Reddit reviews Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

(Former) theoretical physicist here, with a few years of college teaching experience.

A lot of the recommendations provided so far by other people here emphasise a mathematical background, which is definitely important and necessary if you're going to pursue physics in the long term. However, when starting, it's easy to get sidetracked by the math and lose sight of your stated goal, thereby getting discouraged.

Therefore, my best advice is to start with a solid conceptual book and build up from there, depending on your interests and knowledge. As for the math, learn as you go until you feel that you want to dive deep into a particular subject in physics, at which point you'll know what math you'll need to learn in depth.

An excellent conceptual start is Hewitt's Conceptual Physics.

Other good starting point books are Feynman's Six Easy Pieces and Six Not-So-Easy Pieces.

Hewitt's book is a more traditional textbook-style text while Feynman's books are more free-style.

From there, the Feynman Lectures in Physics are challenging but extremely rewarding reading.

Once you've gone through those, you'll be in great shape to decide on your own what you want to read/learn next.

Also, as already suggested, online resources such as MIT's Open Course are highly recommended.

Best of luck!

Conceptual Physics, by Paul G Hewitt

Conceptual Physics (12th Edition) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321909100/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DJ.6CbT0NHCT6
This is what my University uses for it 1000 level physics course. When I TA'd the class the examples were very conceptual based. If you were looking for something with some math in it I would suggest a algebra based physics text. Like this one.

College Physics: A Strategic Approach (3rd Edition) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321879724/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1L.6CbZ7EKFZV

I have looked at the first pages of questions in the book of fundamental physics. It seems that even at the start of the book there are things I still don’t know and questions I can’t answer. It asks questions of physics things I don’t know, like moles of atoms and protons, electrons, longitudes and latitude calculations for time zones etc. I think I will need to start with a much more basic physics book to begin with?

Would conceptual physics suffice for me at my level of knowledge? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Conceptual-Physics-Paul-G-Hewitt/dp/0321909100/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8