[Caution: This is not a genuine post, merely a sample for indicating likely content.]

Hi, I’m going to be an engineering freshman starting next August.  This may sound stupid but I really would like to go through a good book on elementary physics so I don’t look like a moron in my class.  I’ve not been a bad student (can follow a tough book). Only my high school physics teacher and I have not been on good terms (long story!) and I dunno whom to ask. Can anyone help? Thing is, I don’t want to spend the summer checking out many different books, just one if I can help it. A good, well-illustrated book?

If you know the book well, and if you have time, can I maybe ask you a question once in a while about insights into everyday physics? Or is there like a website that has interesting physics info?

Anything before the end of July would help.