Recommendation for a Thermodynamics and/or Statistical Mechanics text?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around dissatisfaction with Schroeder's text for thermodynamics despite its positive reviews, prompting a search for alternative resources. The user mentions having Fermi's Thermodynamics but is unsure of its content, while expressing frustration at struggling in thermodynamics despite excelling in Quantum Mechanics. They have found other texts, like those by Tolman and Hill, to be outdated and dry, while Gibbs' work feels more engaging. Liboff's Kinetic Theory is noted as enjoyable but not aligned with standard coursework, and recommendations include PT Landsberg and M. Kardar's "Statistical Mechanics of Particles," which is praised for its clarity and comprehensive approach. The conversation highlights the need for more accessible and engaging thermodynamics resources.
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Right now I have Schroeder, and I'm not a fan of it, despite some of the rave reviews I have read. I'm thinking I need another text to learn from while taking this class. I have a copy of Fermi's Thermodynamics (somewhere), but I'm not exactly sure what's in it. I just think it's silly that I'm taking a beating in this class, but I'm getting A+ grades in Quantum Mechanics!
 
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I've been looking for one as well, so hopefully someone has a suggestion. I've tried a couple that struck me as pretty dated, as well as dry -- the authors were Tolman (who is apparently highly regarded in his own right) and Hill, I forget the titles. I've skimmed the Gibbs text on Archive.org, and though it's much older, actually feels fresher than those two.

I just picked up Liboff's Kinetic Theory, which seems like it covers a lot of the same concepts from a more abstract standpoint, and is a pleasure to read, but it probably wouldn't be a good fit with a standard course, since the material covered seems to be much different than that covered by the more "standard" books.

People also seem to like Landau/Lifgarbagez, but I've always found those rather dry and unfulfilling as well (though I haven't actually read any of their statistical mechanics texts).

Anyone else?
 
PT Landsberg, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics,
 
For statistical mechanics, I highly recommend "Statistical Mechanics of Particles" by M. Kardar. The first chapter is a concise review of thermodynamics. In the 2nd chapter, Kardar reviews all the probability that you need for the rest of the book. Chapter 3 (the Toughest) is on the kinetic theory of gases (Boltzmann equation, H-theorem, ...). Chpater 4,5 are on Classical Statitical Mechanics. Chapter 6 is on quantum statitcal mechanics. Chapter 7 is concenred with quantum ideal gases Fermions, bosons).
The book is self-contained , concise and complete solutions for half of the problems are provided at the end of the text.
 
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thermal physics by Daniel V. Schroeder
 

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