Acoustics: An Introduction to Its Physical Principles and Applications

Abstract

My Personal Review: Texts on acoustics approach the subject from many different angles and at many different levels. Pierce's text is classic, rigorous and complete. It should serve the needs of serious students of acoustics for a variety of purposes musical acoustics and sound are my particular perspective.Some writers cater their approach to electrical engineers or to mechanical engineers, assuming that by tieing everything to those disciplines they will make the effort easier for their readers. This may serve well those who come from those disciplines, but may not serve others well and may not serve all applications of acoustics equally well either. Pierce does not do so. His approach is rigorously mathematical and pure, going to the heart of the matter, rather than one of attempting to cut corners by making analogies to other fields that you may or may not know.The book is not for the faint of heart or the mildly curious, it is deep and demanding. But he organizes it superbly and writes intelligently with a wonderful way of integrating the history and development of the science, and the graphics are exceptionally clear and communicative.Highly recommended for the very serious about this subject. My favorite among the books I have consulted.