What Are Some Notable Baby Books Across Different Fields?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of "baby" books in various academic fields, particularly in mathematics and physics. Participants share examples of introductory texts that are considered more accessible compared to their advanced counterparts, exploring the naming conventions and the authors behind these works.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants define "baby" books as elementary versions of more advanced texts, citing examples like "baby Rudin" for mathematical analysis and "baby Reif" for statistical physics.
  • Others propose additional examples, such as "baby Huang" and "baby McDuff-Salamon," comparing them to their adult versions.
  • There is mention of Serge Lang's contributions to mathematical textbooks, with some humor regarding his prolific writing.
  • Participants discuss whether certain texts qualify as "baby" versions, such as those by Charles Kittel and Edwin E. Moise.
  • Some express uncertainty about whether specific books fit the criteria, leading to further exploration of titles like "An Introduction to Statistical Learning" as a "baby" version of "The Elements of Statistical Learning."
  • Humor is present in discussions about naming conventions, with playful suggestions for titles like "Elementary Elementary Particle Physics."
  • Participants reflect on the pedagogical value of these texts and the importance of maintaining a playful, curious mindset in mathematics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the concept of "baby" books but present multiple competing views on specific examples and their classifications. The discussion remains unresolved regarding some titles and their appropriateness as "baby" versions.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note limitations in their examples, such as the authorship differences between "baby" and adult versions, and the varying levels of depth in the texts discussed.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to educators, students, and anyone exploring introductory texts in mathematics and physics, as well as those curious about pedagogical approaches in these fields.

Demystifier
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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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