Many texts claim to be "calculus-based" but use calculus sparingly. Benson uses calculus as the language of physics from Chapter 1. Derivatives show up in kinematics immediately; integrals appear the moment work and energy are introduced. This is a text for students who passed Calc I.
To understand the value of this specific edition, one must understand the timeline of the book.
No review of this textbook is complete without mentioning its companions. To maximize the 2nd 3rd Revised Edition, you need: University Physics 2nd 3rd Revised Edition By Harris Benson
One criticism of Benson is the lack of official, freely available solutions. Unlike Young & Freedman (which has a massive INSTRUCTOR’S solution manual), Benson’s official solutions are tightly controlled.
However, the physics community has risen to the occasion. Many texts claim to be "calculus-based" but use
Most students remember a physics textbook by its problems. Benson’s problems are legendary for their "staircase" difficulty. The first five problems are confidence boosters. The middle problems require connecting two or three concepts. The final five problems are brutal—often requiring multi-step reasoning that mimics graduate school entrance exams (like the GRE Physics).
The rivalry is healthy, but the difference is philosophy. Most students remember a physics textbook by its problems
Benson assumes you have decent calculus (basic derivatives and integrals) from the start. He doesn't hold your hand. But for the student who wants to build genuine physical intuition and problem-solving skills for engineering or upper-level physics, the 2nd or 3rd Revised Edition of Benson is arguably superior.