Quantum Srednicki QFT draft vs printed versions

AI Thread Summary
A draft of Srednicki's Quantum Field Theory (QFT) book is available for free online, prompting discussions about the differences between this draft and the published version. Users express concerns about whether the printed copy offers significant improvements, such as fewer errors or additional content, given the cost of the book. Some participants note that Srednicki has acknowledged corrections made between the draft and the first printing, indicating that the published version may be more reliable. However, others suggest that the draft and the published book are quite similar, with the draft being sufficient for learning, though caution is advised when using it for class assignments. There are also mentions of alternative purchasing options, with some preferring local bookstores over Amazon. Overall, the consensus leans toward the draft being a good resource, but potential buyers should consider the value of the printed version based on their specific needs.
ergospherical
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There is a draft of Srednicki's QFT book available for free online (here: https://web.physics.ucsb.edu/~mark/ms-qft-DRAFT.pdf). I have a book voucher and, since I couldn't find it in the library, was thinking of buying it so long as the content of the book was sufficiently better (i.e. significantly fewer errors / more information / etc.) than the freely available draft. I would like to ask to what extent the printed copy differs from the draft?
 
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Think about it this way: if the publisher has not forbidden the author to delete the free copy of the draft, in order not to lose money from people like you, then the author must have severely revised it to prepare it for publication, such as rewriting sections or adding them altogether. It would be a huge disappointment for someone to pay money to get the book as paper/eBook and discover either the exact content of the draft (let us say error free), or the same typing or judgement/argumentation mistakes. Unless one is filthy rich, and cares not for 100$ spent on a book he already had...

OTOH, I have found book drafts on the internet that never turned to printed books and frustratingly end after 15 sections, while the author has already written the TOC of 20 sections...
 
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I had a hunch that this might be the case, but it's not particularly cheap so I think it is wise to check. Can anyone attest to the improvement of the printed version over the digital copy - what are the major differences (if any)?
 
Thanks. If that list is all that is different, then it is certainly not worth buying.
 
Well, those are the corrections to the various printings. Srednicki mentions some errors were fixed between the draft and the first printing as well.

I just throw books like that on my Amazon wish list and hope someone buys it for me for Christmas.
 
vela said:
Well, those are the corrections to the various printings. Srednicki mentions some errors were fixed between the draft and the first printing as well.

I just throw books like that on my Amazon wish list and hope someone buys it for me for Christmas.
And they buy?
I cannot attest to the similarities or differences, but I have a hard copy of the book.
There's also a solution manual which you can find on the web.
 
vela said:
Well, those are the corrections to the various printings. Srednicki mentions some errors were fixed between the draft and the first printing as well.

I just throw books like that on my Amazon wish list and hope someone buys it for me for Christmas.
I don't buy from Amazon as I reckon Jeff Bezos is rich enough already. It's cheaper at Blackwell's in any case:

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/p...N3yxmENidhqAhwW5czKGDKVnG-jYElTBoCJCgQAvD_BwE
 
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MathematicalPhysicist said:
And they buy?
Yes. The other stuff on my wish list is often ridiculously expensive—it is a wish list after all. It works out because I'm usually not willing to spend that kind of money on a textbook that I don't really need, but my friends and family are fine with spending that much on a gift.

PeroK said:
I don't buy from Amazon as I reckon Jeff Bezos is rich enough already.
I don't buy much from Amazon these days as well. If I can find it locally, that's my preferred option because I want brick-and-mortar stores to stick around.
 
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I have the book. My impression is the draft and the book is almost identical (as in you can learn from either one without a big problem). However if you are using the draft for a class, beware if problems are assigned from it (you don't want to turn in the wrong problem).
 
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