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No bullshit guide to math and physics

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Often calculus and mechanics are taught as separate subjects. It shouldn't be like that. Learning calculus without mechanics is incredibly boring. Learning mechanics without calculus is missing the point. This textbook integrates both subjects and highlights the profound connections between them. This is the deal. Give me 350 pages of your attention, and I'll teach you everything you need to know about functions, limits, derivatives, integrals, vectors, forces, and accelerations. This book is the only math book you'll need for the first semester of undergraduate studies in science. With concise, jargon-free lessons on topics in math and physics, each section covers one concept at the level required for a first-year university course. Anyone can pick up this book and become proficient in calculus and mechanics, regardless of their mathematical background.

583 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

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1191 people want to read

About the author

Ivan Savov

4 books53 followers

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for J.
511 reviews57 followers
January 7, 2018
Ivan Savov’s book stands among the best books I’ve ever read on the topics of math and physics. It is so good that it can easily accompany a student from a conceptual physics course all the way through undergraduate studies for those entering career paths in the hard sciences or engineering. This book is a handy quick-reference guide. It is a keeper.

I am recommending this book for my High School Physics students, because the content coverage is true to its title; direct, understandable, and concise. It is extraordinary.

Unfortunately, there is drawback; the word “Bullshit” in the title. Regardless of the potential offensiveness of the title, this book is so well organized. Recommending it just means having the unpleasant task of sending out a parent letter - a small but necessary duty.

My only other complaint is that this reference guide unavailable as an e-book. I am confident that future students will appreciate having it in electronic form.
Profile Image for Wojciech Pietrzak.
11 reviews3 followers
April 5, 2013
I'm glad somebody with proper math understanding wrote this excellent piece.

The title matches exactly the content, you will not find any boring academical bullshit in this book, but plenty of refreshing learning material about math and physics with charts, diagrams, formulas and examples.

The author gives you cloues and writes to you directly, for example : "In other words, if you want to divide the number z by the complex number s, you should..."

Finaly I can trash other math books and make some place on my shelf.

Give it a try, absolutely worth it.
2 reviews
June 5, 2020
Currently reading and will be reading this book for awhile. Extremely challenging book, with a great overview of calculus, algebra and geometry. I am currently on page 90 and it has taken me 2 months to get to this point. Yet I am learning a ridiculous amount of math at a pretty good rate.

The only criticism I have so far, is that the author complains about professors and teachers throwing unnecessary curve balls and complex equations at their students, when he does exactly the same thing. I have had to go back in the book many times and have banged my head against the wall over some exercises that could have been explained a little better or had better examples to explain them in the lessons.

But with that said, I have tackled through all of the exercises so far and am acquiring a huge knowledge of math. Thank god I am almost done with the tedious math and will be entering the physics lessons in about 30 pages. I can see what this author is trying to accomplish and have a really good feeling that when I get to the physics portion, I will have a good mathematical sense of it all. I am really impressed with this book overall and realize this author must have taken a lot of time to put it together.

Being locked down in England, due to the coronavirus, this book has not only kept my mind occupied for a good portion of the time. It has given me a sense of accomplishment and has also given me a good getaway from my writing, which can get tedious and depressing when it's the only thing you do and focus on. I highly recommend this book if you want to improve your math skills and also understand the world, and our existence, in a more mathematical sense.

I will post another review when I am finished with the book all together.
Profile Image for Graeme Nathan.
1 review3 followers
November 11, 2013
Learning calculus in university? You need this book. It's that simple. It is both concise and helpful. For me it was a lifesaver.
Profile Image for Lasse Skou Lindstad.
45 reviews14 followers
February 2, 2016
Compact and to the point. A good supplement to whatever long winded textbook you are assigned in your math course.
Profile Image for Miguel Pinto.
104 reviews
September 29, 2017
Totaly recommend this book.
clearly written with good examples, the author constructs on math and physics in clear concise way.
i enjoyed reading and reviewing both math and physics principles.

good job
Profile Image for Vitaly.
39 reviews
February 12, 2016
Was looking for a book that would help my kid get into maths and it's applications where a book is not overburdened with concepts and tries to relay information such that it can be easily grasped. And this book delivers in spades! P.S. I also had a blast reading, there is something refreshing about not seeing a theorem or proof on every page of a book, having an easy read and still enjoy it, even if it's school level maths :)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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