The fourth edition of this very successful book, based on the experience and notes of the authors while teaching mathematics courses to engineering students for more than three decades, emphasizes the fundamental and theoretical concepts. The key features of the book are illustrative examples and exercises that explain each theoretical concept.
I read this book over two semesters during undergrad in Mechanical Engineering at IIT Delhi, India and brought it with me to US during my PhD in Engineering Mechanics.
It is quite true that the book is advanced and covers 'engineering' mathematics. While it is a great book (5 stars) up to engineering undergrad level, I don't think it is useful after that. Being aimed at engineering and not math majors, the book is so simple that I remember almost everything and don't really need to refer to it anymore. What I find more useful now are books such as Mathematical Proofs: A Transition to Advanced Mathematics. The Princeton Companion to Applied Mathematics and The Princeton Companion to Mathematics. Studying these books actually develops mathematical thinking, allowing you to do basic research.
But within the realms of undergrad in engineering, this is definitely a 'good enough' book.
WASTED 1st two years of my college in this.1st sem-calculus 2nd-matrices 3rd-dont remember 4th-probability n statistics. P.S:may cause depression and severe stress.Read at your own risk