What is Textbooks: Definition and 460 Discussions

A textbook is a book containing a comprehensive compilation of content in a branch of study with the intention of explaining it. Textbook are produced to meet the needs of educators, usually at educational institutions. Schoolbooks are textbooks and other books used in schools. Today, many textbooks are published in both print and digital formats.

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  1. Chandller

    Foundations Textbooks vs Khan Academy for Self Study and PreCalc CLEP

    Hi PF, I hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving. Quick question, as I've mentioned before, I am non-traditional college student who is right at just over College Algebra/beginning Trig level in Math. While I am out of university, to make enough money to return, I am wanting to CLEP...
  2. fluidistic

    "Old" books are in public domain, what about old textbooks?

    I'm quickly reading at https://boingboing.net/2019/08/01/80pct-pd.html?fbclid=IwAR3pMnu6G0d-M6Ldf_i5muga3g_m0NVkMQ5u6NiE-f_FapGKftJO76_hxbw that about 80% of books published in the US between 1924 and 1963 are in the Public Domain now. Textbooks are known to be very expensive, even when they are...
  3. B

    Classical Opinions about these textbooks for vibrations and waves

    Hi. I am going to enter uni this October as a first year physics major.One of the first courses I will take is Vibrations and Waves,and the recommended materials are as below: French,Vibrations and Waves Pain,The Physics of Vibrations and Waves, 6th Edition According to Amazon's review,there...
  4. archaic

    Other Free online textbooks from Cambridge

    https://www.cambridge.org/core/what-we-publish/textbooks
  5. T

    Suggested Textbooks for Learning Geometry of Physics

    Summary:: Suggest a textbook Good Morning I have repeatedly tried to read Frankel's "Geometry of Physics" and I get swamped and overwhelmed. (I hasten to add that as a MECHANICAL engineer, my math background has been deficient.) I retire in about 10 years and I am looking to learn the...
  6. J

    Astronomy Intermediate Level Astronomy Textbooks?

    Hi all: I am looking for an astronomy textbook that is a bit above the level of most textbooks used in intro level astronomy courses but also not too advanced. I would really like a book that focuses on observational astronomy. If its available to be downloaded for free as a PDF that would...
  7. Sokolov

    Intro Physics Textbooks on Optics: Alternatives to Hetch-Zajac's "Optics"

    I'm looking for an alternative textbook to the Hetch-Zajac's one. I am a physics undergraduate student, and this is the recommended book for the subject, so I would like to find a book that covers more or less the same topics. There are two main problems I find at Hetch: Firstly, its extreme...
  8. S

    Textbooks to be used as references for classical electromagnetism

    Summary:: I need to add references for several classical electromagnetism concepts, I would like to know which books deal with these concepts. Recently a paper about classical electromagnetism that I had submitted was rejected, among other reasons because it contained many references to...
  9. Haorong Wu

    Quantum Need suggestions about textbooks on optics

    Hi, guys. I need 2 textbooks for my graduate courses, including quantum optics and nonlinear optics. Thanks!
  10. sulhar

    Engineering Undergraduate textbooks and lectures

    Hi, so I'm a first year undergraduate in engineering science. I guess my main question is, are all undergrad textbooks purposely convoluted to scare us from our degrees? Let me explain. I enjoy my lectures, I feel like the notes are very useful, but whenever my tutors or lecturers refer us to...
  11. BadgerBadger92

    Best Intermediate Algebra textbooks?

    I want to teach myself math, and am trying to start with intermediate algebra. What are some of the best textbooks on this subject, especially for someone trying to learn this without a class?
  12. sysprog

    Computational Free Programming Language Textbooks

    Links to pages for open source textbooks for 35 programming languages and for no-charge textbooks for 3 more: https://www.ossblog.org/opensourcebooks/.
  13. K

    What are the best textbooks for learning about supergravity?

    Hello all! I am trying to find self-consistent introduction to current state of quantum N=8 d=4 supergravity. Other books on supergravity are very welcome as well
  14. KingOfDirewolves

    Intro Physics Competitive Physics by Jinhui Wang and Bernard Ricardo

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/9813235187/?tag=pfamazon01-20 Should I use this book to prepare for the Physics Olympiad?
  15. KingOfDirewolves

    Intro Physics Which Fluid Mechanics Textbook is Best for High School Students?

    Can anyone suggest me a Fluid Mechanics textbook? I am currently in High School in my Junior Year. I am looking for a entry-level textbook so I will be able to solve I.E. Irodov's Hydrodynamics section. (My Mathematics is quite strong)
  16. A

    Other Compilation of severe errors in famous textbooks

    For the sake of helping student to avoid confusions, I wonder if we can make a compilation of known errors made in standard and commonly used textbooks. Not talking about some random typos, but more when like the entire treatment of a subject is fundamentally flawed.
  17. Kleio

    Classical Where Can I Find German and English Physics Textbooks for Secondary School?

    I am looking for secondary school (ages 11-14) Physics textbooks from Germany and England. Can you help me?
  18. GravitySK

    Relativity Looking for further Relativity textbooks

    I'm reading chapter 7 of Goldstein Classical Mechanics (the special relativity part) I'm planning to take a deep(very deep!) study on Relativity(Both Special and General Theory) after finishing chapter 7 of Goldstein. Which textbooks will you recommend? If you could give me a suggestion with...
  19. K

    Other Upper division undergraduate electronics and circuits textbooks

    Hello everyone, I am in an upper division undergraduate electronics and circuits class right now and the textbook that were using (Eggleston: basic electronics for scientists and engineers) is not resonating with me. I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for a textbook that explains...
  20. KingOfDirewolves

    Intro Physics What textbooks should I do in Physics if I'm in High School

    I'm currently in High School and I want to learn Physics for clearing our local Physics Olympiad then possibly the IPhO. I'm a 11th Grade Student in India. My math is quite strong so I have no problem is using Calculus. I have also noticed that my problem solving skills improve only when I do...
  21. FourEyedRaven

    Quantum Graduate level and undergraduate level textbooks

    Hi. Since I started looking for books to learn physics I've had a problem understanding what exactly is meant by "graduate level" and "undergraduate level" textbooks, given how two books in each category can seem to cover the same topics. A good example of this is Weinberg's "Lectures on...
  22. newguy220

    Other Best Flimsy Textbooks (paperback books)

    Hello all, I was wondering what are some good textbooks that are flimsy (not hard cover and printed on cheap paper so lightweight) that can be read on the train and the bus easily (the dimensions doesn't matter to me, all that is required is for it to be flimsy). I need such textbooks for...
  23. U

    Other I need advice on preparations for studying calculus

    Hello, I am new to physicsforums and I am still a high school student so I would like to have advice on what books should be relevant on preparation for calculus and more math beyond. I have basic algebra and geometry foundation and I would like to learn more high school math and up. So my plan...
  24. D

    Other Textbooks for tensors and group theory

    Hello, I am an undergraduate who has taken basic linear algebra and ODE. As for physics, I have taken an online edX quantum mechanics course. I am looking at studying some of the necessary math and physics needed for QFT and particle physics. It looks like I need tensors and group theory...
  25. M

    Foundations How to effectively study a mathematics textbook?

    Hello I am looking to find advice on the most optimal and efficient way to properly and deeply study a mathematics textbook, such that I completely understand everything and thus giving me good foundations for future study of more advanced mathematics. However, I want to change my ways of...
  26. S

    Classical Textbook or other resource with comprehensive challenging problems?

    Hi all, can you recommend a textbook or other resource with comprehensive (meaning spanning multiple subjects) and challenging physics problems and also the solutions? I have already worked through Giancoli (no-calculus), Ohanian (calc based) and the two dummies workbooks. I have been working...
  27. H

    Solid state electronics textbooks

    Summary: Please does anyone has a lecture note dat explain solid state electronic I need a lecture note or a textbook dat explain solid state electronic especially band gap Crystal growth Diffusion of semiconductor Fermini level
  28. S

    Other Smirnov's "Course of Higher Mathematics"

    Hi, I recently have rekindled my love for mathematics while in University for Political Science. I have reviewed all of my old pre cal books, but now I want to start learning Calculus eventually on to more difficult things like PDEs and things of that nature. I like having a series of textbooks...
  29. J

    Good Textbooks for QM: Get Advice Here!

    I'm trying to do this by myself. I went through Dr. Susskind's 10 lecture series (the older one, not as much aligned with his book "Quantum Mechanics", which I own) taking notes, and am almost half way through with MIT Open Courseware's lectures in 8.04 (QM I) from 2013, again taking rigorous...
  30. P

    Intro Physics What are the differences between physics textbooks for engineers and scientists?

    I am working through physics for engineers and scientists 5th edition right now. I have met many people who strongly believe a certain textbook is better than others. Can someone please clarify the differences? I have access to Fundamentals of physics 10th edition and wondered if working...
  31. S

    Other Textbooks needed to cover everything in university (undergrad to PhD)

    First of all we are talking about theoretical physics (particle physics, general relativity and cosmology) These textbooks start from high school level physics and math and cover everything from there (both math and physics wise).
  32. Marisa5

    Quantum Textbooks on qubits/trapped ions/BECs for quantum computing

    Hello, I was wondering if any of you know about good books on various qubit approaches for making quantum computers. There are a lot of road maps on the internet covering the pros and cons of each approach (for example: https://qt.eu/app/uploads/2018/04/QT-Roadmap-2016.pdf ) but I was hoping...
  33. R

    How/When do you get to the point of solving textbooks easily

    So I was having a discussion with one of my teachers and they mentioned along the way in my PhD, I would learn how to formulate and/or understand where a question is coming from, be able to solve it and know exactly when I arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. This would be quite a handy skill...
  34. D

    Order of pre-college (high school) physics textbooks

    Hi there, I'm not sure this has been addressed before (couldn't find a post on this). I often see high school physics textbooks (and therefore courses) teach first thermodynamics, than optics, than finally wave motion. Is there a reason for this order or is it sort of random? IMO, The most...
  35. L

    Other Asking for recommendation on Fluid Dynamics and CFD textbooks

    Dear All I am an undergraduate student studying in physics. I would probably get into research that needed fluid dynamics and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) skills. Previously I have not been taking a formal fluid dynamics course since there is none. I would like to pick up those skills by...
  36. wirefree

    Are textbook derivations in physics too formulaic?

    G'day, Would anybody else agree that derivations of key results in physics texts - school or college level - proceed in a manner that betrays no compunctions in the mind of the author about fore-knowledge of the pre-known form of the final expression? I have a strong conviction that the great...
  37. Thomaz

    Intro Math Best textbooks for different intro math subjects

    What are the best intro math textbook for these subjects below? The level is for a advanced high school student/ National math Olympics/ or preparation for a difficult College entrance exam like JEE. 1) Sets 2) Functions 3) Logarithm 4) Trigonometry 5) Sequences and Series 6)...
  38. CMJ96

    What Are the Best Textbooks for Fourth Year MPhys Modules?

    Hello, I will be starting the 4th year of my Mphys soon, and I'd like to get a little bit of a head start on the topics that are going to be taught, can anyone recommend me any decent textbooks for the following modules? (I will insert images of the syllabus for each module if that helps) 1...
  39. starstruck_

    Good textbooks for second year physics courses?

    Hey! Im going into second year and I’m trying to find textbooks to study for some physics courses out of since I have the time. Heck, even some multivariable calculus textbooks might help. We use James Stewart’s Early Transcendentals 8th Edition and it didn’t really help- that and uh I...
  40. CaesarMagnam

    Classical Suggestions for 9th Grade Physics Textbooks?

    Greetings, fellow physicists! I was wondering if you could tell me where I can find some 9th Grade Physics resources to study it. I'm highly interested in textbooks with different tasks and equations to solve, so I came here for your help. All your advices are appreciated. P.S. I prefer using...
  41. Safder Aree

    Quantum Quantum Physics textbooks with worked examples

    I'm currently in my first QM course and we have griffiths as our textbook. Although Griffiths is a great read I'm having trouble really conceptualizing QM ideas. We've only covered infinite potential well and wave packets as of now. Are there any additional resources or textbooks in which they...
  42. C

    Applied Book Recommendation: Math textbooks for physics that tie things back to reality

    Sorry if this is the wrong thread but subject wise it seemed the most appropriate. Are there any books available that take a deep dive into the heady mathematics you guys use here BUT that take the time to tie things back to reality? And I'm talking about something for interested laymen like...
  43. Fraze

    Intro Physics Textbooks for the math of a B.S. in Physics and Engineering?

    Should one focus on just the ability to DO the math or also the theory behind it? Would a the book " ISBN-10: 0521679710 " suffice or should I do something to the effect of Spivak's or Apostol's calculus?
  44. Thinkaholic

    Other Maximizing Efficiency in Textbook Learning: Tips for High School Students

    Hi. So I’ve been teaching myself mathematics and physics, and over the past year I’ve been buying various textbooks. I’m currently reading Stewart’s “Calculus” (6th edition), “Elements of Set Theory” by Enderton, and “Number Systems and the Foundations of Analysis” by Mendelson, and I’ve been...
  45. J

    Classical Textbooks to qualify for USAPhO?

    What textbook should I get for preparation for f=ma granted I literally know nothing in physics as of now? I've heard David Morin's "Introduction to Classical Mechanics" is nice as well as "Fundamentals of Physics" by Resnick, Halladay, and Walker. Is there a textbook which I can use for both...
  46. Sandeep T S

    Any textbooks on LQT, SUSY and/or QG?

    Can anyone suggest any text, which I can start work on LQT, STRING THEORY, QUANTUM GRAVITY.
  47. Jarvis323

    Plasma Which order should I read these in?

    I'm a computer scientist with aspirations to apply myself to fundamental research, data analysis, or computation, in physics; And these are the books I've purchased so far but haven't read. Which order do you think I should read these? Or more generally, how should I schedule the reading of...
  48. A

    Classical Textbook for Classical Mechanics

    I am self studying Classical Mechanics and I am a bit confused about this. After reading Kleppner Kolenkow Mechanics can I read Symon's Mechanics or do I need to read anything in between like Fowels or Marion&Thornton? I already studied the Maths portion upto Multivariable Calculus,Real...
  49. J

    Other Finding Reading Notes for Textbooks

    Often when I read a chapter in a textbook and don't understand something, I find "reading notes" by other students extremely helpful. Oftentimes in these notes other readers have simply written down summaries of the sections in their own words. These descriptions of the "same thing" in...
  50. PhysicsMarco

    Do most textbooks not help their readers?

    I've discovered this essay, which argues that most textbooks are actually written for the authors and not for the readers. I also think that most textbooks are not very helpful after all, but I find the phenomenon still strange. Writing a textbook is a long, tedious job and certainly not...
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