Sometimes I feel a bit of a phony, writing a review of a textbook like this. For a book this size it's almost inconceivable that I will have read it all and completed all the exercises etc. In fact, I bought it really just to have a reference book on physics, which was reasonably up-to-date (2003.....so I guess it can be argued that it]s not really up-to-date). But at least it's much better that the physics books I had before, dated to around 1963. Or the other book I have titled "The new physics" by Paul Davies. One interesting thing that I notice is that whilst the underlying material of force, electricity, magnetism, light etc., continue more or less unchanged, subtle changes still creep into the material. I guess the change that I appreciate most is with the greater use of coloured diagrams and photos and, in the case of this book, the clarity of explanations.
Confession, I haven't read all the book. I've only dipped into it in a few places ....like general relativity. Well, what can you expect with just two pages devoted to general relativity? But, I must confess to being surprised. I think the authors have done an incredible job in the two pages of distilling much of the essence of general relativity. And one thing that I've never seen before in a book of this nature is the section 1.9....setting out a general problem solving strategy for physics. Really very useful...and I don't think I was ever given such a strategy when I did physics at high school and university.
The structure of the book is interesting;
1. Mechanics
2. Thermodynamics
3. Vibrations and waves.
4. Electricity and magnetism
5. Light and optics
6. Modern physics...relativity, quantum physics, atomic physics, nuclear physics, elementary particles.

I thought that they might have started with the modern physics but it all hangs together in a reasonably logical sequence. (Though one might argue that studying light and electricity before studying the photon and the electron is a bit back-to front).
My version is second-hand and the section on mechanics is thoroughly worked over in the previous owner's own hand. I always find it extraordinary that notations like this are always most intense at the start of the book and inevitably drop off later in the book. I guess our good intentions have their limits!.
I had a look at the section on nuclear physics and found it a bit limited. One gets much better and more thorough expositions in Chemistry books...but I suppose one might expect this.
Overall, quite impressed and I'll probably be dipping into it fro time to time...liked the detailed worked sample questions. Four stars from me. ( )