Customer Reviews

Physics Demystified : A Self-Teaching Guide (Demystified)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This book uses intermediate to advanced algebra and some (very little) pre - calculus to explain physics. It's great how they break it down so much - they start with the "what is a linear function" lesson, and go over real and complex numbers and graphing in case you forgot. Don't let the thinkness fool you - the first 7 chapters are spent getting you up to speed with the math that they use for the rest of the text. The way they explain the math is SO easy. However, if you are looking for a study guide with CALCULUS based explainations, this is not the book you need. Easy read, worth the money.

I am a premedical student in TN and obviously you realize I take very many science courses. As with any course, proper review and study time is necessary to make a good grade (Unless you're really smart.) This book was extremely helpful, especially the review chapters. I would recommend this to book to anyone who needs a little extra help, or even needs just a little review before taking a college level physics class. Highly recommended!

My two sons both used this book to help them understand their high school physics. It fills in some of the gaps that other books leave. The approach is unique, especially because the author lets the reader know that study is necessary in order to learn any subject. The text questions are helpful.

Ok,what initially looks like a promising book turns out to be another dead loss in the world of "beginning/idiot/dummies" style books.

A basic understanding of Physics requires a comprehensive understanding of math. Mr Gibilisco provides nearly 170 pages of math review which consists of either too much information on a very basic subject (such as different notation for exponents) or too little in more complicated areas (such as vector equations). Some two/two-and-a-half pages are committed to how a calculator or scientist might express an exponent and yet not even a page is dedicated to the basics of vector arithmetic (there are pages of information on vectors but on the whole it is purely a summary form of what constitutes various vectors; this part of the book has no worked examples).

The summary section on math is fine as long as you pretty much know it already. If you do then you do not need to read it anyway. If you don't it simply is not upto scratch; hence, why bother? The books general tone is to talk down to people, especially those whom are of a mathematical bent, with constant little digs against those whom practice theoretical math and those that practice "real" science. Many of the techniques taught here are simply the way the author works out problems, not necessarily the way that those problems are worked out conventionally. Do I hear you say I like that idea? Fine. But you must tell people how to do it PROPERLY before you show them the WORKAROUND. The classic example here is how the author shows us to deal with scientific notation (his workaround is to work out everything in longhand, which was exactly what scientific notation is there to help us NOT to do).

In short if you are great at math the book is probably a good find, if - like me - you are not good at math, then don't expect to find an efficient tutor here. Find a math book that covers the basics first and then come back.

Go elsewhere if you are a math dummy!

Good basic overview of basic physics concepts (and the math behind them). Practice problems are useful as well.

I knew physics was going to be difficult for me, this book made it worse. it spends a greater part of the book going over basics of math up to trig. all the way to chapter 7 almost (half the book!!!)its all basics and hardly any physics. concepts covered were not detailed enough and I found the quizzes useless since information to accomplish them were vague and useless. oh well .... I'll take it again next semester.

***Personally, I suggest you visit your local borders etc... and spend an hour or so reading through it to see if it suits your needs.... that's just me ... I wish I had!***

This book has a lot of material that makes it worthy to be called a reference book, but as a self teaching guide it really comes up short. There is quite a bit of math (which is good in a physics book), but too little in the way of helping someone new to physics really understand the concepts. I considered returning this book for a refund, but decided to hang on to it for future reference. I think it will be useful to me after I've used some other book(s) to help be learn the fundamentals.

I have already studied physics, so I was able to follow this, but there is not a chance of understanding this without the previous knowledge. This is the kind of teaching strategy that is mostly memorizing and rote learning. You can "learn" what the book says, but you won't have a clue what it means. If you are only interested in spouting off physics facts to sound impressive, this book will do just fine. If you want to even begin to understand physics, you'll need to find a book that goes into the how and why of every phenomenon, rather than just stating that the phenomena exist.

The back of this book says simple enough for beginners, but IT IS NOT! I think if you have been over physics before this book "could" be helpful, but not for someone seeing this stuff for the first time. The refresher part only states some facts about pre-physics material, but doesn't explain why it is stated. The tests after each chapter ask about material outside the book that is not even covered. I will be taking this book back for a refund and getting the "for dummies" version.

I own this book and have read almost every chapter and cannot even pass the quizzes after each...WHILE USING THE BOOK'S OWN INFORMATION!! It's pretty sad if an EDUCATIONAL BOOK cannot even pass its own tests. Also the frequency of improper definitions and misleading information is appalling, last time I checked displacement is NOT also known as distance and distance is identified in equations simply as 'd'. I question the author Stanley Gibilisco and the McGraw Hill Publishing Co.'s intelligence and knowledge on a subject that demands absolute, pin-point accuracy in fields where it is used on a daily basis. A message to anyone who is desperately looking for a Physics book, locate your nearest bookstore and its science section and scrutinize (and be as critical as possible) before making a purchase, after all it is your money and I would hate to see another penny of it go to a science book that can be categorized under Fiction.