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Calculus 3rd Edition

by
Michael Spivak (Author)
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Michael Spivak (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 121 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0914098898
ISBN-10: 0914098896
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 670 pages
  • Publisher: Publish or Perish; 3 edition (September 1, 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0914098896
  • ISBN-13: 978-0914098898
  • Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 9.2 x 10.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (121 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,039,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsSuperb for self-study (with answer book)
By A Customer on August 3, 2003
Format: Hardcover
Calculus wasn't taught in public high schools 50 years ago -- our brains were thought too soft to encounter it under the age of 18. The 17 year old supermarket checkout girl where I live in rural New York will take it this fall. I've always been fascinated with math, particularly the inevitability of it all (how mathematicians were dragged kicking and screaming into imaginary numbers, non-Euclidean geomtery and the completed infinite). Despite minimal background, I was able to get A's in calculus, differential equations, and complex variables at Princeton back then. It was like my Bar Mitzvah, getting through by mumbling incantations in a language I didn't understand.
Figuring that I'd received a decent mathematical background, I tried studying math at a higher level 5 years ago when I left medical practice. Strichartz was dense and I spent hours puzzling over notation in the first edition (until I found that some of the most confusing parts were actually errors not all of which were corrected in the second paperback edition). I made it about half way through -- it just seemed too abstract. Abbott's book was also quite good, but again pure analysis is about the logical structure underneath mathematics (something I certainly was trying to understand).
Having read the rave reviews of Spivak's book in this forum, I bought it (along with the answer book), and have spent the last 8 months going through it, and doing about 3/4 of the problems. It is marvellous. The exposition is clear and friendly (as are Strichartz and Abbott) -- something not seen in the math books of the 50s (although Spivak's first edition goes back to 1968). Almost nothing is assumed (except the properties of the rational numbers).Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsa great book for its target audience
By mathwonk on July 27, 2004
Format: Hardcover
Some reviewers have been puzzled as to the style of this book, deep mathematics for the unsophisticated reader. This is explained by its origin in the 1960's when many bright high school students were not offered calculus until college. Hence some top colleges experimented with very high level introductions to calculus aimed at gifted and committed students who had never seen calculus. Possibly Spivak took such a course, but certainly his book was used as the text for one at Harvard, and was still used more recently at a few schools still offering this course, such as University of Chicago.
Unfortunately today, due to the somewhat misguided AP movement, which is oriented to standardized test performance rather than understanding, almost all mathematically talented high school students take calculus before college, receiving significantly inferior preparation to what they would receive in college. The result is that many top colleges where the Spivak type course originated, no longer see the need to offer it.
This means that gifted freshmen at schools such as Harvard and Stanford are now asked to begin with an advanced honors calculus course for which Spivak is the ideal prerecquisite, although those same schools do not offer that prerecquisite. Thus if you are a high school student hoping to become a mathematician and planning to attend many elite colleges, almost the only way to be adequately prepared for an honors level mathematics program is to read this book first. It may be that a book like Stewart or even Calculus Made Easy, is useful as a first introduction to calculus, but it will not get you to the level you need for a course out of Apostol vol. 2, or Loomis and Sternberg.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsBridge to Real Analysis
By A Customer on February 25, 2001
Format: Hardcover
I agree with some of the previous reviewers that Spivak's book is a bit much for any but the brightest first-year calculus students. It would be quite the uncommon 17-18 year old who's disciplined and mature enough to rise to the challenge. Maybe with the guidance of an outstanding lecturer...
On the other hand, Spivak serves as excellent preparation for one's first real analysis course: ideally, read through this book (and, crucially, do ALL the exercises) the summer before introductory analysis, and you'll be in great shape to tackle the likes of Rudin's "Principles of Mathematical Analysis." In the process, you'll also build a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the material covered in first-year calculus.
Spivak's book is also a wonderful re-introduction to mathematics for those who've been away for a while. It's very well suited to independent study, and Spivak is an excellent teacher.
The book is carefully written, chatty but not informal, conversational but not overly long-winded. The exercises are challenging, but provide additional insight into the material and, more importantly, deepen your understanding and build your problem-solving and proof-writing skills. With patience and diligence they're all quite solvable by anyone who has, or who is serious about cultivating, a little mathematical maturity.
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5.0 out of 5 starsWhat a fantastic book for the aspiring mathematician!
By Alex on December 21, 2009
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Michael Spivak's Calculus has reached legendary status in the mathematical community over the years. Anyone who would have done an Amazon search on it must have heard some stories about it. The many positive reviews pretty much sum up the praise I have for this book. I was fortunate enough to have this textbook at my side while going through U of M honors mathematics curriculum. We covered the material presented this book in the span of about four months, and I read through most of this book and did many of the exercises as either practice, or as part of my weekly homework assignments that were handed out. I love almost everything about his book!

Even though I love this book, there are a few things I would like to tell people who are looking at potentially buying this book

1), This will most likely be your first encounter with real mathematics. This book tests an entirely new skill-set that isn't developed in high schools today, so there will naturally be a steep learning curve. Take heart! Chapters 1, 2 and 5 are the worst; all the others are not as bad.

2). Know what you want! This book is mathematically rigorous (aka proofs). If you are an engineer or anything other than a student of pure mathematics, this will not be your cup of tea.

3). You will never again solve a problem in under 5 minutes! Many people who claim to be "good at math" have only seen the routine exercises that comprise high school mathematics today. Please be aware that this book contains PROBLEMS that force you to think long and hard and actually learn something. There are several reviews that claim that the questions are completely separate from the text, and that this book does not sufficiently prepare you for attacking the problems sets.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

this book as perfect as harry potter, i got so into it!!!

Published 13 days ago by Amazon Customer
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Published 3 months ago by FRANCISCO ORTIZ UTRILLAS
5.0 out of 5 starsDO NOT BUY THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN CALCULUS BEFORE!!!!!!!

For anyone who has never seen calculus before, this book is ABSOLUTELY NOT FOR YOU! This book as others have said is essentially an introduction to real analysis book. Read more

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Excellent...!

Published 7 months ago by Rodrigo Monge
5.0 out of 5 starsBest Calculus book I've ever used

A Classic. Best Calculus book I've ever used. Author's writing style makes a tough topic like calculus easy to understand

Published 11 months ago by Oldman
5.0 out of 5 starsgood book

The textbook is required by my prof. Surprisingly, it's actually interesting to read.

Published 12 months ago by Ano0901
5.0 out of 5 starsRigor, passion, beauty, and a conversation with a friend.

Having evaluated various Calculus texts over the years, my standout text has been a relatively old (editions from late 1970s to late 1980s) and unknown calculus text (Calculus and... Read more

Published 13 months ago by wjw
5.0 out of 5 starsHard work but great for self study

After 7 years of math in high school, decided to get deeper in the subject. Bought this book and studied it in combination with Mit Ocw lectures (calculus 1 and calculus revisited)... Read more

Published 13 months ago by Daniel Lombo Bernardo
5.0 out of 5 starsBetter than the average calc text

Different than the typical "American" style calculus book, i.e. more in line with what we would call Analysis, and refreshingly so. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Dave

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