This modern physics book is excellent for those who have some background in the material that is covered. For those of us who are being introduced to the topic, it isn't the best text. The book whizzes through the basics of many topics and dives right into some of the more difficult material. That isn't true for every topic, but it is true for some of the hardest chapters. The math that is "explained" in this book is not explained; I learned all of the necessary math in lecture. It is easy to tell the writers know their material; they just can't express it very well to others in an introductory text. The book gets clearer in the middle, but discontinues that trend shortly. Also, the text contains numerous errors--our class just keeps finding more.

I would recommend at least getting an additional, simpler text if this is your assigned text. I used Paul Tipler's text, "Modern Physics" and Serway's Modern Text (a continuation of the intro to physics texts). These were of sufficient level and clarity. Out of the three, I thought Serway nosed ahead of Tipler with Bernstein, etc. in last.

Overall, this book is good as an introduction to more difficult physics. However, it doesn't stand alone very well for first-timers in the field. For those of you interested, THIS BOOK IS NOT GOOD FOR SELF-STUDY.

I bought this book for the first class in modern physics that I took. Till then I had only read books by Serway and Hayt for mechanics and electromagnetics. Comparably this book is not as well explained as Serway, but also not as difficult to understand as Hayt. However, It is a very good book for people who are just getting introduced to the concepts of Modern Physics. I think that the book gives a good base to readers who would like to further study modern physics. It is clearly and precisely explained and helps the reader see the physical world in a new perspective, different from what is understood by studying mechanics and electromagnetics. The book is divided into 4 parts: Relativity, Quantum mechanics, Applications and Frontiers. Each part does a fair role of presenting a good explanation supported by easy to understand diagrams, graphs and equations. Each physical concept is accompanied by a historical background and mathematical equations to back it up. The final sections talk about some applications of these concepts, such as lasers and semiconductors, which would be useful to engineering students as myself. I think that the book would be a good choice for someone who is beginning to learn modern physics.

I am a college professor who has used this book for two years in a sophomore-level course on modern physics. In my opinion it is substantially better than competing textbooks currently available. It is written in a clear and engaging fashion, the illustrations are good, and the examples are well chosen. The mathematical level is appropriate for sophomore physics, engineering, or other physical science majors. The homework problems are also well designed and a good resource.

I do have a couple of quibbles. Thermodynamics are not introduced until Chapter 12, which makes the discussion of the black body spectrum in chapter 4 highly abbreviated and hard to follow--I actually had my class jump ahead to the first part of chapter 12 and then go back to chapter 4, hardly an ideal approach. Also, the Instructor's Solutions Manual is almost completely useless--carelessly produced and riddled with errors.

Given the title, I was hoping to learn about the Warren Hastings's role in establishing the British Raj. Unfortunately, I was misled. Hastings, according to the author, spent 36 years in India, 13 of which as Governor-General of Bengal. Quite how Hastings rose to these heights and what he did whilst he was in power remain much of a mystery to me. This is because the book lacks a true focus as to its subject matter, and because of the author's seeming inability to grapple with the historically important issues for both India and Britain.

For much of the book, Hastings either assumes a secondary role, or completely disappears from the scene. I have already mentioned that Hastings's rise in the East India Company is not analysed - what were his abilities, and why were they so suitable for advancement in the Company? The reader gets little indication of this beyond Hastings's willingness to learn the local languages and his interest in Indian culture. Later, when the story arrives at Hastings's trial, a whole perambulatory chapter is devoted to the life of Fanny Burney. Indeed, the author relies heavily on Burney's account of the trial. As a result, what the reader gets is akin to an English drawing-room drama rather than a deep analysis of the issues. Even if Burney had been the only available source, was she reliable? On the one hand, she stated "my first knowledge of [Hastings] was almost immediately upon his coming from India" admitting she was ignorant of the issues, yet on the other hand she opined "I cannot believe Mr Hastings guilty; I feel in myself a strong internal evidence [!] of his innocence."

The funadamental flaw in the book, however, is the lack of analysis of Hastings's rule in India, beyond the squabbles within the East India Company's Council in Calcutta (surely the differences of opinion were based upon more fundamental issues than personal antipathy?). As an aside, when describing the duel with Francis, the author states that Hastings came to the view that the only way out of the impasse was to kill Francis - this is put in the narrative as a throw-away line. Quite extraordinary!

The author touches upon what may have been issues deserving closer inspection: for example, when the East India Company (via Clive) was granted the "diwani" (tax raising powers) in Bengal, the role of the Company changed. This appears to have been crucial - but what was the effect on the Company and the local people? There was a need for a socio-economic analysis at this point. Yet, all the author does is absolve the Company from responsibility for the Bengal famine. However, if the granting of the diwani conferred governmental responsibilities upon the Company (this is the author's opinion) then it is not enough to absolve the Company from all responsibility for the famine - the causes may have been beyond its control, yet was alleviation also outside its remit? If so, why?

What were the main issues of principle in the trial? Were not Edmund Burke et al concerned with the connection between governance and the responsibility of governments towards the governed? Given the problems with the American Colonies, it would not be surprising if this did not feature. If other issues were at stake, what were they? Was the real British position as Lord Thurlow stated in his defence of Hastings that "it was the duty of Hastings to preserve the empire" by the best means he could find? Was not that the nub of the problem as far as Burke was concerned - especially important given the fact that later on the Wellesleys went far beyond Hastings's practices (according to the author), and that direct rule was not in fact imposed until 1858?

Would events in India have been ignored had the Company not been so important to the British economy, or had it succeeded in maintaining its dividend payments? One thinks of the economic success of Hong Kong and the fact that we only discovered that democracy was a good idea for that colony shortly before the lease ran out. Was the trial a mere exercise in salving British consciences? Was it indicative of an unease with Empire which found greater expression in the nineteenth century through Gladstone?

All such issues were missed.

The life and trials of Warren Hastings are followed in this story of early British rule in India, recommended for students of India history and for those researching early legal issues. Dawning of the Raj reads like a novel at times but is packed with facts about the trials of Warren Hastings, following the man's life and achievements.

I expected it to be a treatise on physical theories uncovering the very nature of the world, but what I got were essays on some more and less famous physicists, interesting but not bringing any new information. The most curious thing came somewhere in between: one chapter descibes how Aspen citizens tried to solve the problem of contaminated soil that some neigborhoods were built on. There are commisions, federal experts and one society member digging the case. Maybe thas is interesting but confusing as well, as unexpected in a book of this title. All in all I have very mixed feelings about it.