Review of Physics Textbooks

• Classical Mechanics
• Cosmology/Relativity
• Electrodynamics
• Experimental Physics
• Mathematical Methods
• Nuclear and Particle Physics
• Quantum Mechanics
• Quantum Field Theory
• Statistical Physics
• String Theory

Quantum Mechanics

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (2nd Ed.)

by David Griffiths

Used by Cornell, Harvard, MIT, NUS, Stanford.

Library code:

My Comments
Standard undergraduate text for a first module in QM in the US. Concise and very easy to read. Introduces concepts very well, though mathematically-wise not so impressive. I would suggest that all physics major take at least a look at this once in his undergrad life. This ubiquitous textbook has just recently been updated. Worth a look.

Introductory Quantum Mechanics (4th Ed.)

by Richard Liboff

Library code:

My Comments
Nice design. In the earlier scenes of Spiderman 2, Peter Parker is seen dropping his books on his way to his classes. This textbook is one of the two Quantum Mechanics textbooks which he dropped. The other one is Quantum Physics (3rd Ed.) by Stephen Gasiorowicz.

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Modern Quantum Mechanics (1st Ed.)

by J. J. Sakurai

Used by Harvard.

Library code: QC174.12 Sak

My Comments
Apparently the latter parts of the book is not as good because it was improvised upon by the editor instead of Sakurai. Does not cover wave mechanics decently so might not be a good choice for a first textbook in QM. Generally used as a graduate text. The first few chapters are rather easy to read especially with regard to discrete measurements, i.e. spin. This book is an excellent book if you want to study for QM by yourself.

Principles of Quantum Mechanics (2nd Ed.)

by R. Shankar

Used by Chicago.

Library code: QC174.12 Sha

My Comments
The introductory chapter on linear algebra is very good. Rather comprehensive book.

Quantum Mechanics (1st Ed.)

by Cohen-Tannoudji

Used by Caltech, MIT.

Library code:

My Comments
Encyclopedic.

Quantum Mechanics (3rd Ed.)

by E. Merzbacher

Used by Cornell, Harvard, MIT, Stanford.

Library code: QC174.12 Mer

My Comments
Standard graduate text in the US. Another impressive looking book to display on bookshelves.

Quantum Mechanics (1st Ed.)

by JL Basdevant and J Dalibard

Library code: QC174.2 Bas 2002

My Comments
QM from a French perspective. A rather brief introduction to QM. Few problems are included but detailed solutions are provided. Includes a nice CD-ROM with QM visualization.

Quantum Mechanics (1st Ed.)

by J Schwinger

Library code:

My Comments
The editor is a professor in NUS. Not recommended if you are adverse to maths. It is the opposite of Griffith's text, mathematically impressive but doesn't explain concepts well. It is aimed at those who already have an idea of QM but want to approach it in a more mathematical manner. Some of the formalism used are rather abstract and not conventional. Requires some effort to fully comprehend. The problems are excellent though as usual solutions are not provided. It's one of the rare books which covers the Quantum Action Principle.

Quantum Mechanics: A Modern Approach (1st Ed.)

by Leslie Ballentine

Used by Cornell, Harvard, MIT, Stanford.

Library code: QC174.12 Bal

My Comments
Not recommended as a textbook. More for conceptual understanding of QM. Strongly recommended after you have some background in QM.

Quantum Physics (3rd Ed.)

by Stephen Gasiorowicz

Used by MIT, Toronto.

Library code: QC174.12 Gas 2003

My Comments
Includes some comments on a lot of QM texts in the appendix, otherwise nothing particularly unique about it. In the earlier scenes of Spiderman 2, Peter Parker is seen dropping his books on his way to his classes. This textbook is one of the two Quantum Mechanics textbooks which he dropped. The other one is Introductory Quantum Mechanics (4th Ed.) by Richard Liboff.

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