Asking for advices on assigned textbook on modern physics

[Ashuron]

I am going to take an intro modern physics course which includes these topics in syllabus:
-intro to relativity & quantum theory
-Schroedinger equation
-particle/wave duality
-statistical physics: Bose and Fermi distribution

My assigned textbook is Concepts of Modern Physics by Arthur Beiser:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0072448482/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Anyone got experience with the book? Is it worth buying?
Even better, suggestions of another book at this level?

Some backgrounds, I am in my sophomore year,
I must take a linear algebra class and multi calculus before the course itself.
The course also required me to take an ODE course together with it.

 

[fss]

Does it even matter if it's worth buying? Generally if you are assigned a textbook for a course it's in your best interest to buy it to make studying from it less of a hassle.

 

[Ashuron]

I am sorry..
but what I mean is I can always borrow the book from the library..

 

[jtbell]

I can always borrow the book from the library..

What happens if several people from your class want to borrow the book at the same time?

For several years, I taught a course that used Beiser. It's OK, but it's at a lower level than some others, and doesn't have as much detail. I'm surprised by your math pre- and co-requisites. We required only basic differential and integral calculus as prerequisite. The book introduces partial derivatives etc. as needed, and uses little or no linear algebra.

I've also used https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...+zafiratos+dubson&x=13&y=11&tag=pfamazon01-20, which is thicker and has more detail.

 

[Ashuron]

never thought about that..

 

[Pengwuino]

What happens if several people from your class want to borrow the book at the same time?

At my university, the text is simply recalled. In my complex analysis course, the professor mentioned Churchill's text as a supplement she was using and taking problems out of and that it was a good book (she said she didn't assign it as the class text because it was too expensive). She even mentioned it being in the library. I had already checked it out and went over it the summer before taking the course so I knew about it but had already used it. The course went on and towards the end, I came upon some stuff that was simply not explained well in the text or the lecture. So I go see if there was any chance no one had checked the text out.

Nope, no one. And students can have texts checked out until the end of the semester so clearly out of 50 students, no one bothered. I would bet the OP's library works the same way so why not just check it out? If you like the text, you can buy it later.

 

[hitmeoff]

I second the Taylor book

 

[Ashuron]

Well..actually last year textbook is Taylor's one..
I can borrow the book from my senior
Thanks for the recommendation..

Actually what Pengwuino posted is also true for my school..
Most students do not bother to borrow the books from the library..

jtbell, I asked some of my seniors..
Those pre/co requisite actually will only be used for some derivations..
The class will still emphasized the physics...

Anyways..Thanks all..
Additional advices on tackling Taylor's book or Arthur's will also be helpful..