What book to get for Physics?

[Pi Face]

I wasn't really sure where to put this topic, so feel free to move this if needed.

Anyways, I'm a rising Junior (HS) right now, and would like to take the Physics SAT II at the end of my Junior year. The thing is, I would have to self study because of a scheduling conflict. I took an Intro Physics my freshman year, but I forgot most of what I learned. I bought the Princeton Review Physics SAT II book and started working through it, but it isn't in depth enough and some parts left me confused. I also looked through the notes on the Sparknotes website, but I think I may need a little more review.

The book my school uses is Holt Physics by Serway and Faughn, published by Holt Rinehart Winston, 2002 edition. ISBN is 0-030-56544-8 if it matters. I figured that since I won't be taking the class in school, I don't have to buy the school's book and would have the entire selection of physics textbooks to choose from. I'm looking for a book that will thoroughly cover the topics found on a SAT II Physics test, or in any ol' Honors Physics class. I'll be taking Physics C my senior year as well. My math background is pretty strong, so the math portion won't be hard, it's really just the physics concepts, so I'd prefer the book to be beginner-friendly/introductory. Anyone have any suggestions on what book to get? Thanks.

 

[n!kofeyn]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0880292512/?tag=pfamazon01-20 by Isaac Asimov
This is definitely a non-standard book, and I don't know if it is too easy or hard, as I haven't read it myself. I have actually recently ordered it to check it out, and Amazon has it for cheap if you get it used. I think it is worth checking out. I would have loved to read a book like this before I started out, and it is most definitely going to be more interesting than reading some high school approved physics textbook. You (and I both!) should learn a lot from it. Just to be clear, it is definitely a physics book, not just a simple layman book (Asimov wrote I, Robot and many other science fiction books.)

 

[Daverz]

The suggestion of the Isaac Asimov book for review is a good one.

Perhaps your Physics teacher could give you some old homeworks and exams for practice. Save the practice SAT tests for last so you can get a good feel for how you're doing.

I don't know if the Physics SAT prep books have gotten any better. They were crap 20 years ago.