Textbooks Definition and 456 Threads

I am self studying Classical Mechanics and I am a bit confused about this. After reading Kleppner Kolenkow Mechanics can I read Symon's Mechanics or do I need to read anything in between like Fowels or Marion&Thornton? I already studied the Maths portion upto Multivariable Calculus,Real...

Often when I read a chapter in a textbook and don't understand something, I find "reading notes" by other students extremely helpful. Oftentimes in these notes other readers have simply written down summaries of the sections in their own words. These descriptions of the "same thing" in...

I've discovered this essay, which argues that most textbooks are actually written for the authors and not for the readers. I also think that most textbooks are not very helpful after all, but I find the phenomenon still strange. Writing a textbook is a long, tedious job and certainly not...

https://backdoorgraduteschooladmissions.quora.com/Mastering-lower-division-mathematics-courses-especially-for-computer-science-majors The above link has a list of free online material to learn a lot of the math required in computer science. I'm already a 4th year undergrad, but I didn't learn...

I am trying to learn all about Quantum Physics on my own but I am struggling to find credible sources of information. As you are probably aware the internet is filled with misconceptions, crackpot science and weird stuff about spirituality (at least that's what I find when I try and research...

I am planning on taking SAT Subject test in Physics in few months, but I don't know which textbook is best to study all physics concepts that will be tested. I have a basic knowledge of algebra and almost none of calculus, as they didn't teach them back in high school, but I really want to...

What are the most poorly worded sentences or oddest figures that you have come across in a textbook? It could be something in the general text or in the practice problems. Please cite the book if you can so others can find it!

I hope this is in the correct section. It applies to math, but not specifically a concept or anything. Using really good math books compared to many of the standard issue texts provided from many schools has so far really improved my understanding of the material. However, I've never used them...

Hello! Manoukian's two books on Quantum Field Theory seem pretty good to me, but before buying them I would like to know your thoughts about them! Bear in mind that I need a pedagogical textbook(with good exercises if possible). Thanks!

Dear All I am trying to study Topological superconductors but i have no idea about it. Can anyone suggest me an introductory book to start with.

Hello everyone ! I am going to be a physics student next September and I want to know what are the best textbooks that are well-written , well-explained with diagrams and examples ? Thank you !

Firstly, sorry I didn't know where was the correct place to put this. I'd like to know from publishers or published authors etc. I've just started writing a textbook on school maths. Preferrably I would like to use LibreOffice, but I could use Latex too. Do publishers prefer Latex, or would...

I just started to develop an interest in symmetries after taking an introductory course in electromagnetism . The instructor explained to us how physical laws can be obtained by considering the symmetries of the physical system. It was really amazing how we can obtain such information just by...

Hi. I'm self-studying QFT. I already have the books by Schwartz , Zee , Peskin and Mandl. I like to have as many books as possible. Would the book by Itzykson & Zuber be useful as a complement to these books or is it a bit out of date ? Also does anybody have any opinions on the book "From...

My ultimate goal is to become a theoretical physicist, a great one at that. I have mastered the prerequisites and I am now looking for rigorous calculus textbooks that make some references to physics, or are more orientated for people who want to become physicist.Thanks for your help.

I am a Graduate student in Electrical Engineering. I have to work on Electromagnetic, Dielectric, Magnetic field and Polarization for my project. But my problem is I do not have a good background in this course. Now, I really need it in graduate level. My question is, can you guys introduce me a...

New member here. I switched from a biology major to a physics one last year and have never looked back. Classes are definitely harder but I enjoy them more and am more interested. That said I'm always looking for new textbooks that are useful for physics undergrads. Any suggestions? P.s. I...

I am interested in experiences with the Open Stax textbook for AP Physics.

Suitable for a student who has a background in undergrad general relativity. Many thanks

Hi, I've 2 em texts: Purcell, ( Electricity&magnetism ) and the Griffiths (intro to electrod.) On which of the two, is best to study ?

I am looking into self studying astrophysics, but not to an academic professional level. I am at the moment going through the Khan Academy material in maths, physics and astronomy. I am in no hurry to grasp all the material, as my reason for self study is more interest than professional...

I want to learn German to read those old classic papers written in German. I think the best way is to find a good, classic German book and compare it with its English translation. I believe in this way I can pick up German quickly. So, could anyone recommend some good German books in maths...

Quantum interpretations is the most controversial aspect of quantum mechanics (QM). Many feel that such controversial stuff should not be thought in general QM textbooks. Nevertheless, a large number of general QM textbooks contain relatively large sections or chapters on such controversial...

I'm going to take Calc I in the fall and Calc II and III later on and I want to actually understand the stuff intuitively instead of just trying to memorize formulas and then having trouble with the applications, like optimization. I have James Stewart's Essential Calculus Early Transcendentals...

Hello, I have a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering. I just recently decided I wanted to get a masters degree in physics but that won't happen cause I'm a homeowner paying a high mortgage while working half a year. While I only work half a year I doubt I could pull it off but it's...

I hope to replicate my previous thread in QFT which was started three years ago from reading Srednicki's textbook and solution manual and also the problem book that I read (by some serbian fellow). This time I am planning to read several books, so the the title of this thread is general...

Hello guys, i want to study the relation between mathematics and medicine,so can you guys help me to choose good books??

I've been looking into time series analysis from a statistical perspective (looking to expand my bag of tools in analyzing experimental data) and I repeatedly run into the concept of moment and cumulant spectra. The problem is that my undergraduate course on statistics back in the day...

I mean more in a self-study sense than required reading for a course. Currently I'm working through 4 books, Calculus Vol 2 by Apostol Linear Algebra by Hoffman and Kunze Introduction to Set Theory by Karel Hrbacek and Thomas Jech Learning the Linux Command Line by William Shotts (I'm an Arch...

I would like to know what are the most famous German secondary school textbooks for physics, electronics, or mathematics, during the post WW2 era. In other words, these are textbooks that were used in the Gymnasium, Realschule, or Hauptschule, from c. 1950-1990. Thank you. P.S. Although my...

Hello, I will be attending an undergraduate course called "Theoretical Physics" and I want to borrow some books from the library that cover the material of this course. I would appreciate any suggestions. The syllabus of the course is the following(I will be translating so I am sorry If...

I am planning to self-teach myself Trigonometry and all the other required fields before jumping into calculus. I have compiled a list of books that I have researched and would like your opinions and recommendations. Books: Precalculus Mathematics in a Nutshell: Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry...

Hello, I have a very strong background in math and physics (completed most of undergraduate degrees). I want to learn mechanical and electrical engineering principles and believe that I can start learning at an advanced level. Can you recommend some sources?

Hello PF, i am a first year physics student and i am taking a minor in math also, i have now a solid background in the 3 levels of calculus. I am searching for small textbooks about some mathematical topics, like in the range from 100 to 300 pages at max, as i am trying to fill my little spare...

Hello fellow physics enthusiasts! Apologies in advance, I wanted to make the most out of this post and so it ended up being quite long + detailed. I thank you for your patience and any efforts to help! What I'm looking for: TWO good Quantum Mechanics textbooks for the rest of my undergraduate...

Dear Friends, Could you suggest me some good textbooks in the mathematical physics that I can use for both studying and reference? I am currently reading Landau/Lifshitz' trilogy along with couple other books (Weinberg for gravity, Arnold, etc) in different branches of physics, and I need to...

Hello. I am a third year Mathematics undergraduate. I am intending to get a good undergraduate understanding of Quantum Physics (to eventually pursue a Physics masters) and was looking at what recommendations anybody could make. I have a good mathematical background in linear algebra, groups...

I'm starting out on DFT right now. I'm an experimental Physics student, so I'm not very familiar with theories. Can you recommend any good textbooks or resources that I can utilize for my study?? Thanks in advance.

I'd really appreciate if someone could recommend me a (some) good textbook(s) about cosmology. My mathematical background knowledge is: - Usual stuff. - Differential geometry: Nash and Sen book. Nakahara book - Topology (algebraic and differential): Nash and Sen book. Nakahara book. - Group...

Hi everyone, I will be junior next year in my high school and take Calculus BC. However, I also take Calculus 1&2 Honor in the community college which is known as Orange Coast College ( If anyone has studied here before, please tell me the difference between the content of this course and...

Hi, i am looking for a good textbook for someone who knows nothing about calculus.

Dear Physics Forum friends, I am an undergraduate at US actively pursuing mathematics and microbiology. Recently, I started to evaluate my methodology of reading books in the mathematics, which raised me some concerns and worry that I want to share with you, and seek advice from you. Whenever...

I wasn't sure if I should post this in general discussion or in solid state section, but am I the only one who finds the Kittel textbook horrible? It seems full of semi-empirical, basic math, and boring, surface level observations written as dryly as possible. I really like solid state physics...

Hello, PF! I had been meaning for some time already to start a thread like this, in which we can share our personal, technical (math, physics, engineering) library (as a list or in pictures too), and also recommend your favorite textbooks or handbooks. Here is my collection so far, as a junior...

Is there a one-stop textbook for physics major students, a single book that teaches you the required math for a particular physics subtopic before teaching you the physics (or teaches you both the math and physics together)? I find standard undergraduate textbooks, such as Classical Mechanics by...

Hello All, I am looking for suggestions for a junior-level Modern Physics textbook to read over the summer for the purpose of preparing me to take senior-level Quantum Mechanics in the fall. I have a solid Math background so a text that would possesses some level of mathematical rigorousness...

I have found a couple other threads like this but I am looking for something at a very beginning level. I joined an experimental condensed matter group for the summer at the school where I will be matriculating as a first-year graduate student in the fall. They study various...

The adagium of most quantumphysics-afficionado's is: "Shut up and calculate" - 'learn the formalism'. So I started with Leonard Susskind's 'Theoretical minimum' textbooks. So now I know a little (very little) about the formalism, I started to wonder to which extent I have to go to educate...

Hello everyone, I am looking for good textbooks in 1) Optics 2) Astrophysics 3) Particle Physics All of which on an undergraduate level. Of course, there are the textbooks stated in the syllabuses of each course but I would rather hear from your own experiences with books on which could be...

Okey, I finished high medical school in some very small and poor country in Europe. I loved human anatomy in beginning but then I get bored and stop learning, I didnt loved math or physics becouse I didnt know anything about it. Then three month before finishing school I got interested in EE...