Which book would be best for learning Calculus?

[Kaldanis]

I've begun learning Calculus with the help of my lecturer. It's not covered in the course I'm on and I'll definitely need it for uni! We have covered trig and algebraic functions and I recently worked through a workbook on differentiation and integration. I managed most of it but it isn't very detailed and doesn't explain things too well. Sometimes I feel like I'm going through the motions without fully understanding it! So, I'm looking for a book to study in my own time that fully explains everything and makes you understand what you're doing. I've searched around and narrowed it down to http://www.amazon.com/dp/0521867444/?tag=pfamazon01-20.

I think slightly more were in favour of the Spivak book, but can anyone who has experience with these books please give me their opinion? Thanks!

 

[mathwonk]

that's like saying i have narrowed my search for a version of the count of monte cristo down to either the 64 page illustrated classic comic, or the unabridged 1400 page version of alexander dumas. i.e. there is no comparison at all between those two calculus books. One of them is a basic introduction with humor and only the fundamental ideas in the simplest way with no proofs at all or even precise definitions and just computational problems, while the other is a detailed treatment with precise axioms and full proofs of the most subtle and advanced statements and difficult problems. I suggest getting them both.

 

[Fizex]

^^^^^^
What he said.

How did you even narrow it down to those two? I'd recommend spivak and something other than thompson one. If you find spivak too challenging read the 2nd one first and then move on to spivak.

 

[Kaldanis]

Haha, I narrowed it down based on a lecturer suggestion and reading the many calculus threads on here. Thank you both, I'll start with the Spivak then get something else if that's too challenging.