If a result seems counter-intuitive (like a unexpectedly low buckling load), use the manual to see which second-order effect you might have ignored.
Using a solution manual as a crutch will destroy your learning. Using it as a scalpel will make you an expert. Follow this three-pass system:
Without a guide, even advanced students can spend hours on a single problem, often reaching a dead end. The solution manual acts as a and a methodological template .