Should I read Spivak's Calculus as an undergrad in theoretical physics?

[OscarV]

I am about to start a physics with theoretical physics major, I've taken calculus before but I've not been satisfied with the "memorization of formulas" type books.

I started to read Spivak and found it enjoyable, but since it's a major undertaking I am also concerned for the practical value of reading it to my degree, I am afraid that the book is much too abstract and mathematical, but I am also not sure since as far as I know (which granted, is not much) theoretical physics highly overlaps with pure mathematics.

In a nutshell: Will it actually be useful for my degree (I am confident I want to remain in the theoretical area) or should I read another book that perhaps has a better balance between rigor and application (I've heard Apostol's Calculus to be a good option).

Cheers and thank you in advance!

 

[Mondayman]

My thoughts are, being able to prove a+b is commutative doesn't necessarily help with learning physics. But the more comfortable you are with mathematics, the better off you will be in the long run, particularly if you plan to do theoretical physics.

But at the end of the day, I think Spivak is slightly overkill for calculus for physics. Perhaps it's my inexperience showing, but nothing I learned during my stint at uni would have been easier had I worked through a rigorous calculus textbook.

 

[ateixeira]

I am about to start a physics with theoretical physics major, I've taken calculus before but I've not been satisfied with the "memorization of formulas" type books.

I started to read Spivak and found it enjoyable, but since it's a major undertaking I am also concerned for the practical value of reading it to my degree, I am afraid that the book is much too abstract and mathematical, but I am also not sure since as far as I know (which granted, is not much) theoretical physics highly overlaps with pure mathematics.

In a nutshell: Will it actually be useful for my degree (I am confident I want to remain in the theoretical area) or should I read another book that perhaps has a better balance between rigor and application (I've heard Apostol's Calculus to be a good option).

Cheers and thank you in advance!

I would go for Spivak yes. It doesn't help directly but if you want to be a theoretical physicist it helps to know the rigorous rules of mathematics. The first indirect gain is to be able to think in a more structured and self-critical way. The second indirect gain is that later on learning physics will be much easier when you get to upper undergrad.