Intro Physics Top Modern Physics Books for Undergrad Students

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Several recommendations for modern physics books suitable for undergraduates include "The Road to Reality" by Roger Penrose, though it becomes technically challenging after the initial chapters. For relativity, "Black Holes and Time Warps" by Kip Thorne and "Black Hole Blues" by Janna Levin are suggested. In quantum mechanics, George Gamow's "Thirty Years that Shook Physics" and Richard Feynman's "QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter" are highlighted for their accessibility. The discussion also notes a lack of popular science books on condensed matter physics. Overall, these selections aim to introduce key concepts in modern physics without the complexity of traditional textbooks.
Derlin18
Does anyone know about some good modern physics books for an undergrad student? Not a textbook but just a simple paperback to give me an introduction to some typical topics discussed in a modern physics course. Thank you!
 
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Relativity:
Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy by Kip Thorne
Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space by Janna Levin

Quantum Mechanics:

Thirty Years that Shook Physics: The Story of Quantum Theory by George Gamow

Quantum Field Theory:

QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter by Richard Feynman

Nuclear and Particle Physics:
The Pope of Physics: Enrico Fermi and the Birth of the Atomic Age by Gino Segre and Bettina Hoerlin
Facts and Mysteries in Elementary Particle Physics by Martinus Veltman
The Particle at the End of the Universe by Sean Carroll

Cosmology:
The First Three Minutes by Steven Weinberg
The Inflationary Universe by Alan Guth
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Unfortunately, I could never find a pop science book on condensed matter physics or solid state physics. Does anyone know of any such books?
 
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smodak said:
Great book but can be pretty hard to read after the initial chapters.

What do you mean by pretty hard to read? Like technicality wise, or it just gets a little bit boring?
 
guigabyte said:
What do you mean by pretty hard to read? Like technicality wise, or it just gets a little bit boring?
Although it is a very rewarding book to read, it gets technically very hard after the first few chapters.
 
smodak said:
Although it is a very rewarding book to read, it gets technically very hard after the first few chapters.
Well, it is technically hard if you compare it with popular science books, but technically simple if you compare it with proper math/physics textbooks.
 
Thank you! let's see how many I can read before my classes resume lol
 
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Amrator said:
Relativity:
Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy by Kip Thorne
Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space by Janna Levin

Quantum Mechanics:

Thirty Years that Shook Physics: The Story of Quantum Theory by George Gamow

Quantum Field Theory:

QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter by Richard Feynman

Nuclear and Particle Physics:
The Pope of Physics: Enrico Fermi and the Birth of the Atomic Age by Gino Segre and Bettina Hoerlin
Facts and Mysteries in Elementary Particle Physics by Martinus Veltman
The Particle at the End of the Universe by Sean Carroll

Cosmology:
The First Three Minutes by Steven Weinberg
The Inflationary Universe by Alan Guth
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Unfortunately, I could never find a pop science book on condensed matter physics or solid state physics. Does anyone know of any such books?
QED is a very good book for beginners. It does not contain any equation. The expertise of Feynman helps you get a feel of QED.
 
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