--This is the book I used for my junior-year solid mechanics class as a mechanical engineer. You an read more about it here: http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Mechanics-Materials-Roman-Solecki/dp/019…
--The book covers a wide range of topics, starting with a standard chapter on intro to stress and strain. It then quickly moves to more advance topics, including numerical methods/finite element analysis, and a good section on buckling and vibration.
--I think this book complements this course because it covers all of this course's materials, and lays out solid starting points for further readings.
--I feel very comfortable with the book because of my familiarity with it. Since I don't have much experience with other texts, I can't make a qualitative comparison. I can only say that I've been happy with it and others might like it too.