An Introduction to Classical Electrodynamics

This is a wonderful book, and I wish it had been available before I retired. I taught 1st year, 2nd year, 4th year and graduate courses in electricity and magnetism off and on during my 40 career as a professor. I used the standard texts (Reese, Purcell, Griffiths, Jackson), which are wonderful. Those books are provide logical rather than historical developments of the material. General Relativity often is taught this way, as is quantum mechanics when included in modern physics courses. I can't think of an E&M text, besides this one, that uses the historical approach as the backbone of the development.The book is totally originally, and it develops the subject in the context of its fascinating historical steps (and mis-steps). The authors have done a tremendous amount of original research, and present what they have found in a clear and engaging way.Many of the problems and exercises also are totally unique. Often text book writers put so much effort into writing and developing the text that the problems are presented as an afterthought. Not so here. The problems and exercises are original and excellent learning tools. Many of them also are quite interesting and practical.I really can't praise the book highly enough. As I said, the historical approach is not optimal for everyone, but it is certainly optimal for some. If I were still teaching I would use this book as a text, or an optional text. I would absolutely have it as a reference for my own classroom presentations. If I were a student, I would own it to get a different perspective on the material, and in this way, to clarify and expand upon the material as it's presented in the standard textbooks.I own a copy, and even though I'm retired, I'm currently reading the book in the evening for shear enjoyment. I just love it.And kudos to the authors. The book is clearly a labor of love, developed over many years, and a gift to us all.

One of the greatest books I have read in 2019

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