Wanted: complete errata sheet for quantum mechanics demystified

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the book "Quantum Mechanics Demystified," focusing on its numerous typos and errors, as well as participants' opinions on the book's overall quality and usefulness for learning quantum mechanics. The scope includes critiques of the book's content, recommendations for alternatives, and personal experiences with the text.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration over the numerous typos in "Quantum Mechanics Demystified," with one noting that the author's errata sheet does not cover all errors.
  • Several participants suggest that the book has deeper issues beyond typos, including incorrect definitions, such as the definition of a group.
  • Opinions on the book's quality vary; one participant finds it useful for beginners, while others strongly recommend against it due to its mistakes and poor organization.
  • There are inquiries about the author's other works, such as the QFT and string theory demystified books, with mixed reviews regarding their accuracy and clarity.
  • One participant mentions that while the book may contain good content, it is difficult to learn from due to the density of errors and lack of proper organization.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the book's value, with some finding it helpful for beginners and others deeming it inadequate due to its errors. There is no consensus on the overall quality of the book or the author's other works.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about specific definitions and the extent of errors in the book, indicating that their critiques depend on personal experiences and backgrounds in physics.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in critiques of educational texts in quantum mechanics, as well as those seeking recommendations for alternative resources in the field.

lolgarithms
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yo.

today I got "quantum mechanics demystified", and I heard it has a lot of typos. Can you list them all for me (in tex if possible)?
 
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the author's errata sheet doens't list all the typos.

can someone please find ALL of them?
 
working on it captain
 
Is that a good book? Just wondering, might buy it.
 
it has so many ****in mistakes. sumtimes whole pages are replete w/ typos.
 
lolgarithms said:
the author's errata sheet doens't list all the typos.

can someone please find ALL of them?
The book has much deeper problems than the typos. Even his definition of a group is wrong.
 
I would not recommend this book.
 
Doc Al said:
I would not recommend this book.

Doc, I was just wondering..whats your opinion of the QFT demystified book?
 
  • #10
maverick280857 said:
Doc, I was just wondering..whats your opinion of the QFT demystified book?
Sadly, what little QFT knowledge I once had has atrophied long ago, so I cannot give an informed opinion. :frown: But I did give that book a look, and own several of his others (including the quantum and relativity ones); I do not care for any of them. (Which is not to say that some good stuff cannot be gleaned from them, numerous mistakes notwithstanding, if you know where to look. Nonetheless, I'd give them a pass.)
 
  • #11
maverick280857 said:
Doc, I was just wondering..whats your opinion of the QFT demystified book?

We have some old threads about that particular book.

MY opinion is that it COULD be good if there were less typos and better organized, e.g. sometimes he just repeats the definition of things on the very next page, and refer reader to wrong chapters.

It contains some good stuff although, but I one has to know the stuff before I guess, otherwise one will not get far with all the typos etc.
 
  • #12
From reading the Amazon reviews, it's not just the density of typos that's the problem with the QFT book, it's that he makes many flat out wrong statements about the physics.

On a subject I'm more familiar with, I can't imagine anyone being "demystified" by his relativity book. It's just an info dump.

As for a good, cheap QM book, maybe the book by Park that has been reprinted by Dover.
 
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  • #13
[quote="jimmysnyder]The book has much deeper problems than the typos. Even his definition of a group is wrong. [/quote]
Where does he give the definition of the group? What is the correct definition? I wanted all the errors, not just the typoes.

No wonder everyone hates demystified books. I have a lot of them because they sell them at Barnes &Noble.

What are you guys' opinions on the string theory demystified book?
 
  • #14
lolgarithms said:
Where does he give the definition of the group? What is the correct definition?

No wonder everyone hates demystified books. I have a lot of them because they sell them at Barnes &Noble.

What are you guys' opinions on the string theory demystified book?

Page 50

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_(mathematics)#Definition

Have not studying it, A First Course in String Theory is the best intro text
 
  • #15
guys guys guys. i bought the book with enthusiasm to begin to understand the mechanics of the quantum world. i have to say that for and outsider (i am a computer engineer with no quantum related physics background) the book is rather good. it is giving different examples. if you are a physicst or in a more related area the book might be too simple for you. but i liked it. the only bad thing about the book is the famous errors. for a self study man like me, it is crucial to know if i did it wrong or right and i can't be sure of that for this book.. other than that i like this kind of books ...
 

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