Are Symposium Books as Comprehensive for Particle Physics History?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the comprehensiveness of various books and symposiums regarding the history of particle physics. Participants share their opinions on specific texts and their effectiveness in covering the subject matter, including theoretical and historical perspectives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Historical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that books like Griffith, Martin, and Perkins provide a thorough history of particle physics.
  • Others mention "The First Three Minutes" as a good introductory text.
  • A participant expresses appreciation for Giudice's "A Zeptospace Odyssey," highlighting its content.
  • Another participant recommends "Inward Bound. Of Matter and Forces in the Physical World" by Abraham Pais for its detailed coverage of the conceptual struggles in particle physics history from 1815 to 1984.
  • One participant finds "Thirty Years that Shook Physics: The Story of Quantum Theory" by George Gamow engaging but seeks a book with more detailed information and formulas.
  • A suggestion is made to consider symposium books on the history of particle physics, listing titles such as "The Birth of Particle Physics," "Pions to Quarks," and "The Rise of the Standard Model."

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of opinions on the effectiveness of different books and symposiums, indicating that multiple competing views remain regarding which sources are most comprehensive for the history of particle physics.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions may depend on personal preferences for detail versus narrative style, and there may be unresolved questions about the completeness of the texts mentioned.

Gullets
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TL;DR
Guys, please recommend me a Book or articles regarding the history of Particle physics.
Books like Griffith, Martin, and Perkins are best if I consider them for the thorough history of particle physics.
 
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The First Three Minutes is pretty good to get started.
 
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Being a more senior person, I enjoyed "Inward Bound. Of Matter and Forces in the Physical World" by Abraham Pais (Oxford University Press, 1986). From X-rays and alpha-particles to the discovery of the Z. It details the conceptual struggles and covers the years 1815 to 1984, according to the chronology.
 
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