What Are Beginner-Friendly Books for Learning Quantum Mechanics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around recommendations for beginner-friendly books and resources for learning quantum mechanics. Participants share various texts and supplementary materials, including video lectures, to aid self-study.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests recommendations for easy-to-understand introductory books on quantum mechanics.
  • Another suggests Susskind's book and provides a link to it, along with a reference to accompanying video lectures available online.
  • A different participant mentions watching MIT's quantum physics lecture series as a resource.
  • One suggestion includes using Liboff or Basdevant's books alongside YouTube lectures for a more comprehensive understanding.
  • A participant points to a free book by Bram Gaasbeek, recommending it while cautioning against certain sections they believe are incorrect.
  • Another participant notes that Susskind's lectures and the Feynman lectures require calculus knowledge, recommending that beginners familiarize themselves with calculus first or consider reading "The Quantum Universe" by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw for a less mathematically intensive approach.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present a variety of resources and approaches, with no consensus on a single best book or method for learning quantum mechanics. Multiple competing views on suitable materials remain evident.

Contextual Notes

Some recommendations depend on prior knowledge of calculus, and there are differing opinions on the quality of certain sections in the suggested free book.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in self-learning quantum mechanics, particularly beginners seeking accessible resources and supplementary materials.

Ahmad Kishki
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please recommend easy-going self learn introductory book for quantum mechanics
 
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Get an easy book which does a lot like Liboff or Basdevant to go along with the YT lectures. It helps to read something, too. Or the 3rd volume of Feynman's lectures.
 
A good free book is (but ignore sections 12.4 and 12.5 which I think are wrong):

http://arxiv.org/abs/1007.4184
An Introductory Course on Quantum Mechanics
Bram Gaasbeek
 
Last edited:
I've watched ( I'm watching) susskinds lectures on iTunes and I'm reading the Feynman lectures and you need calculus for those two. So if you arent familiar with calculus, learn calculus. Or , read " The Quantum Universe: Everything that can happen does happen " by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw. Its less intensive mathematically.
 

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