Other What Are Some Notable Baby Books Across Different Fields?

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When authors produce two books on the same topic, the more elementary version is often referred to as "baby," with notable examples including "baby Rudin" for mathematical analysis and "baby Reif" for statistical physics. The discussion highlights various other "baby" books, such as those by Serge Lang and Edwin E. Moise, which cater to different educational levels. Participants also mention the pedagogical value of these simplified texts, suggesting they can effectively introduce complex subjects to younger audiences or beginners. The conversation touches on the importance of maintaining a playful and open mindset in mathematics, contrasting this with more rigid textbook approaches. Overall, the thread emphasizes the value of accessible educational resources in fostering understanding of advanced topics.
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When the same author(s) write two books on the same topic, with one book being more elementary and less advanced than the other, then this more elementary book is called "baby". A well known example is baby Rudin for mathematical analysis. Another example is baby Reif for statistical physics. Do you know other examples?
 
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Mmmm, I thought this topic would fullfill my 8 months old daughter's curiosity about general relativity.
 
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Serge Lang, an extremely prolific writer of math textbooks, wrote baby versions for mathematical analysis, algebra and linear algebra. (He's so prolific that there is a joke that Bourbaki stopped writing books when they learned that Lang is a single person.)
 
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Doesn't quite work because the first one isn't a full textbook, but because I (semi) use both, I refer to them as such:

Baby Morin:
Problems and Solutions in Introductory Mechanics

Adult Morin:
Introduction to Classical Mechanics: With Problems and Solutions
 
Baby McDuff-Salamon: Introduction to Symplectic Topology
Adult McDuff-Salamon: J-Holomorphic Curves and Symplectic Topology
 
I wonder if there is a baby Jackson's electrodynamics somewhere.
 
Not sure if they count: Charles Kittel Solid State Physics and Quantum Theory of Solids
 
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  • #10
andresB said:
I wonder if there is a baby Jackson's electrodynamics somewhere.
There's ELECTRO_MAGNETISM.
banner2021.png

https://csferrie.com/books/
 
  • #11
caz said:
Not sure if they count: Charles Kittel Solid State Physics and Quantum Theory of Solids
I think that's a great example. :smile:
 
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  • #14
Demystifier said:
When the same author(s) write two books on the same topic, with one book being more elementary and less advanced than the other, then this more elementary book is called "baby". A well known example is baby Rudin for mathematical analysis. Another example is baby Reif for statistical physics. Do you know other examples?
Yes, Edwin E. Moise : Geometry. There is also Elementary Geometry From An Advance Standpoint By him. The first is an excellent book aimed at high schoolers. The "Elementary Geometry" is for a a undergrad math student.
 
  • #15
My example below doesn't quite work because the adult version has two authors, while the baby version only has one author.

Concepts of Elementary Particle Physics by Peskin.
An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory by Peskin and Schroeder.
 
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  • #16
George Jones said:
Elementary Particle Physics
We need: "Elementary Elementary Particle Physics".
 
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  • #18
Keith_McClary said:
We need: "Elementary Elementary Particle Physics".
Martinus Veltman's Facts and Mysteries in Elementary Particle Physics is also really good.
 
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  • #19
Hecht wrote a baby Hecht as well as a large adult baby Hecht.
 
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  • #20
AndreasC said:
Hecht wrote a baby Hecht as well as a large adult baby Hecht.
Optics, yes.
 
  • #21
Well Herstein wrote a baby version of his 'Topics in Algebra'
 
  • #22
Linus Pauling wrote a chemistry text for undergraduates who are not majoring in chemistry entitled _College Chemistry_ (and I _really_ wish I had this book when I was in high school).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13433096-college-chemistryHe also wrote a (sort of) companion book entitled _General Chemistry_ which is a bit more advanced and in depth. It is oriented towards undergraduates who are or are intending to major in Chemistry.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1081360.General_Chemistry

Full text:
https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.448871
 
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  • #23
Falgun said:
Well Herstein wrote a baby version of his 'Topics in Algebra'
Is it called "Abstract Algebra"?
 
  • #24
Yes
 
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  • #27
Ganesh Mammu said:
Papa version:-
In this case the opposite of baby is adult, not papa. :smile:
 
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  • #28
Don't forget for being a good mathematician you have to stay a bit like a child! :smile:
 
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  • #29
vanhees71 said:
Don't forget for being a good mathematician you have to stay a bit like a child! :smile:
Why? In what sense?
 
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  • #30
Demystifier said:
In this case the opposite of baby is adult, not papa.
Baby Bruckner couple.
Adult Bruckner couple😅🤣
 
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