Reviews (12)

Terrific book to ramp up and read original papers
If you're tired of reading descriptive physics like Paul Davies' books and want to be able to read the original papers and follow the math, this is the book.It presumes a strong undergraduate math background in some areas but the explanations are clear and the proofs are easy to follow.If you want to read quantum physics, the chapters on vectors and operators will give you the math foundations.

Important Information
This book is not, and I repeat, IS NOT for the inexperienced.This book is a GRADUATE LEVEL TEXT on mathematical physics.If you are an undergraduate student taking a physics class, this book will be of no use to you.I recommend that anyone interested in purchasing this book have a somewhat decent amount of mathematical background.I personally recommend Calculus I-IV, Advanced Calculus and Linear Algebra.
If, though, you have this background, then this book is may just be for you.It is concise, to the point and presents a clear and well written discussion of mathematical physics.
I just felt that before you dive, head first, into the world of mathematical physics, somebody needed to warn you about what you were getting yourself into.

Reviews (6)

Comprehensive and Cohesive
Excellent.The book covers almost everything you need to know in a clear, logical and most importantly for physicists, applied manner.The choice of examples used in the many, many worked problems in the main body of the text is extremely clever, particularly if you are interested in gaining a working facility with quantum mechanics.They serve to illustrate very clearly the links between seemingly (particularly if you have tacked together a similar body of knowledge from a host of smaller books aimed a mathematicians) unrelated areas, giving the book a very cohesive feel.The only let-down (which is alleviated by the many worked examples) is the lack of answers to the problem sets.However, given the amount of material the book covers, if the student were to supplement it with a Schaum's Outline or two, they would have absolutely everything they need to become (more than) competent.The layout and type-setting are also superb, and the short biographies included are a welcome addition, making the book feel slightly less formal, which I found a breath of fress air in comparison to other texts on the subject.In short, a must have.

Comparison with Cantrell's book
Has anyone looked at the difference between Hassani's and C. D. Cantrell's book (Modern Mathematical Methods for Physicists and Engineers)?They seem to cover the same topics.

A pleasure to read
I agree with other reviewers that this book is the first choice if you want to get a handle on mathematical methods of theoretical physics at advanced undergraduate / beginning graduate level. The nearest competitor is Byron & Fuller's "Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics" which has been around a long time and has many good points; but having used both I prefer this. The level and philosophy is about the same but the coverage is wider and the presentation clearer and cleaner. It's a pleasure to read.

The book is divided into eight parts, each comprising three or four chapters, on: Finite-dimensional Vector Spaces, Infinite-dimensional Vector Spaces, Complex Analysis, Differential Equations, Operators on Hilbert Spaces, Green's Functions, Groups and Manifolds, Lie Groups and Applications. Fear not: although it isn't designed for freshmen, it emphatically isn't the sort of math book where you have to crack the code to get any benefit.

Reviews (7)

Too much in too-little space.
I would only recommend this book to people already fairly well-versed in the topics it covers.In this book, the authors attempt to cover FAR TOO MUCH material for such a short text.As a result, the reader ends up confused and with a feeling that the author isn't telling them NEARLY everything he knows, even about the basics.The book's coverage of complex analysis is truly pitiful, and I would recommend A Course of Modern Analysis by Whittaker and Watson, even at the much higher 60 dollar price, as a useful source on this topic.Concerning such topics as Lebesgue integration, Hilbert Space, and orthonormal bases--consult good books on real-analysis and/or functional analysis rather than this book.Perhaps the author's greatest mistake is the book's complete lack of excercizes and it's few-and-far-between, weak examples of applications to problems.That said, the reason I still gave this book three stars is that it is good in one way--namely, as a reference for those who already know the material.

A very good book
I strongly recommend this book! I am university lecturer and I was using it over recent years as a main source for the course
"Mathematical Methods in Physics". The material is well chosen,
supplemented with good examples which illustrate interesting and
non-trivial issues in an accessible for a student way.
It is a safe and a good buy!

Reviews (27)

Unclear spoon feeding
Way overpriced and tooooo overrated; although, maybe not for my taste, but... ........This is like an excellent reference book for engineers -- a collection of recipes to use without thinking. Now thinking is indeed important and this book is very far from stimulating thinking. However, the problems do contain "proofs" (the quotes must be used) -- probably, as an attempt to make up for lack of precision. It seems like a good book to use in high school, but definitely not for college. I really am being very generous with the 2 stars. Let's see, what else.............There really isn't anything very good to say I'm afraid....

Clear and Understandable!!
Why can't all college textbooks be like this book? Many times authors write over your head to make themselves feel superior or to ensure they will still have a job explaining things to the student. Not this book. It is extreamly clear and highly understandable. I actually read the book to understand the professor instead of the usual practice of listening to the instructor to understand the book. Mary Boas did an awesome job with this book. I am more than pleased with it. It just because the number 1 book for me to recommend and you will darn sure find it in my office from now on!!

Reviews (27)

Unclear spoon feeding
Way overpriced and tooooo overrated; although, maybe not for my taste, but... ........This is like an excellent reference book for engineers -- a collection of recipes to use without thinking. Now thinking is indeed important and this book is very far from stimulating thinking. However, the problems do contain "proofs" (the quotes must be used) -- probably, as an attempt to make up for lack of precision. It seems like a good book to use in high school, but definitely not for college. I really am being very generous with the 2 stars. Let's see, what else.............There really isn't anything very good to say I'm afraid....

Clear and Understandable!!
Why can't all college textbooks be like this book? Many times authors write over your head to make themselves feel superior or to ensure they will still have a job explaining things to the student. Not this book. It is extreamly clear and highly understandable. I actually read the book to understand the professor instead of the usual practice of listening to the instructor to understand the book. Mary Boas did an awesome job with this book. I am more than pleased with it. It just because the number 1 book for me to recommend and you will darn sure find it in my office from now on!!

Reviews (4)

Won't teach you much
This book, like others have said, is a good book to go to if you need to look something up quickly, but is not something to learn from.We use this book in an undergrad math methods course in the physics department.Luckily i major in math, and know the topics we are covering, otherwise, this book would be useless.

Great undergrad physics major book!
This undergraduate text makes Arfken really accessible. The new examples are great and most are from various fields of physics. This has helped me in my mechanics, E and M, and quantum mechanics classes. The long index is complete and really helps to find things quickly. The chapter on probability & statistics explains concepts especially well.

Isbn: 0521890675
Sales Rank: 418071
Subjects:  1. Advanced    2. Applied    3. Mathematical Analysis    4. Mathematical Physics    5. Mathematics    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Engineering: general    9. Mathematics for scientists & engineers    10. PHYSICS    11. Science / Physics   

Reviews (4)

comprehensive introduction, excellent for self-study
This is an excellent book, at least for people with a mathematical background. The book covers the classical topics thoroughly, and contains a large number of carefully worked out problems. The chapters on "atomic theory" are a little dated, but given how cheap the book is, even if you only work your way through the first 150 pages, it's a real bargain.

Perhaps there are better books around now, but I learned physics out of this while a graduate student in mathematics in the mid 70's, and at the time it was the best introductory overview I could find. It isn't as slick as The Feynman Lectures, which I think make a better first course, but if you need to learn the classical stuff in more depth, this is an excellent book.

For prospective buyers...
I was looking for a good introductory book on theoretical physics that I would use to teach myself the material. Being on a limited budget, I decided to get this one.

The first impression I got was that this book requires a good math background. I'd recommend at least multivariable calculus, with a solid grasp of partial derivatives and vector analysis. The book does an OK job of covering a few topics, namely vector analysis, certain topics in complex analysis, introductory calculus of variations and what the book calls "the theory of waves and vibration" which looks like harmonic/Fourier analysis.

After going through several chapters, I realised that this book was NOT written for those who have never studied its topics before. I got the impression that I was expected to have covered the material before. I always felt that the book was skipping vital points and jumping straight into the equations. A book on "theoretical" physics should concentrate on explaining the topics first, and then introducing the math.

Anyway, this book is pretty useless if you want to teach yourself the material for the first time; if you've already covered every, however, you'll find it to be a very concise and thorough reference.