Re: [alliance-iosk] Last message off topic

[vhandel@chem.vu.nl (Ramon van Handel)]

>Ramon van Handel wrote:
>
>> No, I didn't say that.  But it is very easy to get a wrong view if you
>> don't introduce the mathematics.  And many people whom I have spoken to who
>> have read these kind of books HAVE completely false ideas about these
>> subjects - it's my experience here.
>
>I assume people's fault, not of the book authors, as you imply....divulgation
>is essential. And a partial idea is better than none at all....

How is this different from the books 'for dummies' that you detest so much
?  That started it, remember ?  You're rather contradicting yourself, I
don't see what the subject has to do with it.  Actually, I think that in
computers dummies books are better feasible than in chem/phys.

>> Aside from that, a mathematical treatment of quantum mechanics doesn't have
>> to be ununderstandable.  Two books spring to mind:  Richard Feynman's
>> classic book, part 3 of his Lectures on Physics,
>
>The book in question is deliberatly obscure, the objective of that (a bit
>questionable in my opinion) is to "selectevely evaluate" bright students from
>"dull" ones, giving them some details and not others. I have a copy of Feynman
>book in my home :). It's the only physics-only book in my library :). I
>recommend you also his biography, by J. Gleick. Non-technical, mind you.

I like Feynman.  I must admit that I didn't read it completely, but I think
it's amazing how he can clarify some things that are usually obscure.  I
don't think his book is obscure - but it IS brilliant.  It's a completely
different treatment BTW, he doesn't use the conventional diff equations but
his own path integral method.  Wonderful.

>> and one of my favorite
>> treatments of introductory quantum physics, 'Understanding Quantum Physics'
>> by Michael A. Morrison (highly recommended !)
>
>I don't know this one. Have you looked Liboff?

Liboff ?  What's that ?  Anyway, I *highly* recommend you get this book and
its successor (Understanding more quantum physics) if you like quantum
physics - it's very mathematical but it's the most readable book I've ever
read.  And the author also has a sense of humor :)

Ramon

---
Ramon van Handel   <vhandel@chem.vu.nl>
Chemistry Student, OS Programmer and all-round Weirdo
The ant has made himself illustrious / Through constant industry industrious.
So what? Would you be calm and placid / If you were full of formic acid?
(Ogden Nash)


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