Mathematical Physics

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive and Cohesive
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Comparison with Cantrell's book
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Comparison with Cantrell's book
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A pleasure to read
Review: 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.

The layout is excellent, there are many, many worked examples, and I found very few slips or typos. One black mark, the reason I don't give it 5 stars: although there are a massive 850 problems, there are no solutions (just like Byron & Fuller). Unless you're confident in your mathematical ability, you may find that a drawback for self-study. Finally, a word to the wise: check out this title at amazon.co.uk (provided you aren't in a hurry).

Rating:
Summary: A must for a serious student of theoretical physics.
Review: I have never seen an excellent and well written math book like this. It includes all topics you can think about of mathematical physics in a clear and elegant presentation. A generous amount of solved examples are disscused through the book and a huge number of problems at the end of each chapter. It includes topics which you can not find in any similar graduate math-physics text. It really worth its price.

Rating:
Summary: A must for a serious student of theoretical physics.
Review: I have never seen an excellent and well written math book like this. It includes all topics you can think about of mathematical physics in a clear and elegant presentation. A generous amount of solved examples are disscused through the book and a huge number of problems at the end of each chapter. It includes topics which you can not find in any similar graduate math-physics text. It really worth its price.