Do us a favor and delete your comment. This kind of talk can discourage and embarrass people who would otherwise be focused on learning.
Just link to the book, which is good, and save us your little puffing yourself up bit. I am sorry but I cannot sit by and watch someone belittle people who would want to learn.
edit: sorry, I am a bit high strung today. Defending tomorrow afternoon. Whatever though. the above is still true. We have an epidemic of "make those who would try hard feel stupid" and it needs to end.
Seriously, +1 on the above -- as someone who has been defeated several times by the calculus terrors preliminary and otherwise, I can say with some confidence that the last thing calc-shy students need is being made to feel dumber.
Down-to-earth books like the one in question are a boon.
Wow, that was reactionary. I'm not trying to discourage or embarrass anyone. My personal opinion is that the book is too dumbed down. It goes into the material way to slowly which makes it more difficult for me to stay focused on. That may not be other people's experience but I'm pretty sure some would agree. It's a matter of preference and I think I should be able to state mine without it being such a big deal.
Well, here you are defending the way you expressed your personal reaction to the book. Your reaction itself is of course fine. -But earlier you expressed your reaction to the book as if your particular experience of it were an absolute truth. Obviously (to both of us I have no doubt), the book is not anything in absolute terms, but you did not put it that way in your original comment. The original statement says flatly the book is "too dumbed down." This puts an implicit value judgement on anyone who might like this style of exposition. And a new learner is often _vulnerable_. So thank you for returning to clarify here.
To anyone struggling through calculus for the first time: Use what works! For all we know, Strang himself might of learned from Calculus Made Easy. He'd be in good company if so, though it seems like RPF was rather free with the calc books, if ya know what I mean. (see the other thread)
Just link to the book, which is good, and save us your little puffing yourself up bit. I am sorry but I cannot sit by and watch someone belittle people who would want to learn.
edit: sorry, I am a bit high strung today. Defending tomorrow afternoon. Whatever though. the above is still true. We have an epidemic of "make those who would try hard feel stupid" and it needs to end.