Classical Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum

Leonard Susskind's Classical Mechanics is a brilliant and a crisp introduction to the subject. Make no mistake, this is not your usual popular science book with no equations. And this is because Classical Mechanics is a graduate subject. However "Lenny" is gentle and very kind to the novice reader. Every bit of math is defined and explained with simple examples. The first five lectures constitute a basic introduction to 11th standard mechanics. Vectors, trigonometry, and calculus serve as interludes to introductory discussions on motion, energy and dynamics. They are explained in a simple manner and I believe a motivated 9th grade student can understand his presentation. The emphasis on the principle of least action, from chapter 6 onwards, makes this book fun to read. Feynman's lecture (vol. 2) gives one talk on this idea but he does not develop it in detail. Susskind walks us through basic examples of effects in a linearly accelerating frame, circularly accelerating frame, the harmonic oscillator and many others. Hamilton's mechanics and Liouville's theorem are presented with an extraordinary clarity. The chapter which connects symmetries of this universe to conservation laws is exciting. It is really surprising that the conservation of energy, momentum, angular momentum can be explained by different symmetries in space and time. I can easily recommend this book to any beginner who has taken a basic course in mechanics (like prepared for JEE in 11th and 12th). On the other hand, any motivated person with high school level knowledge but a little aptitude in mathematics can appreciate the insights in this book.

If you wanna study for exams memorize things and write, this book is not for you. But, if you really want to understand the subject, This is your priority 1.Read this before the lectures start and you'll ace your CM exams.

A good book to understand classical mechanics

As with his other books, this book is also the same where Leonard sunshine has very elegantly explained the concepts of lagrangian and hamiltonian mechanics

Book by one of the big boss in physics of present times The book is very nice for anyone to have some introduction to classical mechanics.. Preliminary mathematics used through out the book. Very well written and engrossing to read i could not give up until i finished end to end. Exercises are spread through out the book, if you solve it boost self confidence in the theory.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Good pacing. Takes you comfortably from high school level to Hamiltonian. The second half provides some great mental models for visualising any kind of 'change'.

I found new and correct approach to learn the mechanics. The book revised me to make a fresh start. The book is for those who kept the love of physics alive even when their lives turned in altogether different direction . The book is a ray of hope for them. Thnx Prof Susskind.