Recommended reading for undergraduate Physics major

[gwingfan2]

I am currently in my freshman/sophomore year of college and am majoring in physics. I was wondering what books you can recommend that I read. I really love physics and I just want to learn as much as I can about all different areas of physics.

I have completed Calculus 3 and am willing to read up on DE on my own as well.

I have also completed up to Introductory E&M in physics and I just would like to learn more beyond that level.

 

[Andy Resnick]

The Feynman series, no question.

 

[gwingfan2]

Thank you very much, what other books are also good?

 

[Daverz]

I second the Feynman Lectures. You should also look through the archives of this section for many recommendations.

A popular book that gives a sort of overview of physical thinking is Time, Space, and Things by B.K. Ridley.

Thinking Like a Physicist is a very interesting little book of Physics problems and solutions.

 

[gwingfan2]

Thank you very much for the recommendations.

 

[Fredrik]

If you're looking for popular science books, these are all good:

QED: The strange theory of light and matter (Richard Feynman)
Black holes and time warps: Einstein's outrageous legacy (Kip Thorne)
The emperor's new mind (Roger Penrose)

If you're looking for textbooks, then I suggest these:

Introduction to quantum mechanics (David Griffiths)
Lectures on quantum theory: mathematical and structural foundations (Chris Isham)
Quantum mechanics: a modern development (Leslie Ballentine) (This one is too advanced if you haven't studied QM yet).

 

[dx]

I recommend "Spacetime, Geometry, Cosmology" by William Burke. One of the best undergraduate books I've read. It is extremely well written and is full of wisdom.