[lemursage]

After reading Strogatz, I view past courses I have taken in engineering DEs as a crime on students and lecturers alike. I know there's a substantial difference between pure/applied maths courses and engineering, but a massive failure to make such a broad subject boring with dry, abstract examples is still beyond what I can forgive. That said, the courses did not traumatise me nearly enough to stay away from DEs which I guess is the only positive take I have at the moment.

[ncfausti]

Thanks for mentioning Strogatz! I'm watching the first few lectures of his nonlinear dynamics course[1] and love how clear and approachable he makes the subject.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycJEoqmQvwg&list=PLbN57C5Zdl...

[boppo1]

What do you like about Strogatz?

[lemursage]

I enjoy the overall fashion in which he presents the topics — clear, motivating example to start with, building on relevant details etc. His textbooks read like a good popsci book, yet they are of course much more detailed. I’m not sure how suitable his e.g. « Nonlinear dynamics and chaos » are for math students, since it feels a bit informal, but for developing intuition, interest and the scope of the subject, I haven’t seen anything better.

[boppo1]

Thanks! In particular, which title? I don't see a simply-titled "differential equations" book. 'Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos'?

[lemursage]

Yes, « Nonlinear dynamics and chaos » is my favorite, I think it’s his best book. It has tons of nice examples and gets you a crash course over multiple concepts. « Sync » is nice too, but not a textbook definitely ( I don’t recall if it even had a single equation in it).

[boppo1]

Awesome.