Text book reading and problem solving

[Matt]

Do any of you enjoy reading text books and working out the problems? For example, I have worked through a number of problems from James Harltes book "Gravity". If anyone would like to collaborate on problem solving, let me know.

Thanks
Matt

[David]

Matt,
I looked at the reviews of Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity on Goodreads and also on amazon.com. It looks like an excellent book! I am very tempted to take you up on your offer. (It is somewhat expensive, though.)
--David

[Kirsten]

You want to do my physics problem sets for me? Just kidding...mostly.

I do sometimes read textbooks in my field, but I don't read them in fields I HAVE to take unless it's for class.

[Matt]

Kirsten wrote: "You want to do my physics problem sets for me? Just kidding...mostly.

I do sometimes read textbooks in my field, but I don't read them in fields I HAVE to take unless it's for class."

LOL! Your missing all the fun then.

[Matt]

David wrote: "Matt,
I looked at the reviews of Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity on Goodreads and also on amazon.com. It looks like an excellent book! I am very tempted to ..."

It is well worth the price. Some areas are a little intense without much help but overall it is a great book.

[Adam]

I have that book on Gravity. My school is having me read a different Modern Physics type of book unfortunately. So I can't join you in your problem solving fun...

That being said, I LOVE reading text books. Right now I'm reading Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications for fun. I'm also reading an elementary physics book to hone up my skills on the concepts.

Not only do I do all the problems I can, I also re-work all the examples in the book to make sure the book is correct and to make sure I understand the concept the section is trying to convey mathematically!

[Kirsten]

There are definitely days where this group makes me feel much less smart than I do on average. Thanks, guys.

I'm currently working through the problems trying to decide which to put on my exam note sheet and hoping I pick the right ones. Yay for vectors at least, they may save my grade on this test.

[Grace]

I love reading text books and working out the problems. I'm currently doing a petrology book though, not gravity.

Best of luck on those problems, mate!

[Matt]

That is awesome, Grace. I do this to keep my mind sharp on the subjects I most enjoy but do not professionally work in. I am an engineer and programmer but I would have rather of been a theoretical physicist. How are you coming along with your problems?

[Adam]

Matt wrote: "That is awesome, Grace. I do this to keep my mind sharp on the subjects I most enjoy but do not professionally work in. I am an engineer and programmer but I would have rather of been a theoretical..."

I am actually going into a career to be a Mathematician/Theoretical Physicist. The bonus is that I get to read these text books anyway!

[Matt]

Adam wrote: "Matt wrote: "That is awesome, Grace. I do this to keep my mind sharp on the subjects I most enjoy but do not professionally work in. I am an engineer and programmer but I would have rather of been ..."

That's great ... where are you going to study at?

[Grace]

Astrophysics was my first love. I still have several shelves in my home library dedicated to the topics. If you ever get a chance, get a hold of the Feynman's lectures. (The Feynman Lectures on Physics, The Definitive Edition Volume 1 (2nd Edition))

They are a lot of fun to read as well as invaluable as a resource.

[Matt]

Grace wrote: "Astrophysics was my first love. I still have several shelves in my home library dedicated to the topics. If you ever get a chance, get a hold of the Feynman's lectures. ([book:The Feynman Lectures ..."

Yes, I have heard that too. Thanks for the link. I don't currently own them. I will have to give them a read.

[Grace]

It you can, keep an eye out for a sale. I got mine for 40% off at B&N a few years ago. They are good, but I rarely think anything is worth a hundred dollars.

[Kirsten]

I know Half Price Books (not sure how far their reach is) often has textbooks for sale, and always at excellent prices, never more than $20. A lot of independent book shops around the Twin Cities have them too.

You guys have inspired me, I just go hired for a hydrology position this summer, and I decided maybe I better brush up on a few of the things I learned in class so I can be competent starting day 1.

[Matt]

The one that I found on Amazon is about $40.00 not too bad.

[Matt]

Kirsten, that is great. Hope it works out well for you. I have a couple of Half Price bookstores nearby and I have been lucky a few times there and ended up with a couple of great text books only a couple of bucks.

[Kirsten]

I'm pretty excited. One, because I think I've narrowed down what to pursue a Master's in, two, I got a job in my field, and three, I can actually still do these problems.

Me too, I just got one on weather and climate as well as zoology for $3 each. And they were published within the last five years.

[Adam]

Matt wrote: "Adam wrote: "Matt wrote: "That is awesome, Grace. I do this to keep my mind sharp on the subjects I most enjoy but do not professionally work in. I am an engineer and programmer but I would have ra..."

I'm finishing my undergrad in Applied Mathematics at Umass Lowell this semester. I'm going to go on and do a Master's there as well in the same subject. But my course work is going to be a little different from the normal track, because I am also taking a great deal of Physics classes on top of my Math classes.

And for the record... I also want to get the Feynman lectures... it has been on my wishlist for a little while now.

[Grace]

I didn't discover the wonders of Half Priced books until I went to Indy to visit a good friend last year. I've been hooked every since. I've never found the Feynman lectures there though.

If you can find it cheaper than $50, that is a really good deal for this set of three. Especially if it has the little extra book that goes with it. (I forgot the title, and I'm not at home right now to look at it... ) I think at B&N it was $110 before the discount. But, that was a long time ago.

[Matt]

Half Price Books can be a treasure chest sometimes.

[Filza]

i hated problems before but now if there is nothing to test my knowledge i get a great deal irksome: i never imagined this change in me, "lazy bones."

[Shaaban]

I have interested in science , but im medical student . would that text be hard for me to go through ??