Electromagnetism Books: Affordable 2nd Year Options

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding affordable textbooks for a second-year Electromagnetism course, covering various topics such as vector calculus, electrostatics, magnetostatics, and Maxwell's equations. Participants share recommendations and experiences regarding purchasing options, particularly focusing on the high cost of the prescribed textbook.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks recommendations for affordable alternatives to D.J. Griffiths' "Introduction to Electrodynamics," which is priced at $123.00.
  • Another participant provides links to used copies of the Griffiths book available for significantly lower prices.
  • Some participants suggest that paperback versions or older editions of textbooks may be more affordable options.
  • Concerns are raised about the quality of second-hand books purchased online, with mixed experiences shared regarding their condition.
  • A participant mentions the availability of "low price editions" in some Southeast Asian countries, which are significantly cheaper due to local publishing agreements.
  • Further discussion reveals that these low price editions may not be available in South Africa, where the original poster is located.
  • Links to other online platforms for purchasing books are shared, including Alibris, which may have Indian editions available.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the high cost of textbooks and the need for affordable alternatives. However, there is no consensus on the reliability of second-hand books or the availability of low price editions in the original poster's location.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include uncertainty about the quality of second-hand books and the specific availability of low price editions in different regions.

qspeechc
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Could someone please recommend a book for 2nd year Electromagnetism? The topics to be covered are:
Code:
Vector calculus (div, grad, curl), electrostatics, special techniques for potentials, electric fields in matter, magnetostatics, Magnetic fields in matter, current, Ohm's law, circuits, electromagnetic induction, electrodynamics, Maxwell's equations.

at a 2nd year level.
See, the problem is, the prescribed book for the course is D.J.Griffiths Introduction to Electrodynamics 3rd Ed.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/013805326X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Which is $123.00 + shipping! There's no way in hell I can afford that- I get less than that a year!
Any recommendations?
 
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http://cgi.ebay.com/GRIFFITHS-INTRODUCTION-TO-ELECTRODYNAMICS-3-E_W0QQitemZ280106725354QQihZ018QQcategoryZ2228QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Problem with 2nd hand books ordered from the web could be the quality of the book. Actually I don't know- I've never ordered a 2nd hand book- but I guess that would be the case.

Thank-you very much guys, you've been a great help :D
 
Last edited:
qspeechc said:
Problem with 2nd hand books ordered from the web could be the quality of the book. Actually I don't know- I've never ordered a 2nd hand book- but I guess that would be the case.

Thank-you very much guys, you've been a great help :D


I have got very good quality used books, and they are cheap :-)

Good luck with your course!
 
Thanks a lot malawi glenn.
 
i'm not sure which country you come from, but if you're in some south-east asian country, you get these books unbelievably cheap... costs you about 3-4 american dollars... actually, there is a tie-up between the actual publishing company and some local publishing companies, and these are referred to as "low price editions" or LPEs...
 
gc2004 said:
i'm not sure which country you come from, but if you're in some south-east asian country, you get these books unbelievably cheap... costs you about 3-4 american dollars... actually, there is a tie-up between the actual publishing company and some local publishing companies, and these are referred to as "low price editions" or LPEs...

He is from:

Location:
Cape Town, South Africa

:wink:
 
  • #10
gc2004 said:
i'm not sure which country you come from, but if you're in some south-east asian country, you get these books unbelievably cheap... costs you about 3-4 american dollars... actually, there is a tie-up between the actual publishing company and some local publishing companies, and these are referred to as "low price editions" or LPEs...

Sounds extraordinarily interesting. Can you tell me more? And yes, I am from South Africa :biggrin:
 
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  • #11
there's hardly anything more to it... these are called low price editions... for example, mc graw hill becomes tata mc graw hill... there are loads of books of wiley, pearson education, mc graw hill, elsevier... one gets griffiths, goldstein, arfken, reif, berkeley course, zemansky, gasiorowicz and almost every other book extraordinarily cheap, but these books are for sale only in the indian subcontinent and in indonesia and countries like burma, vietnam... i don't think south africa is in the list... sorry!
 
  • #12
http://www.alibris.com/

this place sometimes have those book from India etc, but it maybe take some time to get them...
 
  • #13
Thanks a lot guys, you've been extremely helpful!:smile:
 

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