Title: meticulous explanations
Product review: This is my first book on the FEM. It explains FEM using the concept of the weak formulation -- something that one obtains directly from the governing equation via multiplying by a test function and integrating over the domain. This point of view is more philosophically satisfying and holistic than the narrow matrix structural analysis approach which seems to mislead students into thinking that FEM can only be applied to structures and solids. Incidentally, this weak formulation is also the original one held by Richard Courant who is arguably the modern founder of the FEM. FEM is a complex subject and a lot of hand-holding is needed for beginners. The book succeeded admirably as it is interspersed with detailed numerical examples illustrating the preceding concepts. The author spares no effort to be as complete as possible in his derivations. However, his coverage of the Calculus of Variations seems a bit weak. Overall, highly recommended for a first course on the FEM!
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