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/lit/ - Literature

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18762085 No.18762085 [Reply] [Original]

Can anyone recommend any good books on quantum mechanics, string theory, or other subjects of theoretical physics that would be readable for someone who is not a physicist?
Not asking for pop-sci, just books that don’t assume you have any deep knowledge of the subject. Reading philosophy has gotten me really interested in the fundamentals of reality

>> No.18762093

david albert quantum mechanics and experience

You don't need any higher math, he explains the linear algebra needed and it is not that hard. I still haven't finished reading it, but it seemed great.

>> No.18762133
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18762133

>there are tiny magic pulsing particle-wave heckin smoosh and glowers
>no we cant see them just trust me

>> No.18762150

>>18762085
go to sci retard.

>> No.18762386
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18762386

>good books on quantum mechanics
Just buy any undergrad QM textbook, pic related. Most programs use Griffiths but there is also Shankar, etc. They assume no deep knowledge of the subject, in fact they assume no knowledge whatsoever, because these are what physics majors read in their first intro QM classes. You need some calculus and linear algebra, which you should have got in high school, but if not, those subjects are easily learned. There is no reason to waste your time with anything else. Any smart person can learn QM using these books, you don't need to be a physicist.

>string theory
, on the other hand, is extremely difficult, boring, and meaningless unless you have studied both physics and mathematics at an advanced postgraduate level. Also all pop-science books on the subject are pseud porn.
FYI string theory was debunked. Most "string theorists" nowadays do work that has nothing to do with strings, but just random group theory/topology stuff. Do not even consider going down this path unless you are unironically autistic and are interested in abstract mathematics.
But if you want to read about the original quantization of the string regardless, and admittedly it is cool, then the only book I will recommend is Polchinski.

>or other subjects of theoretical physics
Soviet physics textbooks are extremely /lit/-tier. V.I. Arnold's book on mechanics or the Landau/Lifshitz series.
The Feynman lectures on physics are fairly normie tier but generally worth reading.

>> No.18762567

>>18762085
Theoretical Minimum series by Susskind if you are serious about your endeavor.

>> No.18762887

>>18762085
Maudlin Philosophy of Physics QM

>> No.18763532

>>18762085
start with with fundaments of the physics

>> No.18763539

>>18762085
read text books, not popular science

>> No.18763552

>>18762386
>FYI string theory was debunked. Most "string theorists" nowadays do work that has nothing to do with strings, but just random group theory/topology stuff.

How was it debunked, smoothbrain? Also, what is "group theory/topology"? The two are very much not the same. What string theorists have been up to is exact results via equivariant localization, random matrix theory and integrability (everything from Dijkgraaf-Vafa to ABJ(M)), 4d-2d and 3d-3d dualities, TQFT categorification. Where's the topology? JT gravity or something? Topologists are concerned with things like homotopy type theories, model categories and topoi. String theory has nothing to say about these things. String theory needs very, very nice spaces to work well. Where's the group theory, just gauge theory?

>But if you want to read about the original quantization of the string regardless, and admittedly it is cool, then the only book I will recommend is Polchinski.

The worst book for a newcomer. Also, only by book 2 do you get to relatively interesting stuff.

t. string theorist

>> No.18763562

>>18762085
Road to Reality by OG schizo Penrose

>> No.18763710

>>18762085
Holographic Universe Michael Talbot

Maybe not traditional quantum physics but its thought provoking and easy to understand without a scientific background

>> No.18763754

>>18762567
This actually sounds like it is right up my alley. It seems like it is aimed at people who don’t have a background in physics but not aimed at people who want a puddle deep Neil Degrasse Tyson understanding of physics

>> No.18763767

>>18762085
Road to Reality by Roger Penrose

>> No.18764181

>>18763710
This book almost turned me into a new ager