Freethought & Rationalism Archive

sir drinks-a-lot · 09-25-2002, 02:36 PM

Hello everyone,

I am looking to do some reading on QM. I have already read several books, but was not overly impressed by them, and would like to read more.

I am pretty well versed in Math, but would prefer to learn using Math only when necessary to understand a concept. I guess I am looking for the philosophical ramifications of the theory, but nothing too speculative.

Any suggestions?

Friar Bellows · 09-25-2002, 06:48 PM

I'm going to recommend an old book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486659690/qid=thesecularweb" target="_blank">Quantum Theory</a>, by David Bohm. It's a bit dated in parts, but some of the discussions are brilliant and you will definitely learn a lot by reading this classic.

Feather · 09-25-2002, 06:52 PM

You can learn the philosophical ramifications of QM without math?! Hmmm.

trientalis · 09-25-2002, 09:30 PM

Would anyone recommend "The Dancing Wu Li Masters" by Gary Zukav? I read it years ago and it seemed interesting. However, I'm not a physicist. Can someone more educated tell me if it's actually accurate?
I suppose one could try the Feynman lectures--any decent library should have a copy--or would that be too mathematically rigorous for the original poster's purpose?

elwoodblues · 09-25-2002, 10:12 PM

Quote:

You can learn the philosophical ramifications of QM without math?! Hmmm.

To some extent, I'd say so. Obviously you're not going to go into huge depths, and there's a few corners you won't be able to touch on at all, but it's certainly possible to learn quite a bit about quantum behavior and it's implications without even going into a whole lot of calculus. The toughest parts of quantum science aren't the math, though; the conceptual bits are easily the toughest. The math is almost incidental compared to the concepts.

Answerer · 09-26-2002, 03:21 AM

I think the book 'Introduction to Quantum Mechanics' is a good one, although it does contain many mathematical explanations, it also give a good explanation of the concepts behind the equations, try it.

Friar Bellows · 09-26-2002, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Answerer:
<strong>I think the book 'Introduction to Quantum Mechanics' is a good one, although it does contain many mathematical explanations, it also give a good explanation of the concepts behind the equations, try it.</strong>

There are probably quite a few books called "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics". Which one are you referring to?

Feather · 09-26-2002, 04:38 AM

Well, my first QM book was by Griffiths. Griffiths is my favorite undergraduate text author. His texts read like a very very good lecture might sound.

I believe his QM book is called "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics." It's by David Griffiths and has a picture of two cats on it--one live one on the front and a dead one on the back.

The reason I asked my first question is because of the Appendix section in this book. See, part and parcel of the "philosophy" of Quantum Mechanics is the nature of the Schrodinger Equation. The equation itself predicts certain results, and the "correct" interpretation of the results is dependent on Bell's Theorem or Inequality. Hence the philosophy of the subject is intertwined with the mathematical nature of it.

Shadowy Man · 09-26-2002, 06:42 AM

Try Where Does the Weirdness Go?: Why Quantum Mechanics Is Strange, but Not As Strange As You Think by David Lindley.

Undercurrent · 09-26-2002, 07:09 AM

The first one I was taught from was Liboff's "Quantum Mechanics" (what a creative name.) The math in it is more accessable, I think, than most introductory texts (focus on differential equations rather than operators and groups.)

It should be accessable to anyone who can solve a second-order, linear, constant-coefficient ODE.

m.

09-25-2002, 02:36 PM	#1
sir drinks-a-lot Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cole Valley, CA Posts: 665	Book Recommendations on Quantum Mechanics? Hello everyone, I am looking to do some reading on QM. I have already read several books, but was not overly impressed by them, and would like to read more. I am pretty well versed in Math, but would prefer to learn using Math only when necessary to understand a concept. I guess I am looking for the philosophical ramifications of the theory, but nothing too speculative. Any suggestions?

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09-25-2002, 06:48 PM	#2
Friar Bellows Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: arse-end of the world Posts: 2,305	I'm going to recommend an old book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486659690/qid=thesecularweb" target="_blank">Quantum Theory</a>, by David Bohm. It's a bit dated in parts, but some of the discussions are brilliant and you will definitely learn a lot by reading this classic.

09-25-2002, 06:52 PM	#3
Feather Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,827	You can learn the philosophical ramifications of QM without math?! Hmmm.

09-25-2002, 09:30 PM	#4
trientalis Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Washington state Posts: 848	Would anyone recommend "The Dancing Wu Li Masters" by Gary Zukav? I read it years ago and it seemed interesting. However, I'm not a physicist. Can someone more educated tell me if it's actually accurate? I suppose one could try the Feynman lectures--any decent library should have a copy--or would that be too mathematically rigorous for the original poster's purpose?

09-26-2002, 03:21 AM	#6
Answerer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,956	I think the book 'Introduction to Quantum Mechanics' is a good one, although it does contain many mathematical explanations, it also give a good explanation of the concepts behind the equations, try it.

09-26-2002, 04:38 AM	#8
Feather Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,827	Well, my first QM book was by Griffiths. Griffiths is my favorite undergraduate text author. His texts read like a very very good lecture might sound. I believe his QM book is called "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics." It's by David Griffiths and has a picture of two cats on it--one live one on the front and a dead one on the back. The reason I asked my first question is because of the Appendix section in this book. See, part and parcel of the "philosophy" of Quantum Mechanics is the nature of the Schrodinger Equation. The equation itself predicts certain results, and the "correct" interpretation of the results is dependent on Bell's Theorem or Inequality. Hence the philosophy of the subject is intertwined with the mathematical nature of it.

09-26-2002, 06:42 AM	#9
Shadowy Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Shadowy Planet Posts: 7,585	Try Where Does the Weirdness Go?: Why Quantum Mechanics Is Strange, but Not As Strange As You Think by David Lindley.

09-26-2002, 07:09 AM	#10
Undercurrent Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 2,362	The first one I was taught from was Liboff's "Quantum Mechanics" (what a creative name.) The math in it is more accessable, I think, than most introductory texts (focus on differential equations rather than operators and groups.) It should be accessable to anyone who can solve a second-order, linear, constant-coefficient ODE. m.

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