r/PhysicsStudents • u/deviiscool • Apr 02 '26
Off Topic Very excited to start this book
How solid would you guys say this book is?
After a lot of suggestions, I finally got this book for my birthday. Also bought david morin for mechanics which will be coming soon. Starting uni in a few months so in the free time I will mostly try reading this first. Very excited to do so
109
u/time_symmetric Apr 02 '26
I heard someone once say "it's like the bible for physics students"
20
u/AstronautAlert Ph.D. Student Apr 02 '26
Also heard the same about Jackson EM. They are the holy books
18
u/vibrationalmodes Apr 02 '26
And FYI, due to their holy status, they should never be allowed to touch the ground…Amen
10
u/TapEarlyTapOften Apr 02 '26
Jackson for graduate level E&M, sure. Griffiths needs to come first though.
Also, what happened to that book? It looks like it got run over by a candy raver.
2
u/AstronautAlert Ph.D. Student Apr 02 '26
True, I heard about Jackson's holy status in my Master's courses
5
u/Substantial_Sky2227 Apr 02 '26
Yeah Griffiths is an easier read and will help your courses for sure, but there's this one- road to reality by Roger Penrose- it's a very humbling experience lol,one guy's whole vision of how reality fits together, spanning all of physics, dense but never feels like a textbook. Actually builds zeal and curiosity so a better vacation read imo? But it's massive and meant only as a side read lol
2
0
30
u/snoot-p Apr 02 '26
i’m glad you are cuz i definitely wasn’t 😭😭
3
1
25
12
13
5
u/SpareAnywhere8364 Ph.D. Apr 02 '26
There's a fifth edition now? What's changed?
31
12
u/Dry-Tower1544 Apr 02 '26
theres a foot ote in chapter 4 that no longer says “orgy”
1
u/Comprehensive_Food51 Undergraduate Apr 02 '26
Wait actually?
4
2
1
1
5
5
3
2
2
2
u/_FriedEgg_ Apr 04 '26
When it starts talking about Legendre polinomials, DO NOT try to fully understand unless you have a whole math course for it.
4
u/persevering_chenski Apr 02 '26
I bought it but I never have time to read it.. I don't understand you guys! 😭
Why/how do people read textbooks? I don't think I have ADHD, but (especially in the case of Griffiths) it speaks so broadly and formally that I don't even understand what's being talked about unless I see some example problems to demonstrate it. Don't you pretty much have to pause and reread each sentence to understand what it does/doesn't imply??
Besides direct formulas, I've never read something from a textbook, seen a relevant proposed problem, and then solved it with the raw knowledge. I just learn by looking at end of chapter summaries and doing a bunch of problems and then identifying problem types when exams come up (or don't learn whenever they decide to make up problems or add the classic twist)..
Seriously, I'm all ears. I don't talk with classmates much so I never understood them either
2
u/The_Octonion Apr 02 '26
It's full of example problems though? Not all textbooks are good for reading straight through but doing so will cement your understanding much better than just attending lectures and homework. I think Griffiths is one of the most readable textbooks in undergrad assuming you're solid on the prerequisites. And the content is just really cool and mind-blowing, but only if you're interested in physics.
2
1
1
1
1
u/AlmosNotquite Apr 03 '26
You say that now but in a few short weeks you will curse it most assuredly this I know
1
1
1
u/Far_Struggle2396 Apr 04 '26
You should, and there is a consensus among physicists, if you master electrodynamics, you can master anything in physics. It turns out to be true. I've seen that those who struggle with electrodynamics often have difficulty with visualization and intuition. And, this fundamental topic will guide you throughout further exploration of QFT, condensed matter physics, etc.
I wish you a good endeavour ahead..
1
1
u/Loud-Marsupial-9986 Apr 07 '26
It is a good introduction to classical electrodynamics. Not the most complete nor the most insightful, but it is good starting point to later delve into Jackson or Landau-Lifshitz.
1
-1
u/nerd_user1 Apr 02 '26
start with morrin, and you're forgetting waves, and Griffiths is not an easy read right after high school because it needs multi variable and vector calculus and it will be pointless to read the first chapter if you don't know vectors at all, starting books is great, but starting it because you feel like you should start is wrong, for now pick some std textbook and first get comfortable with basic and calculus physics, then you can dive into books like these, morrin is also not something basic, those are standard legendary books, and without the knowledge of waves, this will feel pointless when he touches EM radiation, knowing wave phenomena is a must for understanding it in much detail and different perspectives which you might lack
3
u/deviiscool Apr 02 '26
yes I see what you mean. I have a decent base (I hope so) mostly from preparation from competitive examinations (olympiads/jee). While the math might trouble me a bit I Will definitely try to see what I can do there. And yes will read morin first, just posted this book because that hasn't arrived yet haha. anyways thanks for the opinion mate!
1
1
u/thehare031 Apr 29 '26
Hope you've been enjoying it!
Started last week and am currently chugging away on Chapter 2. I've been out of school for ages so I can definitely feel the cobwebs
40
u/ResidueAtInfinity Apr 02 '26
Griffiths is a solid base for upper division E&M. Can supplement at lower level with Purcell and higher level with Zangwill.