Shankar vs Griffiths: A Comparison of Quantum Mechanics Textbooks

[Son Goku]

What are your opinions on Shankar: Principles of Quantum Mechanics and
Griffiths: Introduction to Elementary Particle physics?

I've decided to use them to study my two QM modules and my Particle Physics Modules, instead of the recommended texts.

So how good are they?

 

[Edgardo]

I've read the first chapters of Shankar's book and found it quite good.
I liked the part about the Dirac notation.

For reviews, see here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0306447908/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Norman]

I learned QM from Shankar- a pretty good book in my opinion and a great mathematical introduction to QM.

Griffiths Particle Physics is a great book- for an undergraduate introduction to the subject. It gives a good overview of the subject, shows you how to calculate cross sections and invariant amplitudes. It does not show you how to derive the Feynman rules for a theory, but given the rules, it does show you how to calculate the amplitudes. It also teaches you all about quantum numbers and the conservation laws associated with them.
Cheers,
Ryan

 

[Manchot]

I love Shankar. It's very rigorous.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

I have been reading Schutz' "A First Course in GR", but after Chapter 8, I feel that it is too difficult for me to progress. So I am putting it down for the time being. I read "Principles of QM" by Dirac and found most of it quite easy to understand. But the book has no exercises so I couldn't gauge how well I understood the material. Then I read Liboff's "Introductory QM" which has the exercises but in retrospect, does not seem well written to me. Now I got out a copy of Shankar, but it's the 1980 edition so I expect it is different from what you have. I am currently reading the second chapter. Because I have a background in functional analysis, and because I read the Dirac book, I have no problem with the Dirac notation. My plan is to read the Shankar book and then go on to read "QFT in a Nutshell" by Zee, and then "A First Course in String Theory" by Zweibach. I read Zweibach up until he started to use QFT and left me in the dust. That's why I want to read Zee before I try again. It seems that Shankar is good preparation for Zee, but if there are other opinions, I would love to hear them.

 

[Son Goku]

I have been reading Schutz' "A First Course in GR", but after Chapter 8, I feel that it is too difficult for me to progress. So I am putting it down for the time being.

Funnily enough, I thought Schutz was useless after chapter 8.
I don't like the way he starts on gravitational waves straight away.

He is brilliant to learn the field equation from, but learn about specific case solutions elsewhere.

I'd recommend Carroll's book.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

I'd recommend Carroll's book (for GR).

I assume you mean "Spacetime and Geometry" by Sean Carroll. I had the good fortune to hear Professor Carroll speak at Stoneybrook last month. He is very entertaining. However, I am putting GR aside for the time-being.