Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around recommendations for textbooks suitable for reviewing classical mechanics, particularly in the context of finding alternatives to well-known texts like Goldstein and Arnold. Participants express challenges in locating these books online and discuss various resources for studying classical mechanics.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Technical explanation
- Homework-related
Main Points Raised
- One participant seeks recommendations for textbooks that are comparable to Goldstein or Arnold for reviewing classical mechanics.
- Another participant mentions the legality of downloading textbooks and suggests looking for online courses that might have free resources.
- Some participants express frustration over the difficulty of finding alternative titles to Goldstein, noting that they are not aware of other suitable options.
- There are discussions about the pricing of textbooks, with mentions of used copies available on Amazon and the variability of availability based on location.
- A suggestion is made to consider David Tong's lecture notes as a potential resource.
- One participant emphasizes that Goldstein may not be the best choice for a review unless the reader is already familiar with it, recommending intermediate texts like Symon or Marion instead.
- Concerns are raised about the ethics of downloading textbooks illegally, with some participants arguing about the implications of such actions on the publishing industry.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on specific alternative textbooks to Goldstein, and there are differing opinions on the appropriateness of Goldstein as a review text. The discussion includes both support for and against illegal downloading of textbooks.
Contextual Notes
Some participants express uncertainty about the level of review needed, which affects their recommendations. There is also a mention of the Internet Archive's availability, which may influence access to resources.