There are many undergraduate texts on classical optics to choose from, but Waves and Light occupies a particular niche in providing a complete overview of the basics, with a constant focus on the underlying physics that makes it ideal to lead into more advanced studies.
A review of oscillations and waves, topics of physical optics, imaging and applications are all covered very clearly and with rigor. Two especially attractive aspects of the treatment are historical discussions highlighting the complex process by which ideas in science are developed and refined, as well as examples of optical phenomena seen in daily life.
The book is highly beneficial to students as their main text in an elementary-calculus based course on classical optics, but would also be of great value to instructors looking for new insights into material they may have been teaching for many years.
Review by John Dudley, University of Franche-Comté, France; former President of the European Physical Society
The opinions expressed in the book review section are those of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect those of OPN or OSA.