Customer Reviews
Clear, intuitive and thorough introduction - By: , 13 Jul 2004 
A very good read for those like me with only basic knowledge of vectors & calculus trying to get a handle on more advanced concepts. The exercises at the end of each chapter are graded (answers at the end of book) & very good for testing how well you've reallly understood what you've just read.
Clear, well-integrated introduction to vector calculus - By: , 02 Apr 1999 
This text provides a systematic introduction to vector calculus in a very readable, informal format. Key concepts like divergence, curl, gradient, line integrals, surface integrals, Divergence Theorem, & Stokes Theorem are introduced in the context of investigating solutions to electrostatics problems without requiring the reader to be especiallly familiar with physics. I particularly enjoyed the humor that is woven into the text. ("Thus, the anguish of remembering the form of curl F in Cartesian coordinates can be replaced by the pain of remembering how to expand a three-by-three determinant.") I would highly recommend this concise book to students of physics, engineering, & mathematics. It is particularly suitable for self-instruction.
Good practical overview. - By: , 17 Dec 1998 There is no doubt that this book gives a good & practical summary of vector calculus. I would have given it five stars, but for another book, "Geometrical Vectors", by Gabriel Weinreich. Weinreich's book gives a deeper more "geometrical" view of the subject, which leads more naturallly & seamlessly into the study of Tensor analysis & differential forms. I recommend both books (perhaps in conjunction), but especiallly Weinreich's.
Nonrigorous yet thorough explanation of vector calculus - By: , 28 Jul 1998 This book is excellent for understanding the basics of vector calculus: divergence, curl, gradient, Stokes' Theorem, Divergence Theorem, surface integrals, etc. Most vector calculus texts gloss over the big picture of vector calculus with mathematical rigor that is usuallly too abstract for non-math students, preventing many from truly understanding vector calculus. Schey's book keeps the math to a minimum & makes sure the basic concepts of vector calculus are thoroughly, yet concisely, explained. The book is also nice to have as a future reference tool.
Clear, intuitive pictures for vector calculus operations - By: , 10 Nov 1997 I used the first edition of this book during a vector calculus course at M.I.T. way back in 1980, & it gave me exactly what I needed. The book describes vector operations in a very straightforward manner, & gives an excellent sense of what Green's theorem, Stokes' theorm, & the Divergence theorem are alll about. Since then, those sorts of vector calculus operations have never been a problem.
