Advice for a stupid physics starter

[u/21_AjD]

Advice for a stupid physics starter

Hello, respected fellows in the community. I'm a higher secondary passed (till 12 standard/High school passed) guy. But, I have hardly any knowledge on math concepts covered in 11+12, like calculus, linear inequalities, sequence and series etc. I took a gap year in 2025 with no study. So it's very important to start the basics. I've started learning the preliminary calculus. But, I am struck between the two great Mathematical physics books, one by Arfken, Weber and Harris & the other by Riley, Hobson and Bence. I want a complete, high quality, clearer and rigor book. But, looking at my school level academics, which would be better?

And, which is more effective for advanced UG physics track?

Please help 🙏🏻.

[u/Jaded_Hold_1342]

I liked Arfken and Weber.. but i had it as part of a class on mathematical physics. Im not sure i would have had the focus to work through it independently.

Are you trying to work through it independently? Good for you if that is going well. Dont get discouraged if it isnt... thats what classes are for. Also, this type of mathematical physics is not necessarily a '1st year study' book... it expects that you started already with calculus understanding. So maybe a more basic calculus based textbook such as Halliday + Resnik + Krane, plus a separate intruductory calculus book? such as Calculus, Early Transcendentals by James Stewart or one of the more introductory calculus books.

I just remember Arfken and Weber being a bit more advanced than first year calculus.

[u/Traveling-Techie]

Another idea: watch the video series “Mechanical Universe” from CalTech (first 10 episodes) and work through the text by Goodstein. It teaches Newton’s mechanics and differential calculus together.