessing this was one of Serway's non-calc texts. Serway's calc-based text covers more than what is needed for the AP Phys-C Exam.)

Topics covered: Classical Mechanics, Oscillations/Waves, Fluids, and Thermodynamics.

THIS BOOK IS EXCELLENT FOR SELF-STUDY. ... Read more

Book Description

Solutions-based approach to quick calculations in structural element design and analysis

Now updated with 30% new material, Roark Formulas for Stress and Strain, Seventh Edition, is the ultimate resource for designers, engineers, and analysts who need to calculate loads and stress. This landmark reference from Warren Young and Richard Budynas provides you with equations and diagrams of structural properties in an easy-to-use, thumb-through format. Updated, with a user-friendly page layout, this new edition includes expanded coverage of joints, bearing and shear stress, experimental stress analysis, and stress concentrations, as well as material behavior coverage and stress and strain measurement. You’ll also find expanded tables and cases; improved notations and figures in the tables; consistent table and equation numbering; and verification of correction factors. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Exelente libro, todo ingeniero Mecanico Debe tener Uno
Excelente para consegir la mayoria de las formulas relacionadas con calculos de esfuerzo y deformacion. Contiene cantidad de referencias para cada caso, de ser necesario rpofundizar mas en el tema. Lo recomiendo ampliamente, lo utilizo en todos mis calculos estructurales.

Roark's has been not been improved
The book is now twice the thickness of the 6th Edition book. This makes opening and keeping open the book much more difficult. Also the paper type chosen makes it difficult to turn the pages.

I highly recommend keeping the sixth edition until they figure what is truly important to Structural/Mechanical Engineer.

Every structural engineer should have a copy.
A very usefull reference book for the practising structural or mechanical engineer. However it could be significantly improved by some modernisation and rationalisation ie: removing references out-dated information and references from the 1920's and 1930's,etc. Also by standardising variables and equations, eg: the variable for the width of a section may be 'b' in one chapter 'd' in another, also 'tw' may represent flange thickness rather than web thickness, etc. The book examples are all in U.S. (lbs, feet) units, annoying the European (N, m) user, and may start on one page, then be interupted by 20 pages of tables before continuing on. So the general layout could do with being significantly improved.

still crazy after all this years.....
R&Y's publication, which I became aware of in 1986 is stillan amazing collection of engineering formulas in statics, stability,dynamics and thermal calculations. The IFE uses ANSYS FEA technologyesp. for complex geometries and nonlinear issues: but once in a whilewe appreciate R&Y's work to retain contact to quantities and forthe insight (wrt dimensioning) which interaction with formulas cangive.

R&Y's text sections give much insight, the section onstrenght of materials terminology can be useful (learn - refresh) aswell as the brief immersion into experimental issues.

Frank ExiusIFE BONN Germany...

the search stops here
this book has all the possible formulae for all the possible loadings on all the possible types of sections an engineer will ever encounter! a must for the practicing engineer. ... Read more

Book Description

The Feynman Lectures on Physics: Commemorative Issue, Three Volume Set.

• Feynman's effective classroom style remains intact in these volumes, a valuable work by a remarkable educator.
• The volumes are an edited version of Richard Feynman's lectures, taped and transcribed specifically for the books.
• The three volume commemorative issue is either available hardbound and packaged in a specially designed slipcase, or in a paperbound edition.

Reviews (77)

The best freshman physics text for grad students
My title is both facetious and accurate. Richard Feynman was, as many people know, a wonderfully colorful guy even during lectures and he was good at explaining things. Though lacking the entertainment value of his autobiographies, some of Feynman's personality comes through even here.

As far as content goes, the Feynman Lectures on Physics covers most aspects of physics as was known in the early sixties and taught during that time (don't expect laser physics here). His coverage was comprehensive and understandable. He made a serious and successful effort to explain the material. But even Feynman himself admitted that when he delivered these lectures during his teaching of the introductory college physics classes at Cal Tech, only about a half dozen students really understood everything. Cal Tech is not exactly known for mediocrity among the student body, so keep this in mind.

I must admit that I've read only the third volume cover to cover, but I periodically referenced the other volumes during my grad school years. Even though the level of the equations was usually suitable more for undergraduates, the descriptions and physical ideas presented were always helpful. Had there been more worked examples, these volumes would have been a truly exceptional work. But even so, they are still very good and highly recommended for advanced students.

a wonderful introduction to physics
I love these books. I read them when I was a graduate student in mathematics as part of my transition from pure to applied mathematics. I had no background in physics at all, and these books were a very good way to get introduced to the subject. Feynman is one of those people that sees things in a way that is almost magical to everyone else, and he was a masterful teacher.

That said, these are real physics books, so don't bother if you are looking for a superficial understanding. If you already know physics you can probably breeze through the books pretty easily getting a lot of nice insights, but otherwise you need to be prepared to work hard. Also, as a self-teaching tool, these books are incomplete, since they contain no problems, and actually don't prepare you very well to do problems (unless, perhaps, you are as smart as Feynman). For that you probably need a more conventional physics text. I used Jannerstan's book "Mathematical Physics", which I recommend if you can find it because it has lots of problems with complete solutions in the back of the book, but there are many other good, more pedestrian, physics texts to supplement FLP.

If what you want is something lighter, I highly recommend "The Character of Physical Law". You'll learn something and it won't hurt so much. (I also recommend that you see the movies if you possibly can. He was amazing in front of an audience.)

A classic-- but not really for everyone
The Feynman lectures on physics is a transcript of some of the lectures Feynman gave at the California Institute of Technology to freshman and sophomore students. It was somewhat of an "experiment"; feynman had never done this before. He purposed to adress these lectures to the most "intelligent" of the class. It should be no surprise that these lectures are difficult. Caltech students are among the highest scoring on the math college boards of the country; they can handle the math, so often used in these lectures. Feynman often assumes knowledge of certain subjects. These are some things that are helpfull to understanding the content the first volume: equation of oscilliating spring, Newton's equation of gravitation, fundamental algebra, trigonometry, a couple theorems of geometry... Calculus is definately helpfull to know, as Feynman's lecture on its principles is just a reminder to the students he was adressing, most of which were already proficient in the matter. These things aside, this texbook is one of the best college texbooks you can get; lucid, interesting, and very challenging. Feynman at his best; he can be quite humourous at times: i personally love it when he makes fun of the philosphers. So buy the book, but don't get discouraged if it's hard.

Confusing but decent
I spoke to soon earlier. This is a fairly good book. I'm going to get an"0 of # people foudn this review helpful" but what do I care. If You want me to druel over this book then why even bother looking at reviews?

Not perfect, but certainly the best.
I am an undergraduate student,working on a double major in math & physics. Having found classroom teaching unmotivated, I ventured out to teach myself.

This is the best I've found. Feynman was a very smart man and I can only wish that I could have had him as a teacher. The concepts are clear (for the most part) and he makes it interesting.

Some things are not explained as well as they could, which is why I give it 4 stars instead of 5, but I think that's a shortcoming of the medium and not the author or the text. Some things just have to be learned hands-on, or with a teacher next to you. Reading a book brings you close but it's not the actual thing.

Overall, excellent learning experience. Makes me look forward to the bizarre world of physics. ... Read more

Book Description

The unique feature of this book's first edition was the presentation of a unified approach to the molecular biology of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The success of this approach, and its continuation, is the result of a long string of discoveries showing similarities in solutions to biological problems that often extend across many or even all species.A six-part organization covers genes, proteins, gene expression, DNA, the nucleus, and cells.For individuals in the science community interested in genetics. ... Read more

Book Description

Known for its exceptionally readable approach, Engineering Fluid Mechanics carefully guides you from fundamental fluid mechanics concepts to real-world engineering applications. It fosters a strong conceptual understanding of fluid flow phenomena through lucid physical descriptions, photographs, clear illustrations, and fully worked example problems. With the help of over 1,100 problems, you will also gain the opportunity to apply fluid mechanics principles.

The Eighth Edition:

• Brings key concepts to life through a new Web-based interactive tutorial that provides step-by-step solutions and interactive animations.
• Presents a smoother transition from the principles of flow acceleration and the Bernoulli equation to the control volume and continuity equations.
• Incorporates new animations to illustrate pathline, streakline, and streamline concepts, rotationality, separation, and cavitation.
• Follows a physical/visual approach to help you gain an intuitive understanding of the principles of fluid dynamics.
• Applies theoretical principles in practical designs to help develop your engineering creativity.

Reviews (8)

Very basic and dumbed down
I had the good fortune of taking my undergrad Fluids course with Dr. Crowe. His command over fluid dynamics is marvellous. He is a master at his art and conveys the information precisely and eloquently. However he dumbs down his course much like this book. Yes there are a quite a few difficult problems in the textbook.

However the major drawbacks of the text are
1. NO development of the differential forms of the govering principles.Conservation of mass, momentum and energy are all developed in the simpler integral form.

2. Lack of substantial mathematical sophistication. Fluid mechanics is best described with vector calculus. Surely there are many problems which can be tacked with simple algebraic formulations but Crowe essentially avoids the mathematical rigor and does not delve into any hardcore math. All in all this is an nuts-and-bolts engineering fluid mechanics book (lots of refering to tables and charts and use of empirical eqns) and not a a scientists version of fluid mechanics, ie with greater emphasis on the math.

Would highly recommend a slightly more advanced introductory textbook for a first course in Fluids. Maybe Munson, Young Okiishi or the Fox Mcdonald book should fill in the gaps left by Crowe's book.

Okay reference book
This text was used in a class where I was the teaching assistant.There were numerous complaints from students about how the text was difficult to follow, and in some cases the examples were even incomplete.This was a class for junior engineering students as a first thorough course in fluids, the text was not helpful.As a graduate student I found it to be a good reference of basic concepts (although, it was hard for me to follow some of the examples).It even goes in depth with many concepts.All in all it is a good basic reference, but totally inadequate for beginning instruction.

As a note to instructors, the solution manual is loaded with errors.

Undergrad Masterpiece
This text is a great introduction to Fluid Mechanics.The derivations are very easy to follow, and the problems apply to many real life situations.For graduate students, it may be a little to light weight, but for undergrads it provides a broad base of information.

good textbook
Good textbook, good examples, and easy to read. Anyone with a solid physics & calculus background will be comfortable with this book.

Where's the beef??
Lot of fluid problems, good graphics, and very good examples, though not nearly enough.You're going to need good lecture notes or a tutor. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

The 4th Edition of Cengel & Boles Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach takes thermodynamics education to the next level through its intuitive and innovative approach. A long-time favorite among students and instructors alike because of its highly engaging, student-oriented conversational writing style, this book is now the to most widely adopted thermodynamics text in the U.S. and in the world. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A MODEL BOOK FOR TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTORS
I HAVE GONE THROUGH THE BOOK THERMODYNAMICS BY YUNUS CENGEL AND MICHAEL BOLES AND FOUND IT EXTREMELY USEFUL. THE LANGUAGE IS VERY LUCID AND THE ILLUSTRATIONS PARTICULARLY THE CARTOONS ARE EXTREMELY EDUCATIVE WITH AN ADDED TOUCH OF HUMOR WHICH PENETRATES THE MINDS OF THE STUDENT AND FACULTY. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT AS A HIGH QUALITY TEXT BOOK PARTICULARLY FOR BEGINERS IN ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS.<br /> SIDDHARTHA ROY<br /> FACULTY MEMBER,ICFAI TECH, BHUBANESWAR,INDIA<br /> COURSE INSTRUCTOR,THERMODYNAMICS

the best text on the market - for the total beginner/dummy
To all eng thermo learners: i did an intensive comparison of Cengel4 and MoranShapiro5 whenever on the john. Sonntag6 was out-of-race: book really bad (in comparison to the two in question), so let's not talk about it any further. So the remaining top-sellers, they are *the* most widely-used most popular intro texts (the very first two semesters on thermo for engineering students) available; very comprehensive (~800pages) and extremely modern in didactics, layout, and content presentation. No wonder that they are the two best-sold intro texts. Question: which is better?
Results: Both are 100% equally top choices (and 95% equal in teaching text) and in the end it s only a matter of taste and peripheral preferences. My personal peripheral preference would be the "Which one s the better deal (US $)?". Well, MoranShapiro5 is a little harder to read (it uses one colour only: pics, drawings, and images all in GREEN, aarrgh!) and not as nicely layout as Cengel4. But text is a little more detailed and the examples are much longer, and a bit harder and thus more detailed too! Number of examples seems to be higher too (!?) ("So, if you re not a dummie (=total beginner), go for S/M as text and ref!"). Furthermore, the WileyInternationalEdition comes in HARDCOVER whereas the McGraw-HillInternationEdtion comes in PAPERBACK. Both books feature a student book companion site or online learning center. The Wiley book site has the fantastic "ThermoNet"-website, and instructors will find digitized solutions to all text problems. The McGraw-Hill book site does not offer much neither to the student nor to the instructor. Textwise, Cengel *is* better. Easier to read, grasp, learn, and understand. And apply ("So, the best thermo book for dummies is Cengel!"). VERY VERY nice layout, VERY attractive and fun to work with. An enjoyable reading. A bit more fun than Moran's. But as explained, all in all the better deal would be MoranShapiro5. Moran's text is the more serious one: useful as text *and* reference. Cengel's book-for-dummies is very useful for total beginners and poor learners. Well, if you *now* begin to complain that neither Cengel's nor Moran's book pleases you, then you wont find any other good intro tome ('picture book'). These two intro tomes *are* the best, there are no better on the market. Choose one of the two, or dont buy any intro text on eng thermo! If you dont like these two books because eng thermo is too hard for you, then please have a close look at Octave Levenspiel's intro text "Understanding Engineering Thermo". This might be the best to start with then. For you.
BTW, both Moran's and Cengel's are rated 4 stars only because even though those two are the very best on the market (any other intro text is worse, believe me. dont lose your time with looking for another and comparing!), they are not perfect. There are few points to criticize (less for Cengel than for Moran.) but where s the point in criticizing/enumerating con's if there aint any better intro text on the market? you wouldnt have any other choice anyway: these two *are* the best, even if not perfect, they are still worth buying for those who like the subject and who really need an intro tome. Doesnt matter if you like Moran's Cengel's or not: you wont find any other intro tome to like better. So my final advise: buy one of the two (if you like it OR if you need it OR if you dont like it but need one) or buy none intro text on eng thermo at all (because all other competitors on the market are much worse)!

Thermodynamics with a bad, good, or no teacher.
This is an excelent book. Yanus Cengel & Michael Boles did a very good job. I have read the other reviews about it being too wordy. That is the case sometimes but not really enough to make things difficult. Although I appreciate the analogies and definitions for some topics. I have no idea if this book is good for review since I read it cover to cover. The suplimental paperback book with tables came in very handy. The one big problem though, is that it physically fell apart. The binding is done very poorly and I had to take back one book after I read chapter Four. The one I have now has been glued back together several times and I taped it with wide clear packing tape along the sides to keep it together. The text book is a keeper. Maybe McGraw Hill knows that and they want to sell duplicate copies to those who read it.

A wordy, but down to earth text
This is a great textbook if you want a detailed explanation for all aspects of thermodynamics; however if you just want to know the basics you will probably get tired of this text quickly. The books greatest strength is it writing style which talks too the student, not above the student, in a down to earth way. This writing style can also be a weakness. Many have complained that they have to read through pages upon pages of prose just to get at a simple concept. There is also a lot of information on "special interest topics" which the busy junior engineering student may want to skip because of time. Even though a lot of the answers are given, you may spend a lot of trying to solve problems that have the wrong answer printed in the text, which is always annoying. In my opinion, if you learn on your own, and you want to really learn a lot, you are going to spend a lot of time reading this text. This is great if you have a poor instructor. If you just need to learn the basics, then you will have to skip the text and supplement with some sort of course outline book to save time.

thermodynamics
this is not a good book for autostudy. ... Read more

Book Description

This book first teaches learners how to do quantum mechanics, and then provides them with a more insightful discussion of what it means. Fundamental principles are covered, quantum theory presented, and special techniques developed for attacking realistic problems. The book's two-part coverage organizes topics under basic theory, and assembles an arsenal of approximation schemes with illustrative applications. For physicists and engineers.

Reviews (60)

Book of choice for my undergrad course
I've been using this book as the text for my undergraduate quantum course for several years. It is far superior to the books I used ~25 years ago when I first studied quantum as an undergrad.

Griffiths' strategy of using chapters1&2 to review probility and make student's comfortable with the mathematical machinery of QM, then reviewing Linear Algebra leading up to Hilbert spaces in Chapter 3, before starting anew with the postulates of QM makes a lot of pedagogical success. Typically, at least half my undergrad students need the math review. All of them have seen Shroedinger's Eq in a Modern Physics class that comes before QM, but without much motivation. I find Griffiths' motivation of the postulates far more intuitive than the more common "let's see what properties a QM wave equation-equivalent might have" approach. Other texts tend to give the axioms short shrift, but not Griffiths.

I'm an experimentalist, but I really groove with this book that presents more of a theorists approach. I do find I need to supplement my class lectures with illustrative examples to provide my students with balance, but it would be harder to add the theory into other books which have more examples, but gloss over the theory. This is a physicist's QM book. If you are an engineer or chemist who just wants to learn to do plug and chug problems, look elsewhere.

Several ace students (including a former student of mine) complain the book is not sufficiently advanced. If undergrads are ready for Sakurai, and have the sophistication for a higher level approach, all the more power to them! However, the goal of an *undergraduate* text is to prepare students for QM at the level of Sakurai. There is a reason that most undergrad courses don't use graduate texts.

The problems are excellent, though most students will find them time consuming. They are an integral part of Griffiths' approach. Former students who have gone on to top-notch grad schools tell me that the doing the HW problems were important for preparing themselves for graduate QM.

I know of no better undergrad QM class text, though it may not be the easiest to use for students who wish to learn without the guidance of a professor.

The best introductory QM text
This is the best first course quantum mechanics text book by far. I used it as a text in first semester QM. How do I know it is the best? During first semester qm I spent many hours in the school library reading qm books. The library had a large section of qm books. I used to take 10 to 20 books home at a time. I was always looking for better explanations of particular expositions, and I found that often one book gave the clearest exposition in a particular area. Also, Ifound it helpful to read how several books described, for example, solution to the step function and others. But David Griffiths book is the best written book of all those others I read.

The Griffiths book is easy to understand. That is what makes it a good book for the beginning student of qm. Let me give an example of what I am saying: Fourty five years ago, when I first studied calculus, there was only one text book. It was the then venerable Calculus and Analytic Geometry by George Thomas, Jr. This book was not easy to study. It is not a well written book compared to modern calculus text books. But now there are many good calculus text books. Now calculus is a fairly easy subject because the text books are well written. They are student friendly. I think that most qm books are like the Thomas book in that they are not student friendly, and the Griffiths book is the first student friendly qm book in my view.

The one criticism that students might have of the Griffiths books is that the problems are long and time consuming. This is true if you do not use Mathematica or some other math program. If you use Mathematica, the problems can be worked in minutes.

The Griffiths book uses wave mechanics notation throughout, which every physicist must learn. To learn the Dirac notation, the best book I found (and the most elegant qm book I found) is Quantum Mechanics, by Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Bernard Diu, and Franck Laloe.

Lacking substance
I have read the first 4 chapters of the 1st Ed, and carefully looked at the 2nd. The book is an introduction to wave mechanics, starting with the Schrodinger Eq on the first page! It feels like he doesn't begin at the begining. He should at least give brief comments on the development of quantum ideas (both wave and matrix) and JUSTIFY why the wave approach is more suited as an introduction. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
All these jumps add up: when you try to work the problems you are working with wavefunctions like you've known them all your life! One could find this and that, but I was never sure how the results could be used (in an experimental setting for example). What system does this wavefunction represent, or at least approximate, give the reader some motivation for working on a problem for almost an hour.
I would also say the book is dull, because the author explains every single math step he takes. Sometimes it is helpful, but most of the time it kills the thrill. In places where things are harder to explain in details this approach is abandoned; in chapter 3 you'll find plenty of math rushed. In the 2nd Ed. the author breaks some of the more basic part of Ch. 3 into an appendix, but doesn't really improve on the writing. Apperantly it is believed that students of physics have never heard of seperation of variables but are at home with complex vector spaces. This is an unjustifiable approach. I bet if you take an average linear algebra course in US, you won't encounter: complex vector spaces, properties of hermitian matricies, not too much on diagonaliztion and change of basis. The 2nd Ed. does add 3-4 more examples in each chapter; that should save some problem solving time. But I am afraid important things such as properties of the wavefunction are still left as excercises. I was generally bored and sometimes confused in my time with book. Due to lack of interesting physical (ideal or real) examples, I felt like I was collecting ideas rather than exploring them. Also since every (easy) step is shown, the chapters desperately need a good summary. I usually read the summary before the chapter itself to get motivation. I think things mentioned above should be improved on. Schuam's outline book won't help you much with problems in this book, that book solves problems of a more general nature.
A good alternative is: "Quantum mechanics: a modern introduction' by Das and Melissinos (1986, Gordon and Breach). It is full of great physical examples. If you don't want to spend to much time with details, a good book, unfortunately out-of-print, is David B. Beard "Quantum mechanics" (Allyn & Bacon, 1963). Which also contains many physical insights, but is less thorough; only manages to scrach the surface of most topics because it takes on a wide range of topics in just 300 pages.

An excellent introductory text book if you want to learn
I used this text book for my undergraduate quantum mechanics class. In that class, we covered basically everything in Griffiths. I have since gone on to graduate school. I have found myself very well prepared and I still use Griffiths as a reference because it explains basic ideas and basic problems better than most other text books. More importantly, it provided me with a good foundation for further study.

This text book is a great introductory text book. It is a text book for students for whom quantum mechanics is a new sub