Received the book which was as stated and more. Book looked Brand New and wass rec'd in less than 3 days. Great shipping and condition.

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This has got to be one of the most useless textbooks I've ever encountered in any subject. Moreso than any other math or science text I've seen, the authors commit the cardinal sin of solving only the simplest possible problems in in their "explanations", leaving you to fit together the pieces on the other (often rather difficult) problems at the end of the chapters. And if you thought the solutions manual would save you, SURPRISE! It won't - it only solves every 6th problem or so and generally delivers strange and convoluted solutions to simple problems. As far as the text goes, its explanations are so watered down you'd think you were looking through a text intended for junior high school (or younger) students. It constantly touts some bogus web service called "WileyPlus", which seems to exist purely to make the lives of teachers easier at their students' cost (and which you have to pay EVEN MORE to access, even if you bought the book new!). To sum it up, this text is absolute trash and an insult to the subject matter it teaches. If some professor lists this text on his or her syllabus, pitch a fit.

It's just physics questions in a book without any information on the topic being asked. Thought it would provide information on best approaches based on the type of question asked etc. I can find physics Q&A online for free, there is no benefit to the book.

This book is pretty good. I would have given it 5 stars if it were't for two reasons, both of which are typical of physics textbooks.

1. Lack of solution manual. What's the use of problems when there are no solutions to check work?

2. Labeling problems by difficulty. Once again this is a flaw of all the physics textbooks I've seen. Sometimes these labels are inaccurate. Either way seeing problem labeled difficult intimidates the student, who may very well be capable of getting the problem right.

I used this book for an introductory Physics class and it was very helpful in supplementing my professors lectures. There are some really good pictures and diagrams to help in understanding various principles. It was very clear and concise. The algebra was more helpful than any other algebra book I've had, however the author did cut some corners in procedures which made it a bit hard to follow at times.

This book was wonderful, and I read it from cover to cover. Like some other reviewers, I also think that most readers would benefit from some more examples of problem-solving in the text. I didn't personally find that troublesome, as I learn more effectively when I have to work at figuring it out myself. Although, it would have gone much faster with more examples. I took calculus in college, yet I took the algebra-based physics courses, as the calculus-based courses were taught by poor instructors. I absolutely loved this book and learning about physics. The course was at 7:30 am (unavoidable) and since the instructor followed the book so carefully, I stopped going to class since it was so early. I was able to learn enough from this book alone (I would take notes on the chapters) that I could successfully complete the problem sets and take my tests and got A's both semesters, and it wasn't an easy class. I know that if we'd been using a lesser book, there's no way I could have learned all of that physics by just reading a book, as most books don't explain stuff nearly as well. I would have had to go to my early class, and probably wouldn't have understood anything! Yay for this book - it taught me stuff!

p.s. For all of you reviewers complaining about the lack of calculus: umm, it would be kind of unfair if calculus was in a book for an algebra-based physics class (of which there are many taught, even to science majors). these classes don't have calculus prerequisites most of the time. I know calculus, but not everyone who wants or needs to learn physics does.

I purchsed this book because it was required for my general physics class. According to my physics professor and personally trying to follow the process of problem solving, Cutnell and Johnson falls short. The sample problems lacked "showing work" and graphics to help a student absorb the sequence of problem solving. Their methods seem more elementary than the higher level expected in a college environment.

I have seen some that like this book and others that claim without the Calculus, its not worth much. I liked the book from the standpoint that the concepts were the clearest I have seen ever! For example on quantum physics, Chapter 30, he explains exactly the four quantum numbers and how they relate to Bohrs theory of energy levels and contrasts them. You can use this knowledge for chemistry, quantum physics or electrical engineering. Its important to get somewhat of a hold on the terminology, some history, and what your trying to accomplish. I kinda felt like a well prepared high shcool student or first year college student could do the problems; and I really think this is the aim of the book. Alot of chapters cover alot of different material and so its a good refresher or starter before going much deeper into Calculus based physics books, besides Calculus is very much an extension of algebra anyhow. I use the book a first source on a subject to get a feel for the subject, then move up to more advanced mathematics.

I have seen some that like this book and others that claim without the Calculus, its not worth much. I liked the book from the standpoint that the concepts were the clearest I have seen ever! For example on quantum physics, Chapter 30, he explains exactly the four quantum numbers and how they relate to Bohrs theory of energy levels and contrasts them. You can use this knowledge for chemistry, quantum physics or electrical engineering. Its important to get somewhat of a hold on the terminology, some history, and what your trying to accomplish. I kinda felt like a well prepared high shcool student or first year college student could do the problems; and I really think this is the aim of the book. Alot of chapters cover alot of different material and so its a good refresher or starter before going much deeper into Calculus based physics books, besides Calculus is very much an extension of algebra anyhow.

Okay.
No student solutions manual. So good luck reasoning you way through the problems at the back of the book. No calculus, which actually makes things much simpler. The examples are not representative of the problems in the back of the chapters. Cumbersome algrebraic formulas that are not necessary if just a tad bit of calculus was employed. A waste of paper. Too bad universites use this, as the authors are obviously rip-off artists not at all concerned with the quality of their text, which is in shambles.

Okay.
No student solutions manual. So good luck reasoning you way through the problems at the back of the book. No calculus, which actually makes things much simpler. The examples are not representative of the problems in the back of the chapters. Cumbersome algrebraic formulas that are not necessary if just a tad bit of calculus was employed. A waste of paper. Too bad universites use this, as the authors are obviously rip-off artists not at all concerned with the quality of their text, which is in shambles.

I taught physics (at least, I tried!) with this book for several semesters.

This book is specifically designed for students who major in social sciences, literature, and business etc. The authors deliberately avoided calculus throughout the text. You cannot see even a bit of calculus. They tried to explain 2D, 3D vectors, differentiation, integration etc. without employing calculus!!

Anyone who has studied science and/or engineering knows very well that it is almost impossible to learn (and comprehend) physics without calculus. The fathers of calculus, Riemann, Leibniz and Newton, invented it to attribute a mathematical sense to physics. This book completely ignores this historical fact! Therefore, it is very hard to use this book as an instructor as well as a student. It makes things more complicated and cumbersome unnecessarily. It is like trying to understand end enjoy English Literature, e.g. Shakespeare without English grammar, which is the skeleton of the language. Analogously, calculus is the skeleton of introductory college-level physics.

My humble suggestion to those who are (or thinking of) taking noncalculus-based physics is that you either take a calculus-based physics course and learn (and enjoy) it thoroughly, though it may require more sweat and toil, or not take physics at all. Because calculus is what makes physics more understandable (and fun!).

Also, the authors tend to launch new editions very frequently in order to make more money. I guess they think students should be able to pay, say $140, for a new edition, since they can pay $20.000 for tuition. What the heck, why not release a new edition? It is like the Rocky series, every now and then you see a new version. To be honest, the last few editions are not very different from each other. If you have an older edition, do not waste your money!

If you really want to learn physics, try Halliday & Resnick & Krane and/or Serway.

I taught physics (at least, I tried!) with this book for several semesters.

This book is specifically designed for students who major in social sciences, literature, and business etc. The authors deliberately avoided calculus throughout the text. You cannot see even a bit of calculus. They tried to explain 2D, 3D vectors, differentiation, integration etc. without employing calculus!!

Anyone who has studied science and/or engineering knows very well that it is almost impossible to learn (and comprehend) physics without calculus. The fathers of calculus, Riemann, Leibniz and Newton, invented it to attribute a mathematical sense to physics. This book completely ignores this historical fact! Therefore, it is very hard to use this book as an instructor as well as a student. It makes things more complicated and cumbersome unnecessarily. It is like trying to understand end enjoy English Literature, e.g. Shakespeare without English grammar, which is the skeleton of the language. Analogously, calculus is the skeleton of introductory college-level physics.

My humble suggestion to those who are (or thinking of) taking noncalculus-based physics is that you either take a calculus-based physics course and learn (and enjoy) it thoroughly, though it may require more sweat and toil, or not take physics at all. Because calculus is what makes physics more understandable (and fun!).

Also, the authors tend to launch new editions very frequently in order to make more money. I guess they think students should be able to pay, say $140, for a new edition, since they can pay $20.000 for tuition. What the heck, why not release a new edition? It is like the Rocky series, every now and then you see a new version. To be honest, the last few editions are not very different from each other. If you have an older edition, do not waste your money!

If you really want to learn physics, try Halliday & Resnick & Krane and/or Serway.

It is curious to see how ratings on 'science-text-books' can differ from absolutely devastating reviews to the ones that tend to praise the same book to the skies. Goes to show that learning is a very individual experience subject to substantially different requirements.
Therefore it is my practice to buy multiple books on a subject. Preferably all different in approach and level. Nonetheless I scrutinize each book for adequate structure, transparency of approach and use, and overall quality. There simply is no 'one-book' that will cover all requirements and levels of detail. As for me, being Dutch, English is not my native tongue. Also I am very keen on visual presentation of the issues at hand. I basically do not like to read, unless the combination of wit and pictures is continuously stimulating to hold my interest.
Having said all that, I love this book on Physics. It covers most topics in a way that will enable anyone really interested in physics to form a substantial body of knowledge. Although on some issues the author(s) cut some really tight math-corners, anticipating the lack of higher-mathematics skills. The ends justify the means, I guess.
Structured-ness 90%, Ease of use and transparency 100%, Self explanatory pictures 100%, Completeness of Calculus 80% (book), Website examples on learning how to approach problems 90% (detail overkill for me, might be o.k. for others though). Really an asset to your book cabinet. All to the level of College-plus I would say.

Because this book is paperback, and only the first half of the entire book it is awesome. As far as the information goes inside, it is helpful. The only thing that bothers me about this book is that some of the problems at the end of the chapters make NO sense what so ever, and there is no help in sight of figuring out HOW to do the ridiculous problem they present. I have heard, though, that this is true of any physics book and that you can still make a good grade without ever getting the book's answer for homework problems. Another unfortunate thing is that unless you are a professor you really have no say in whether you get this book or not. =)

At a first glance I was attracted by this book and reccommendd it to the library. But later I realized tha the too many figures are close to be junk stuff...but later on I discovered a very band thing: Calculus is completely absent, i.e., the powerful instrument devised by Netwon and Leibniz is completely avoided and I think deliberately. A book for ignorants of mathematics and a betrayal of Newton and Leibniz, that what it is. In my country it would not even be adopted for High Schools.