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Ask HN: What's the best textbook you've read?

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Re: Ask HN: What's the best textbook you've read?

#23
Introduction of Quantum Mechanics and Introduction to Electrodynamics, both by David J. Griffiths. He also wrote Introduction to Elementary Particles, but I have not read that one.

Both books masterfully take exceptionally complex fields and break them down into easily digested chunks, with a clear progression of ideas as you go through the book. Do note that these are "Introduction" books written for Junior/Senior Physics majors.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best textbook you've read?

#24

Introduction of Quantum Mechanics and Introduction to Electrodynamics, both by David J. Griffiths. He also wrote Introduction to Elementary Particles, but I have not read that one. Both books masterfully take exceptionally complex fields and break them down into easily digested chunks, with a clear progression of ideas as you go through the book. Do note that these are "Introduction" books written for Junior/Senior P…

You should also have a solid background in calculus before fully understanding these books. Typically, Physics majors take every undergrad calculus class offered in the math dept. at a college, then a few more in Physics just to be sure.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best textbook you've read?

#25
post #5

SICP In case you didn't know, have a look at http://lesswrong.com/lw/3gu/the_best_textbooks_on_every_subj...

This has been recommended a lot. I'm gonna buy it on Amazon and work through it slowly.

SICP is online for free (legally) from MIT's website, or there are some community version with cleaner layout. See: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13918465

I've only worked through Chapter 1. The text is interesting, but most of my learning has come from the exercises. You should plan to do the exercises. Also, don't worry if you have to skip a few exercises and come back to them later. Don't allow yourself to be bogged down and loose interest over a single difficult exercise.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best textbook you've read?

#26

Introduction of Quantum Mechanics and Introduction to Electrodynamics, both by David J. Griffiths. He also wrote Introduction to Elementary Particles, but I have not read that one. Both books masterfully take exceptionally complex fields and break them down into easily digested chunks, with a clear progression of ideas as you go through the book. Do note that these are "Introduction" books written for Junior/Senior P…

I had to learn some quantum for a graduate class, and even with my engineering background, Intro to Quantum by Griffiths was both extremely helpful and an awesome read. It's the first book that came to mind when I read the question.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best textbook you've read?

#27

Introduction of Quantum Mechanics and Introduction to Electrodynamics, both by David J. Griffiths. He also wrote Introduction to Elementary Particles, but I have not read that one. Both books masterfully take exceptionally complex fields and break them down into easily digested chunks, with a clear progression of ideas as you go through the book. Do note that these are "Introduction" books written for Junior/Senior P…

You should also have a solid background in calculus before fully understanding these books. Typically, Physics majors take every undergrad calculus class offered in the math dept. at a college, then a few more in Physics just to be sure.

I'd say if you have a basic understanding of calculus (derivatives and integrals), you could get though Griffiths' books with another companion book, like what my college used: https://www.amazon.com/Mathematical-Methods-Physical-Science...

I'm still upset that my copies of Griffiths' texts were stolen my senior year of college...

Re: Ask HN: What's the best textbook you've read?

#30
Have been recommending CASI to everyone who listens.

Everyone has their own unique datasets. And anyone can install data science platforms such as Anacondas. But being able to map a particular algorithm to the inference you wish to make. And understanding, from a historical context, precisely what that inferences means at a philosophical level. That is where this text will assist on your path to mastery.

Computer Age Statistical Inference

https://web.stanford.edu/~hastie/CASI/

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