Recommended books for beginners in condensed matter physics focusing on electron correlations include RA Jishi's "Feynman Diagram Techniques in Condensed Matter Physics," which is pedagogical but lacks depth on magnetism, and Altland & Simons' "Condensed Matter Field Theory," which introduces modern path integral methods. C Nayak's lecture notes provide a comprehensive overview of quantum condensed matter topics, while Lancaster and Blundell's "QFT for the Gifted Amateur" offers a balanced approach to quantum field theory in condensed matter. P Coleman's "Introduction to Many-Body Physics" is a newer option worth exploring. A solid foundation in statistical mechanics and introductory solid state physics is essential before diving into these advanced topics.