11 Best Physics Books For Self Study In 2025 – for Beginners

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Reading time: 5 mins

It’s no secret that physics is challenging. For those of you who are up to the challenge, there’s plenty of help available! These 11 books will take you through all aspects of this complex subject, from forces and motion to energy and relativity.

They were written with beginners in mind, covering the material clearly and simply without jargon or complicated math. Whether you want a refresher on foundational concepts or just need a little extra help getting started from scratch, these books have everything you need—and nothing more!

  1. Top pick: Conceptual Physics
  2. Runner up: The Physics Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
  3. Also great: Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics, Relativity, and Thermodynamics
Top pick
Conceptual Physics
Paul Hewitt makes physics engaging, intelligible, and relevant for non-science majors in this book.
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Hewitt's work is notable for captivating students with examples and visuals from the real world and is governed by the principle of “concepts before calculations.” After reading this book, you will have a solid conceptual knowledge of physical fundamentals spanning from classical mechanics to current physics.

You will get a thorough understanding of how physics rules the cosmos and controls space and time. Plus, you will learn about the real-life applications of all physical theories via this book. The author discusses motion, energy, momentum, matter's atomic nature, thermodynamics, light emission, heat, electric current, radioactivity and atomic nuclear, sound, the atom and quantum, and many other topics.

All definitions and explanations are provided in a digestible manner so that you can see how things occur in reality.

The book will help you understand everything quickly and familiarise you with the scientific revolution. You will gain a thorough grasp of technologies as well as mathematical concepts.

Runner up
The Physics Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
You can learn about the physical world by reading this physics book. It covers all of the fundamental ideas of physics in a simple, concise, and informed manner. With the help of physical theories, you can learn a lot about how the universe works and how human civilization evolved.
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The book expressly discusses the laws of motion, elasticity, gravity, power, force, and many other fundamental physics subjects. It will also show how the unintentional discovery of cosmic microwave radiation supports the Big Bang theory.

It has simple and clear graphics to help you understand the concepts. It uses unique visual illustrations to simplify complex subjects. It is perfect for thought-provoking folks due to the interesting writing style and memorable quotes.

It will explain the source of energy, wave characteristics, and lens qualities to you. Furthermore, you will be able to comprehend the principle of atomic physics constructively by reading this great book. It will explain how all ideas are formed and how breakthroughs occur. This beginner-friendly book will provide you with a thorough understanding of all the mathematical terminology and practical applications of physics.

Also great
Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics, Relativity, and Thermodynamics
In this simple book, R. Shankar, a well-known physicist and prolific educator, teaches the fundamental ideas of special relativity, Newtonian mechanics, fluids, waves, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics.
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It includes problem sets and answers for use in a curriculum or self-study. This book is an excellent starting point for college-level physics, engineering, chemistry students, AP Physics students, and general readers interested in scientific advances.

The book starts at the most basic level, develops the foundations, and reinforces the fundamentals, guaranteeing a solid foundation in physics concepts and procedures.

Compared to normal university textbooks, the chapters on statistical mechanics make it much simpler to understand what is going on. There is an excellent derivation of the Boltzmann distribution near the end of Gibbs' method.

Newtonian mechanics, Einstein's ideas, thermodynamics, fluids, special relativity, statistical mechanics, waves, and many other fascinating topics are covered in this self-study book. It seems to be the ideal companion for science and engineering students seeking accurate information.

#4
Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide
If you're committed to understanding physics from the ground up, this book can guide you. It is regarded as one of the greatest physics books for beginners due to its simple explanations and constructive writing style.
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The book will show you how to use physical concepts to invent current technology devices. You can plainly understand the proof of every theory and law. It will simplify complicated ideas to improve your knowledge of an important scientific topic.

The optional mathematical treatment portion is one of the book's strengths. You'll have a list of major objectives as well as explanations of key terms. It is unique because of its simple format and in-depth discussion of each topic.

Anyone with no prior knowledge of physics can easily grasp the whole book. It includes thoroughly revised and simplified explanations to make everything clear. You should choose it above other books if you want to learn physics fast.

#5
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Physics
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Physics is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning about basic college physics topics ranging from Newtonian physics foundations to quantum physics theories.
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It guides readers through the topics, providing them with the information they need to understand and grasp physics concepts. Students will also gain an understanding of the fundamental physical laws that govern our world, as well as the ability to utilize theoretical knowledge to solve conceptual and quantitative problems.

The author’s engaging and simple writing style will help you better understand how physical phenomena interact with human existence. You will enter the incomprehensible realm of physics by reading this beginner-friendly book, even if you have no previous knowledge of the subject.

It's written in an engaging, clear, and simple way that will benefit a beginner like you. If you're committed to having a career in science, it might be your best friend. It will also allow you to study in the medical and technological fields.

#6
Physics I For Dummies
Physics I For Dummies follows a specific beginner course and, in line with the Dummies methodology, teaches you the essential ideas and formulae straightforwardly and concisely, showing that you don't have to be Newton to understand the basics of physics.
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If simply thinking about physics rules makes your brain hurt, this hands-on, easy guide will pull you out of the abyss and shed light on this sometimes intimidating subject.

The book focuses on flow, fluid, pressure, gravity, rotational motion, friction, work, energy, and many other concepts. Furthermore, by studying this book, you will be able to get a thorough understanding of the law of thermodynamics, measuring displacement, explanation of Newton's law, the technique of converting energy into work, and so on.

It will explain all the formulae and never make your head spin. It includes some more chapters to respond to your questions to overcome weaknesses. The diagrams and visual examples will be quite helpful in making things clear to you.

#7
University Physics with Modern Physics
This book provides all of the important physics lectures for university students. To make physics simpler to understand, the writer gave a clear and brief definition and explanation of each concept.
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University Physics has long been praised for emphasizing fundamental concepts and implementing them. It is well-known for its clear and comprehensive narrative and its comprehensive, deep, and insightful sets of solid examples.

With the help of this book, you will be able to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems. To help students, the author compiled all of the most recent theories and high-quality content.

The stylist's writing and unique presentation of all the complicated issues will captivate you. It includes several extra chapters that cover mathematical terminology and functions. The book is an excellent guide for becoming a physics master and expanding your knowledge base. In general, it seems to be the top physics textbook for self-study.

Some other excellent self-study Physics books you can consider are:

#8

Conclusion

Physics can be difficult to understand, but thankfully, there are many great books for beginners that will help you get through it. They are written with the beginner in mind and cover topics like forces, motion, energy, relativity, and more!

If you're committed to having a career in science or just want to learn about this fascinating subject on your own time without too much pressure, then one of these 11 books may be right for you. Don't let physics intimidate you any longer– take charge by learning all that you can from these excellent self-study Physics books today!

Article by
Max
Max is the founder of Knowledge Eager and has made it his mission to find and review the best online business courses. He has taken more than 20 online courses and runs a small portfolio of content websites.