The discussion centers on recommended resources for learning quantum field theory (QFT) and special relativity. A participant plans to study a specific book after completing Shankar's "Principles of Quantum Mechanics" and seeks guidance on understanding special relativity. Key recommendations include Landau and Lifshitz's Volume II on classical electromagnetism for its modern approach to relativity, and the Feynman Lectures Volume II as a good introductory resource. There is debate over the effectiveness of various textbooks, with some participants expressing a preference for Shankar's work as sufficient for quantum mechanics, while others find Sakurai less favorable. Aitchison and Hey's book is mentioned as a comprehensive resource, though opinions vary on its pedagogical value. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the subjective nature of textbook selection and the importance of being comfortable with special relativity and tensor manipulation for studying QFT.