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I am an almost layman in physics, and don't know much in math (only basic knowledge upto trig ), and want to learn physics . .

As I am completely inexperienced, and considering most of the textbook in physics are Hallday Resnic styled plug and chug, somewhere I found the suggestion to struggle with Feynman. Crazily most of the places suggested you would go astray with Feynman (I went astray, It took me two weeks to partially understand the Gravitational Energy, probably fourth chapter) unless you have a good intuitive grasp of basic ideas in physics.

Are there any good (not pop sci) introductory physics books? I'm willing to struggle to get good understanding, and (there is no cramming exam pressure to rush) and the book should must be fun and interesting*.

  • Measurement by Paul Lockhart is an excellent example of such book, but it is in mathematics - I want in physics.
Qmechanic
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  • What do you want to learn about? – TLDR Jun 07 '16 at 03:48
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    You will need math to get very far. – mmesser314 Jun 07 '16 at 05:13
  • how about checking out videos. like @mmesser314 said, the language of physics is math. the two are inextricably intertwined – good_ole_ray Jun 07 '16 at 05:53
  • Physics is like all sciences: it's best learned from those who practice it, already, rather than from books. Lockhart's book is fuzzy wuzzy feelgood nonsense. You can't learn anything from it about anything, maybe expect for how to make money with books that make people feel better about the avoidance of headaches during serious study. – CuriousOne Jun 07 '16 at 07:56
  • @CuriousOne: Okay, but atleast there should be some good books that increases the curiosity in physics and makes it fun and challenging. Do you know any of them ? [ I am not asking for pop sci books which "explains" string theory in one hour to a laymen or something like that; I am willing to struggle and get good understanding in return] –  Jun 07 '16 at 18:12
  • You have the curiosity, already, don't you? If you don't, there is nothing that can make you learn for eight hours a day for eight years in a row, which is what a typical science student does from the day he/she enters university till he/she finishes his/her PhD. – CuriousOne Jun 07 '16 at 20:03
  • @CuriousOne: It's ridiculous to believe that this curiosity is innate, and it is also ridiculous that everyone has the same level of physics (or science) curiosity. There is probably something in between that increases the curiosity (my mental model of curiosity may be wrong) (otherwise why a person would do years of single minded effort, as you mentioned) - I just wanted some explicit examples of them. –  Jun 08 '16 at 03:54

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Start with a good math background. Work your way through elementary calculus. These ideas in calculus were derived FOR physics. Once you can get a good grasp on the principles of calculus physics will come a lot easier. I enjoy watching YouTube videos on these things. A great amount of information for free

Rick Steele
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