Which of these books would you recommend for LQG?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for books on Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG), exploring which texts may provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Participants consider the suitability of specific titles by Rovelli and others, as well as their accessibility and relevance to LQG.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest starting with Rovelli's first book for a broader perspective, followed by the second book for more recent results.
  • Others express a preference for the second book, citing its accessibility for those less familiar with LQG.
  • A participant raises a question about choosing between Rovelli's books and Hawking/Gibbons' "Euclidean Quantum Gravity," indicating uncertainty about the best combination of texts.
  • One participant critiques Hawking/Gibbons as not being a traditional book and notes that it does not focus on LQG, recommending instead Gambini/Pullin for learning LQG.
  • Another participant suggests Kiefer's work for a broader survey of various approaches to quantum gravity, not limited to LQG.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on which book is best suited for learning LQG, with no consensus reached on a single recommended title. Multiple competing views on the suitability of the discussed texts remain evident.

Contextual Notes

Some participants' recommendations depend on their personal experiences with the texts, which may not reflect a universal perspective on accessibility or comprehensiveness.

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I would start with the first one, because it gives a wider perspective. Later you may also want to read the second one, because it presents more recent results. But both books are good, so you will not make a mistake by choosing any of them.
 
Demystifier said:
I would start with the first one, because it gives a wider perspective. Later you may also want to read the second one, because it presents more recent results. But both books are good, so you will not make a mistake by choosing any of them.
If you had to pick between those two and Hawking\Gibbons "Euclidean Quantum Gravity" which two would you pick at this moment? I can only afford two and I'm not quite sure the best combination. I was, as well, leaning toward the first I listed along with Hawking\Gibbons
 
cpsinkule said:
If you had to pick between those two and Hawking\Gibbons "Euclidean Quantum Gravity" which two would you pick at this moment? I can only afford two and I'm not quite sure the best combination. I was, as well, leaning toward the first I listed along with Hawking\Gibbons
Hawking/Gibbons is not really a book in the usual sense. It is a collection of not directly connected scientific papers previously published elsewhere. Also they are not about LQG. I would not recommend it.

If your goal is to learn LQG, perhaps the best start is Gambini/Pullin:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0199590753/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'd go for the second one. It is well written and I found it more accesible (as a LQG-outsider) than the first one.
 

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