Undergrad Textbooks: Physics, Chemistry & Biology

[Pronghorn]

I'm looking forward to buying some general undergraduate-level textbooks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. What are your suggestions?

 

[Pattern]

There are thousands of undergraduate textbooks in all of those subjects. You'll need to specify your question/whatever further.

 

[dacruick]

I'm looking forward to buying some general undergraduate-level textbooks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. What are your suggestions?

I don't know much about chem or bio, but for introductory physics textbooks I would go with Griffiths for Quantum and EM.

 

[ZeroZero2]

Chemistry
Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter & Change by Silbergberg <---- General
Organic Chemistry by Wade

that's it for chemistry that I can recommend. Other usual topics are inorganic chemistry and physical chemistry but I'm not sure on which textbooks I'd recommend

Biology:
Biology by Campbell and Reece <---- General
Genetic Analysis by Griffiths, Wessler, Lewontin, & Carroll
Evolutionary Analysis by Freeman & Herron

If you want to learn undergrad level cell biology, then make sure you know some organic chemistry before moving on! (also know some genetics)

Fundamentals of Biochemistry: Life at the Molecular Level by Voet, Voet, & Pratt
Essential Cell Biology by Alberts, Bray, Hopkins, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, & Walter

Physics:
make sure you have a decent math background!
Calculus, Linear Algebra, Vector Calculus, Complex Analysis, Ordinary Differential Equations, and Partial Differential Equations should be enough.

Fundamentals of Physics (Extended Edition) by Halliday, Resnick, & Walker <---- General
(note: this is a calculus-based introductory physics text which is really really good for self study IMO. Some people knock it for being too "elementary" or "watered" down, but I say for the autodidact it's best to take it one step at a time.)
Classical Mechanics by Taylor
Statistical Physics by Mandl (note: universities usually use Kittel or Schroeder, but I prefer this)
Introduction to Electrodynamics by Griffiths
Quantum Mechanics: Concepts & Applications by Zettili (note: QM by Griffiths is a standard among universities, but again, I'd have go with Zettili for self study)
Special Relativity by French
A First Course in General Relativity by Schutz (general relativity sometimes isn't covered in the undergraduate curriculum)


In case you'd like some math textbook recommendation as well (that aren't really rigorous) for undergrad physics

Math:
Calculus by Larson & Edwards
Elementary Linear Algebra by Larson, Edwards, & Falvo
Differential Equations w/ Boundary Value Problems by Polking, Boggess, & Arnold
Partial Differential Equations with Fourier Series and Boundary Value Problems by Asmar
Introduction to Vector Analysis by Davis & Snider
Fundamentals of Complex Analysis with Applications to Engineering, Science, and Mathematics by Saff & Snider


all of these books are easy to read and great for self study IMO

 

[rezeew]

I highly recommend investing in textbooks for all three of these subjects. Physics, chemistry, and biology are fundamental to understanding the world around us and are essential for any undergraduate student pursuing a career in science.

For physics, I suggest looking for textbooks that cover the core principles and theories, such as mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics. Make sure the textbook is up-to-date and includes relevant examples and applications to help you better understand the concepts.

In terms of chemistry textbooks, look for ones that cover topics like atomic structure, chemical reactions, and organic chemistry. It's also important to find a textbook that includes laboratory exercises and experiments, as hands-on experience is crucial in understanding chemistry.

Lastly, for biology, seek out textbooks that cover the fundamentals of cellular and molecular biology, genetics, and ecology. Look for textbooks that have clear and concise explanations, as well as visual aids such as diagrams and illustrations to help you understand complex biological processes.

In addition to these suggestions, I also recommend checking with your professors or academic advisors to see if they have any specific textbook recommendations for your courses. Good luck with your studies!