# List: texts/ideas for BS math/phy to grad school

by aalaniz
Tags: graduate, math, particles, physics, relativity
PF Gold
P: 44
Thanks to great feedback, I've updated my attempt to:

Pull out the minimal set of math and physics ideas, backed up by the actual history, that underlie the knowledge needed to navigate from junior level math/physics through graduate school and beyond, including the current methods in theoretical physics. I list and review a core set of the best, clearest books and literature to this end, often including what you should get from each book/article. I probably would have saved about a decade, and lots of money had I had a "syllabus" like this. There are so many dead end books out there!

Thanks,

A. Alaniz

PS--My first perusal of A First Course in Loop Quantum Gravity by Rodolfo Gambini and Jorge Pullin is pretty positive. On a first passage, a lot of the book seems accessible with a 4 year background in physics. Some sections involving quantum field theory might require more background that Gambini and Pullin provide.
Attached Files
 Syllabus A-Z.doc (222.0 KB, 391 views)
 P: 881 Now I just need to find the time to read it all.
 P: 2 cool
P: 210

## List: texts/ideas for BS math/phy to grad school

How can I dowload the attachment of the first post?
P: 76
 Quote by aalaniz Thanks to great feedback, I've updated my attempt to: Pull out the minimal set of math and physics ideas, backed up by the actual history, that underlie the knowledge needed to navigate from junior level math/physics through graduate school and beyond, including the current methods in theoretical physics. I list and review a core set of the best, clearest books and literature to this end, often including what you should get from each book/article. I probably would have saved about a decade, and lots of money had I had a "syllabus" like this. There are so many dead end books out there! Thanks, A. Alaniz PS--My first perusal of A First Course in Loop Quantum Gravity by Rodolfo Gambini and Jorge Pullin is pretty positive. On a first passage, a lot of the book seems accessible with a 4 year background in physics. Some sections involving quantum field theory might require more background that Gambini and Pullin provide.

I think you are trying to transform a physics Genius to a Nerd. Ordinarily, a physicist do not need that much math at beginning. Learn math in real physical application.
 P: 55 Incredible resource. Would you mind if I rewrote it in $\LaTeX$? Obviously all credit to you. I just think TeX is easier to maintain/looks better/is more accessible than a Word document :)