Bookpedia : Library : Location : B

ISBN: 0395585724

ListPrice: $16.95

Edition: reissue, 04

Dimensions: 0.75 by 7.50 by 10 in.

Summary: The most striking aspect of the authors'work is the magnificent way in which the various layers of the brain/consciousness are paired with the drawings evoking our ancient evolutionary history. Rather than a modern suburban house built on a scraped lot, the brain is portrayed as a ruin with succeeding layers built on top of each other. I believe the book succeeds in conveying a sense of mystery as to how we are able to function as modern homo sapiens while carrying around with us the results of milennia of evolution: the hope and the danger as it were. And yet, this is all achieved in a very light-hearted and entertaining manner.

ISBN: 052138897X

ListPrice: $20.95

Dimensions: 26 cm

Summary: Books that take you from undergraduate physics to a nontrivial understanding of nonlinear dynamics, chaos and fractals are rare. Chaotic Dynamics does the job ellegantly. The familiar pendulum is used to illustrate the basic techniques and concepts in nonlinear dynamics. The reader is gently introduced to phase diagrams, Poincare sections, basins of attraction and bifurcation diagrams. Computer code is included in the Appendix. The interested reader can use this code to further illustrate the lessons of the text or to embark on his/her own exploration of the pendulum and other dynamical systems. Having used the pendulum to establish a firm conceptual platform, Baker and Gollub progress gracefully into the logistic map to illustrate concepts such as period doubling, Lyapunov exponent, entropy, stretching and folding, and various measures of fractal dimension. The presentation is nicely rounded off with studies of other maps and nonlinear dynamical systems from a range of fields in physics, chemistry and fluid dynamics.

ISBN: 0030707447

ListPrice: $57.95

Edition: 6th ed.

Dimensions: 26 cm

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ISBN: 0393969975

ListPrice: $17.95

Edition: 3rd ed.

Dimensions: 24 cm

Summary: This text provides a systematic introduction to vector calculus in a very readable, informal format. Key concepts like divergence, curl, gradient, line integrals, surface integrals, Divergence Theorem, and Stokes Theorem are introduced in the context of investigating solutions to electrostatics problems without requiring the reader to be especially familiar with physics. I particularly enjoyed the humor that is woven into the text. ("Thus, the anguish of remembering the form of curl F in Cartesian coordinates can be replaced by the pain of remembering how to expand a three-by-three determinant.") I would highly recommend this concise book to students of physics, engineering, and mathematics. It is particularly suitable for self-instruction.

ISBN: 0395352177

ListPrice: $67.88

Summary: I used this book for a semester geometry course (covering Chapters 1 through 13), and it was marvelous! Besides the fact that there are no typographical errors, the book flows logically from one chapter to the next. In addition, its early introduction of proofs guarantees a successful continuation and comprehension of the essence of geometry. Moreover, the lettered exercises at the end of each section go from easy to difficult--allowing for a gradual increase in skill. Finally, the logic appendix at the end is a great introduction to proofs and to the mathematical field of logic.

ISBN: 0030019044

ListPrice: $67.50

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ISBN: 0675200083

Edition: 4th ed.

Dimensions: 25 cm

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ISBN: 0395406552

ListPrice: $64.16

Summary: This book will build a good base for calculus. The only problem with the book is that there are not enough examples nor enough variability in the exercises. Sometimes you would have to use another precalculus book as reference. In overall it has great subjects in logistic and mathematical theorems with their proofs,and you would learn how to build those proofs.

ISBN: 0030698480

ListPrice: $34.58

Dimensions: 26 cm

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ISBN: 0070054940

ListPrice: $96.88

Dimensions: 1 by 6.50 by 9.50 in.

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ISBN: 0471152870

ListPrice: $42.95

Summary: This book compiles a large number of problems in SSP (included solutions to the problems as well). It could certainly be used as a supplement for a first course in SSP very effectively.

ISBN: 9995833921

ListPrice: $20.81

Summary: Don't let hte old publishing date fool you. It's a timeless textbook. There are great French lessons in this textbook. Today's books are so "clausterphobic", making it look like the page designers threw up on the page. This book look sless chaotic and has many helpful exercises.

ISBN: 0805325093

ListPrice: $49.45

Dimensions: 0.75 by 6.50 by 9.25 in.

Summary: Feynman was one of the most accomplished physicists in the 2nd half of the 20th century. His publications speak for themselves. However, as represented in this set of lecture notes, for example, I do not find him as a pedagogue more enlightening than others. I bought and read this book in grad school, and found it to be a nice quick intro to several topics (spin waves and such). I did not, and still don't find the exposition physically exceptionally profound. One difference though, is the fact that Feynman, with his fame, could afford to be rather informal in his presentation. Any unsatisfactory aspects would be accepted as the mysterious ways of a 'genius'. If you are a student and would like to learn to solve problems on your own, forget this one. What this book gives you is a little 'attitude', aside from a quick intro, which most of us haven't earned the right to put on, of doing physics. Try it. Try to be as unorthodox and informal as he was, and you will mostly end up with nonsense.

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ISBN: 0393956598

ListPrice: $31.95

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ISBN: 0716717964

ListPrice: $15.95

Dimensions: 23 cm

Summary: Most people who wrestle with getting to sleep on a regular basis are totally unaware that they are not really "insomniacs" at all! They just need to "adjust their internal clock." In Wide Awake at 3am, Dr Coleman brings real scientific research to bear on the twin problems of insomnia and sleep-deprivation. Bottom line... The book is extremely informative and entertaining. But the most thrilling part is this: 1)The descriptions of the problems caused by insomnia are exact, 2) the diagnoses put forth by Dr. Coleman make sense, and 3) the treatments proposed in the book really work! I would suggest this book to anyone who has problems with sleep or fatigue, even on an irregular basis.

ISBN: 0-02-478250

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ISBN: 0716711907

ListPrice: $106.50

Dimensions: 1.25 by 7 by 9 in.

Summary: I got this book to learn more about various biophysical techniques. I have been doing research in this area for a few years and felt it was high time to get some formal explanations of the theory behind all the experiments that I do.The book presents a detailed description and account of the theory of numerous techniques including absorption and emmission spectroscopy, NMR, CD, crystallography, chromatography, electrophoresis and many other methods. Although the authors claim that readers need not have any experience in physical chemistry I think this is a little far fetched. Having just taken a course in quantum mechanics, I still struggled through some of the derivations. I think this is a good book for people who either have had prior experience with the field of biophysics, or have a strong mathematical background. This book is not a walk through the park. There are many equations and at times more advanced mathematical techniques such as fourier analysis or matrix algebra are used. If you want an introduction to biophysics, you're better off using an easier, less mathematically rigourous book. For example, if you're interested in spectroscopy, there is a simpler book called Biological Spectroscopy by Campbell and Dwek. However, if you are interested in the theory behind these important techniques and don't mind a little math, this is the book for you. Biophysics is an ever expanding and exciting field; this book can show you why!

ISBN: 0716711923

ListPrice: $69.75

Dimensions: 25 cm

Summary: Looking for a comprehensive textbook that contains both a qualitative and quantitative accounting of the structure and function of biological macromolecules, the 3 volumes of Cantor & Schimmel's Biophysical Chemistry are second to none. Just the enormous amount of information included in all three sets, makes this a must in any biological chemists or physical chemists bookshelf.

ISBN: 0716711885

ListPrice: $104.40

Dimensions: 0.75 by 7.25 by 9.50 in.

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ISBN: 055305340X

ListPrice: $27.95

Edition: reissue

Dimensions: 1 by 6.50 by 9.50 in.

Summary: Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists in history, wrote the modern classic A Brief History of Time to help nonscientists understand the questions being asked by scientists today: Where did the universe come from? How and why did it begin? Will it come to an end, and if so, how? Hawking attempts to reveal these questions (and where we're looking for answers) using a minimum of technical jargon. Among the topics gracefully covered are gravity, black holes, the Big Bang, the nature of time, and physicists' search for a grand unifying theory. This is deep science; these concepts are so vast (or so tiny) as to cause vertigo while reading, and one can't help but marvel at Hawking's ability to synthesize this difficult subject for people not used to thinking about things like alternate dimensions. The journey is certainly worth taking, for, as Hawking says, the reward of understanding the universe may be a glimpse of "the mind of God." --Therese Littleton

ISBN: 0670811785

ListPrice: $22.95

Edition: 01

Dimensions: 24 cm

Summary: Few writers distinguish themselves by their ability to write about complicated, even obscure topics clearly and engagingly. James Gleick, a former science writer for the New York Times, resides in this exclusive category. In Chaos, he takes on the job of depicting the first years of the study of chaos--the seemingly random patterns that characterize many natural phenomena. This is not a purely technical book. Instead, it focuses as much on the scientists studying chaos as on the chaos itself. In the pages of Gleick's book, the reader meets dozens of extraordinary and eccentric people. For instance, Mitchell Feigenbaum, who constructed and regulated his life by a 26-hour clock and watched his waking hours come in and out of phase with those of his coworkers at Los Alamos National Laboratory. As for chaos itself, Gleick does an outstanding job of explaining the thought processes and investigative techniques that researchers bring to bear on chaos problems. Rather than attempt to explain Julia sets, Lorenz attractors, and the Mandelbrot Set with gigantically complicated equations, Chaos relies on sketches, photographs, and Gleick's wonderful descriptive prose.

ISBN: 0201029189

ListPrice: $127.00

Edition: 2d ed.

Dimensions: 24 cm

Summary: This is probably the best treatment of Classical Mechanics I've ever read, though, as with anything, it could use some improvement. My only gripe is the usual one with texts like this: There are few if any specific physical instances of formulations that so often serve as a watershed of understanding in physics. For example, in the derivation of the Langrangian, and finally the Hamiltonian, no point for point physical example (say, with a central force like gravity) is offered. It would be nice to see a step by step description of how the Riemann sum over time of the difference in kinetic and potential energies changes as different paths are chosen. I did this and it was beautiful and incredibly enlightening. Once you can _see_ that kind of behavior, you're powerful! It is then easy to generalize to any abstract system. But all else was excellent. If you really want to learn Mechanics, you must start with Goldstein. Recommended preliminaries: Stewart's Calculus; Schaum's Linear Algebra; Halliday, Resnick and Walker's Fundamentals of Physics and Symon's Mechanics.

ISBN: 0201223015

ListPrice: $72.80

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ISBN: 0387985441

ListPrice: $88.95

Edition: 01

Dimensions: 26 cm

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ISBN: 0805370021

ListPrice: $92.00

Edition: 2d ed.

Dimensions: p. illus. 24 cm

Summary: With a cover slightly sturdier than newsprint, and binding that seems like it's held with Elmer's GlueStik, M&W is a text you can probably skip with no remorse. I can see it having one target audience: If you already have more than a working knowledge of advanced mathematics, M&W should be good for a reminder on specific topics. If you're a grad student preparing to take a class on this subject, then you're in trouble. M&W, while covering a number of subjects, does not go into any of them in sufficient detail to understand the concepts or complete anything beyond the simplest of problems. Their examples are sparse and poorly explained. Out of a class of 50, I don't know of any that found M&W to be of any use (other than the professor, that is).

ISBN: 020111609X

ListPrice: $80.50

Edition: 2nd ed.

Dimensions: 25 cm

Summary: This text has the perfect mix of mathematics and amusement. Covering a very broad spectrum, Hecht gives brief historical introductions to the topics, includes the math needed for reasonable mastery of the subject, and often offers the reader a homemade experiment to demonstrate the concepts. The figures are good, as are the problems at the end of each chapter. As an optical engineer, I find myself referring to the section on Fresnel reflection often, but some of the later chapters on Fourier optics and coherence theory make fascinating and not overwhelming night reading. I recommend this text highly to undergraduate instructors and optical engineers, but perhaps the highest compliment I can give this book is that I frequently recommend it to technical people who rarely dabble in optics, but who need a readable reference on the widest variety of optics topics.

ISBN: 9810200552

ListPrice: $74.00

Edition: 01

Dimensions: 0.50 by 6.25 by 8.75 in.

Summary: All of these books titled "Problems and Solutions on (subject): Major American Universities Ph.D. Qualifying Questions and Solutions" are invaluable tools for a physics graduate student, in my experience. One criticism: The index for this particular book is nonexistent. I am writing my own in my copy of the book.If you are a student in physics, I suggest that you get your hands on these books.

ISBN: 047116433X

ListPrice: $110.00

Summary: This is, in my opinion, the best introductory book on non-relativistic quantum mechanics. It starts from the very basics, either on physical or mathematical aspects. It has a wonderful collection of worked out problems where one can really understand the lectures. It's also a great reference.I just can't figure out Why it is so expensive. I believe I bought it 2 years ago by half the price. (First-hand). Anyway, a must have for every Physics student.

ISBN: 0471164356

ListPrice: $110.00

Dimensions: 1.25 by 7 by 9.50 in.

Summary: This is, in my opinion, the best introductory book on non-relativistic quantum mechanics. It starts from the very basics, either on physical or mathematical aspects. It has a wonderful collection of worked out problems where one can really understand the lectures. It's also a great reference.I just can't figure out Why it is so expensive. I believe I bought it 2 years ago by half the price. (First-hand). Anyway, a must have for every Physics student.

ISBN: 0849306299

ListPrice: $41.95

Edition: 29th, 01

Dimensions: 1.25 by 6.25 by 9.25 in.

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ISBN: 0321115473

ListPrice: $24.99

Edition: 01

Dimensions: 23 cm

Summary: If you are new to both DVD authoring in general and DVD Studio Pro in particular, the 17 chapters in this book are the road map you need. Every page is loaded with information, tips, screen shots, and tutorials designed to walk you through the process of creating a DVD step by step. Starting with basic discussions of different digital formats and the audio and video encoding processes; to the rundown of the DVD Studio Pro interface and the best methods for setting up a project; to building menus, scripts, and importing graphics; Peachpit Press's DVD Studio Pro Visual QuickPro Guide thoroughly covers the process of DVD authoring.Most important, this book doesn't end with the basics. The final section, consisting of four chapters, details how to create a 16:9 formatted disc, multiple language tracks, adding subtitles, scripting, and creating hybrid DVDs. The clear and concise text and graphics make this book a pleasure to work through, and the supple paper and binding help it stay flat on your desk while working with it. Although no CD-ROM (or DVD) is included, there is an accompanying Web site for downloading examples cited in the book, and even a bonus project not listed in the book.Peachpit's DVD Studio Pro Visual QuickPro Guide is the perfect companion to Apple's professional-grade DVD authoring package. Authoring a professional and polished DVD can be an elusive goal, especially for the beginning DVD creator. Learning to use a tool like Apple's DVD Studio Pro with this QuickPro Guide, however, is possibly the fastest and easiest way to climb the hardest part of the learning curve. --Mike Caputo

ISBN: 0195066464

ListPrice: $60.00

Edition: 01, 03

Dimensions: 29 cm

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ISBN: 0201546116

ListPrice: $50.00

Edition: 2nd ed., rev. print.

Dimensions: p. cm

Summary: A reader can learn how to compute the Green's functions and the scattering amplitudes using Feynman diagrams. The scalar Klein-Gordon field is used as a pedagogical example at the beginning. The philosophy of the path integral is used all over the book. However, the book does not emphasize the philosophy of the Wilson renormalization group and in this sense the primer is not modern. Nevertheless, Pierre Ramond is a pretty famous scientist and you can learn many things from this book.

ISBN: 0471619175

ListPrice: $45.45

Edition: 3rd ed. extended.

Dimensions: 26 cm

Summary: Alright, so of course this is the book required by just about every college in the country these days in their introductory physics courses---well, it shouldn't be. The authors certainly provide mathematical motivation for the concepts they cover, but certainly don't give adequate real-world motivation for concepts. Oh yeah, so, as one idiot reviewer who thinks he's some kind of precocious student said, this book helped him and his high school buddies get fives on the AP Test---WELL BIG DEAL IDIOT!!! GOOD FOR YOU!! I only managed to do that in my freshman year of highschool so I guess it must be really hard or something--*cough* Well, in the real world of people who actually know anything about physics or math or any field, getting a five on the AP exam in highschool isn't anything special. Basically, this book will prepare you to pass exams and standardized tests--it won't give you understanding. For that, go somewhere worthwhile---for example, the Feynman Lectures on Physics, all three volumes of which cost about half as much as Halliday and Resnick's book.

ISBN: 0121898032

ListPrice: $61.00

Edition: reprint

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ISBN: 0691036691

ListPrice: $52.50

Dimensions: 1.25 by 6.50 by 9.50 in.

Summary: This edition is out of date. Update your listing with the 1999 edition

ISBN: 0201130467

ListPrice: $62.00

Edition: 2nd ed.

Dimensions: 25 cm

Summary: This book gives a quick and elementary introduction to the field of chaotic dynamical systems that could be read by anyone with a background in calculus and linear algebra. The approach taken by the author is very intuitive, lots of diagrams are used to illustrate the major points, and there are many useful exercises throughout the book. It could serve well in an undergraduate mathematics course in dynamical systems, and in a physics undergraduate course in advanced mechanics. The author emphasizes the mathematical aspects of dynamical systems, and readers will be well prepared after finishing it to read more advanced books on dynamical systems. Chapter 1 introduces one-dimensional dynamics, with the analysis of the quadratic map given particular attention. Called the logistic map in some circles, this very important dynamical system has been the subject of much study, and exhibits generically the properties of chaotic dynamical systems. The author also gives a brief review of some elementary notions in calculus needed for the chapter, making the book even more accessible to a wider readership. The important concept of hyperbolicity is discussed in the context of one-dimensional maps and a good discussion is given on symbolic dynamics. Structural stability, which is really useful only in dynamical systems in higher dimensions, is treated here. The intuition gained in one-dimension is invaluable though before moving on to higher-dimensional examples. Sarkovskii's theorem, which states that a one-dimensional dynamical system with a period three periodic orbit has periodic orbits for all other periods, is proved in detail. In addition, the Schwarzian derivative, so important in complex dynamics, is defined here. The author also gives an introduction to bifurcation theory, which again, is most interesting in high dimensions, and introduces the concept of homoclinicity in this discussion. Maps of the circle and the all-important Morse-Smale diffeomorphisms, are treated in this chapter also. The author introduces the reader briefly to the idea of genericity when discussing Morse-Smale diffeomorphisms. Kneading theory, so important in the mathematical theory of dynamical systems, is introduced here also. In chapter 2, the author generalizes the results to higher dimensions, and begins with a review of linear algebra and some results from multivariable calculus, such as the implicit function theorem and the contraction mapping theorem. This is followed by a treatment of the dynamics of linear maps in two and three dimensions. Whereas the canonical example of one-dimensional dynamics is represented by the logistic map, in higher-dimensional dynamics this is represented by the Smale horseshoe map. The author carefully constructs this map and details its properties. Then he takes up the hyperbolic toral automorphisms (or Anosov systems as they are called in some books). Both the Smale horseshoe map and the toral automorphisms are excellent, easily understandable examples of higher dimensional dynamics and the associated symbolic dynamics. The concept of an attractor is also treated in chapter 2 in the context of the solenoid and the Plykin attractor. Both of these are of purely mathematical interest, but by studying them the physicist reader can get a better understanding of what to look for in actual physical examples of attractors (or the more exotic concept of a strange attractor). The author also gives a proof of the stable manifold theorem in dimension two. This is the best part of the book, for this theorem is rarely proved in textbooks on chaotic dynamics, the proof being delegated to the original papers. However, the proof in these papers is extremely difficult to get through, and so the author has given the reader a nice introduction to this important result, even though it is done only in two dimensions. This is followed by a very understandable discussion of Morse-Smale diffeomorphisms. In addition, the author introduces the Hopf bifurcation, of upmost importance in applications, and introduces the Henon map as an application of the results obtained so far. The last chapter of the book is a brief overview of complex analytic dynamics. Complex dynamical systems are very important from a mathematical point of view, and they have fascinating connections with number theory, cryptography, algebraic geometry, and coding theory. The author reviews some elementary complex analysis and then reintroduces the quadratic maps but this time over the complex plane instead of the real line. The Julia set is introduced, and the reader who has not seen the computer graphical images of this set should peruse the Web for these images, due to their beauty. The geometry of the Julia set and the associated complex polynomial maps are given a fairly detailed treatment by the author in the space provided.

ISBN: 0201503972

ListPrice: $77.00

Edition: 01

Dimensions: 24 cm

Summary: A balanced, comprehensive and pedagogical text on quantum field theory. I highly recommend it, especially to beginners, who may prefer it to Brown (highly technical and sometimes obscure if one doesn't know the subject already) and Weinberg (encyclopedic and masterful but very dense). It is divided into three parts. Part I deals with foundations and explores QED in a self-contained manner, and is very helpful in connecting the reader familiar with quantum mechanics to field theoretic ideas, including calculating with Feynman diagrams. Part II is an introduction to modern techniques, including the path integral formalism, renormalization group and connection to statistical mechanics. Part III discusses the Standard Model of particle physics, including QCD and asymptotic freedom, the Weinberg-Salam electroweak theory, and anomalies.

ISBN: 0201554097

ListPrice: $60.00

Dimensions: 24 cm

Summary: As other reader has put, this is not a classic book, in that the main focus is renormalization group, which is certainly a very dynamic field. Nevertheless, the introduction and discusion of other topics I find very good, so time and time I come back to this book to read again about some other topic which is *not* the RG (ergodicity, the Ising model, dynamics...).

ISBN: 0195070712

ListPrice: $39.95

Dimensions: 1 by 6.75 by 9.50 in.

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ISBN: 0521426324

ListPrice: $39.95

Summary: This book is a very unusual one, not only because of its use of diagrams to get some essential points across, but it also gives counterexamples to ideas that a reader might have accepted as doctrine. In addition, although it is a book that is primarily concerned with dynamics from a mathematical point of view, there is a lot in the book that would be of interest to the physicist reader. It is too bad that the book is out of print, for it could still be used as a classroom text and as an introduction to research in the field, as there are excellent problem sets at the end of each chapter. Some of the interesting discussion in the book include: 1. A brief but very good historical outline of nonlinear dynamics, with modern nonlinear dynamics traced to the work of the mathematician Henri Poincare. 2. Early in the book, the author dispels "two myths" regarding nonlinear dynamics, namely that linear equations are easier to solve than nonlinear equations, and that an analytic solution of an equation gives the most useful information (if it exists). 3. The discussion on the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the equations of motion via the constraint of the Lipschitz condition and its allowance for mechanical systems with (near) discontinuous dynamics. The role of non-uniqueness in the analysis of bifurcation is emphasized. Most interesting is the author's brief discussion on the existence of 'universal differential equations', which have solutions arbitrarily close to any prescribed function. The author emphasizes though the non-physical nature of these equations. He then discusses systems whose solutions do not exist after a finite time. 4. The overview of simple bifurcation theory, which the author calls 'control space effects'. Detailed discussion (with excellent diagrams) is given on how the stability of a fixed point changes along a solution set as the bifurcation point is passed. This leads to a discussion of the important concept of structural stability and gradient systems. Gradient systems are extremely important dynamical systems and have wide-ranging uses in mathematics and physics. Morse theory thus arises in this discussion, and interestingly, the author compares gradient flows with Hamiltonian flows. Fixed points of gradient systems are shown to be structurally stable. Excellent figures are given in the treatment of catastrophe theory that appears thereafter. The author also gives as an example of this the famous optical bistability. 5. The excellent discussion on the suspension of the tent map. The adding of a dimension to the problem has its advantages, as the author shows in his discussion. 6. The discussion on shadowing is excellent and the author shows its relevance in numerical computations. The author is well aware that one must first prove that the system is chaotic before one can claim the (finite) computed orbits shadow true orbits. Sometimes this is forgotten in the literature on numerical analysis of chaotic dynamical systems. 7. The discussion of homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits. These have become ubiquitous in the study of dynamical systems, and the author gives the pendulum oscillator as an example, along with "Duffing" type oscillators.

ISBN: 0486637174

ListPrice: $18.95

Dimensions: 24 cm

Summary: Sveshnikov gives a very brief introduction to each topic, with definitions and formulae presented without proofs, followed by a couple of worked examples, and a couple pages of problems. Answers to all problems are in the back, making it ideal for self-study. If you have not studied any statistics before, you might want to start with a book that gives more explanation, such as Bulmer, "Principles of Statistics." This book makes use of calculus in many sections. For interesting probability problems with less advanced math, you might try Mosteller, "Fifty Challenging Problems in Probability." If you take the time to work through a number of problems from each chapter, you can learn how to apply probability and statistics to a wide variety of problems. The equations I derived for the thesis I'm working on are the topic of chapter 6!

ISBN: 0521478146

ListPrice: $50.00

Edition: 2nd ed.

Dimensions: 26 cm

Summary: Normally I would have given this book a three-star rating if it weren't for the number of interesting topics that it presents that usually don't find themselves in a QFT book: topological aspects, supersymmetry, nice approach to Dirac's equation, derivation of reduction theorem from path integrals only. The presentations are written with uneven quality. Ryder's treatment of supersymmetry is excellent as an introduction. The first chapter on the other hand is entirely forgetable. The mathematics is too loose and somewhat sloppy at parts. However almost every field theory text I've come across suffers from this criticism. (It would be nice to see a QFT book written for physicists but by a mathematician.) Explanations and insight into QFT are scant; the book focuses mostly on formalism. The best thing about Ryder is it covers a great amount of material in a short size (487 pages) and in a very readable form.

ISBN: 0521435226

Edition: 03

Dimensions: 24 cm

Summary: Last semester I took professor Barrenblatt's graduate course Math 275 at UC Berkeley: "Advanced topics in Applied Mathematics." The topics covered therein were more or less what is covered in this book. I am not a math major, but a civil engineering one, and the course a lot of times got way over my head. Nevertheless, it was a truly amazing experience. I learned a lot. But enough about the course...This is a truly great book! The introduction (Chapter 0) is a little overwhelming because it attempts to present an overview of topics covered in the following chapters of the book, but the brevity and lack of rigor (it is a summary) may result in confusion. This was the one and only weak point in the book. So... what did I do? I skipped the intro chapter. You can go back to it after you have read the book (or a good part of it) and things will make a lot more sense. From chapter 1 forward, the book is excellent. The ideas are very interesting (this is an applied math book, and the author documents real world examples of where the ideas are applicable) and the concepts presented with sufficient rigor and lucidity that one expects from a mathematics book. Barenblatt is a truly brilliant mathematician and an excellent educator as well, and provides deep insight about dimensional analysis, scaling, similarity, and intermediate asymptotics in this book. Buy it!

ISBN: 071670336X

ListPrice: $11.95

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ISBN: 3540536620

ListPrice: $98.00

Edition: 2nd, 02, 03

Dimensions: 0.75 by 6.25 by 9.50 in.

Summary: This text provides a good, readable introduction to Markov processes, including Fokker-Planck equations, from the standpoint of typical physical examples. A weakness is that (by only mentioning and not developing Ito calculus) the book does not make it clear to the reader that most stochastic processes are nonstationary. This is important: today, we are interested in far from equilibrium dynamics, much less so in dynamics near equilibrium where the fluctuation-dissipation theorem holds. On the other hand, the standard financial math texts (Baxter and Rennie, Steele, ...) do us no service in this direction either. The book goes beyond the older reference by Wax, which is still a very good introduction to Markov processes. In any case, no existing reference treats the general case of a space-time-dependent diffusion coefficient adequately, the case of most interest for the dynamics of financial markets. Now for details of the weak spots.There are two mistakes on pages 65-68. The discussion is based on the sde dx=-R(x)dt+D(x,t)^1/2dB(t) where B(t) is a Wiener process. First, it is claimed that the random force D(x,t)^1/2dB is Gaussian with a white spectrum. In general, the random force is not even stationary unless D is independent of x. The unstated assumption is that the random force is always stationary, so that with R(x)<0 there is an approach to equilibrium. When the diffusion coefficient depends on x (or more generally on (x,t)) then there is no approach to equilibrium for the case of unbounded x even with R<0, as the lognormal model of standard finance theory so vividly shows. Second, even if an equilibrium solution of the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation 'exists', it cannot be reached dynamically when the force is nonstationary. Again, the lognormal model illustrates this point. Arguments (typical in economics) that an equilibrium solution 'exists' are meaningless are useless if the dynamics can't approach that solution.

ISBN: 0716710889

ListPrice: $81.60

Edition: 2nd

Dimensions: 1.25 by 7.50 by 9.75 in.

Summary: After so many years in print, and being used by so many students, this book has become a classic in undergraduate statistical mechanics. It is indeed a fine book, and one that will no doubt remain as a standard text in statistical mechanics in years to come. The authors motivate the subject well, and they at all times explain the physics behind the mathematics. So often in textbooks, even at the undergraduate level, the physical intuition gets lost behind the mathematical formalism. Although the book is addressed to an audience of undergraduate physics majors, it could be read profitably by those in other fields, particularly in the biological sciences. Some of the parts I found particularly well-writtten include the discussions on: 1. The sharpness of the multiplicity function and its connection with the stability of physical properties. 2. The zipper problem as a model of the unwinding of the DNA molecule ( an assigned problem). 3. The ascent of sap in trees (an assigned problem). 4. Bose-Einstein distribution function and the Einstein condensation temperature. Given the exciting developments in this area, this discussion is particularly enlightening. 5. Quasiparticles and superfluidity. This is a nice job here, given the level of the text. 6. The Landau theory of phase transitions. 7. Semiconductor statistics. 8. The Boltzmann transport equation. Because of its immense importance, it is great that the authors have chosen to include a discussion of this in a book at this level. The treatment is very understandable and prepares the reader for more advanced reading on the subject. 9. The heat conduction equation. The diffusive solutions of the equation are discussed in terms of the time development of a temperature pulse, giving the reader a first glimpse of the "Green's function" methods.

ISBN: 0201059924

ListPrice: $59.99

Edition: 01

Dimensions: 0.75 by 7 by 9.50 in.

Summary: This is definitely a must-read book for researchers and students in the field of neuromorphic engineering such that they could learn how to engineer the biological systems...

ISBN: 0070109052

ListPrice: $100.50

Edition: 5th, 02

Dimensions: 0.75 by 6.75 by 9.75 in.

Summary: This book would be really good for a physics or engineering student, or for a math student as an intro since it isn't as theoretical as other books. Everything is explained very clearly, with lots of examples but still with some hard/interesting problems also. The first 7 chapters cover all the theory, which is the usual stuff like complex numbers, differentiability & Cauchy-Riemann equations, integration & Cauchy integral forumla/theorem, series, Taylor series, Laurent series, residues, poles, solving real integrals with residues, etc etc. Chapters 8-12 cover applications which I admit I don't know a lot about, but if the 1st half of the book is any indication, they are good also. The text covers everything in a CONCRETE way, as opposed to an abstract way using concepts from topology like connectedness, compactness, open/closed sets, star-shaped sets, etc. For that stuff I used GJO Jameson's Complex Functions text & I also like the one by Ahlfors & the one by Jerrold Marsden. I think every scientist or engineer would find this Brown/Churchill book very helpful. :-)

ISBN: 0395356547

ListPrice: $61.16

Edition: 2nd ed.

Dimensions: 26 cm

Summary: We use this text for our freshman chemistry course at Trent University, and have for a number of years (previous editions). It is equal or superior to virtually all other texts that I am aware of for a general course that includes both chemistry majors and others (biology, physics, etc.). Concepts are explained well, diagrams are easy to understand, and there is a profusion of examples in the text. It also includes a biochemistry chapter, which many other texts do not have. With the addition of bichem to many 1st year curricula, this is important.If teaching a more rigorous/physical course directed solely to chem majors, this book may not be the best choice (perhaps Oxtoby and Nachtrieb would be a better choice).This book is generally superior in quantity and quality of questions at the back of the chapter. All questions are paired with the odd numbered question having the answer in the back of the book. Students really like this feature.As an instructor, there are a number of extras that are very helpful, including an alternate example manual (with examples to use in class that are complimentary to the text), a full set of figures on a CD-ROM which are easily transferred to Powerpoint for use in lectures, and a complete solutions manual.There are a few small problems. The order in the text is not the order I teach in, but the chapters are pretty good at delineating the material so you can teach out of order. For example, Chapter 6 is thermochemistry, and Chapter 18 is the rest of thermodynamics - why 12 chapters between them? (To be fair, this system is used in a number of freshman texts.) Web resources for the student are lacking in that they cost extra (at least, in Canada), something many other publishers offer for free.All in all, this is a very good text for a general course in freshman chemistry. It is well indexed, and should also be of use to anyone that needs a chemistry reference book.

ISBN: 0805396144

ListPrice: $152.00

Edition: 4th

Dimensions: 1.75 by 9 by 11.50 in.

Summary: Molecular Biology of the Gene written by James D. Watson is one of the best texts on biology of the molecular level. With ample illustrations this makes a wonderful text for students and those who want to learn more about the primary structures of proteins and the interplay between them.Molecular genetics is but one part of the whole of biology, the nature of cells and how they divide, but this book makes an attempt to address both in a seemless fashion. Genetic code, the replication of viruses and the control of protein synthesis are all a part of this book.I found the narrative to be straight forward and very understandable as the author makes the point in a logical and lucid manor. You will need some schooling in the biological sciences as this is not a book for the novice. This text will give the biologist of the future the rigor, the perspective, and the enthusiasm that will be needed to bridge the gap between the single cell and the complexities of higher organisms.This is an excellent text.

ISBN: 0306405121

ListPrice: $64.00

Edition: 01

Dimensions: 24 cm

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ISBN: 0070333831

ListPrice: $24.95

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ISBN:

Edition: 2nd

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ISBN: 0471223611

ListPrice: $98.00

Dimensions: p. illus. 23 cm

Summary: This book was published in 1973 and there have been many advances since. Still I find it provides great exposition of the fundamental concepts. In fact the nearest neighbor algorithms that are now popular are covered in this book and date back to the work of Cover and Hart in the late 1960s. Those new to pattern recognition who think kth nearest neighbor rules are new should read this book to find out exactly when it was really thought up.For a more up-to-date treatment, see McLachlan's recent book in the Wiley statistics series. However, this book provides valuable explanations of Bayes rules and shows pictorially what the boundaries look like for linear and quadratic classifiers. In fact I borrowed their pictures in Chapter 2 of my book on bootstrap methods.

ISBN: 007054235X

ListPrice: $130.00

Edition: 3d ed.

Dimensions: 24 cm

Summary: This book served as my introduction to analysis and to higher math itself. It uses strict "French-style" definition-theorem-proof format, and you might find yourself spending hours on one page. Some so-called "maturity" might be needed in order to submit to what look like unrelated strands of thought in order to reach desired results. But any bright student will be able to handle the material. Let me emphasize this: NO prior introduction to mathematics of ANY sort is NEEDED for reading this book. Nothing besides a logical, patient mind is a prerequisite. Although tastes may vary, I have a revulsion towards math books which do not use this format, but go for a looser, more conversational style. I believe they are much less clear and more difficult for studying introductory material. I suggest that you use this book as your primary introduction to analysis, and look into other "looser" ones whenever you are having trouble. This book is also excellent reference. If you are trying to learn analysis, and ESPECIALLY IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST COURSE IN HIGHER MATH (!), for God's sake don't get a looser book. You will have made a mistake.

ISBN: 0878937447

ListPrice: $76.95

Edition: 01

Dimensions: 27 cm

Summary: This book covered almost all the important topics in the field of developmental neurobiology, and they are arranged in a logic way, from general development to specific details, from simple functions to complicated ones, from systematic to cellular to molecular level. Then, in the end, they lead to the concise principles summarized by the authors. As for a new beginner in this magic field, this book supplies me with rich facts along the history of this developing science, as well as lots of inspirations. As for the professionals, this book is also worth reading as a excellent systematic review and a splendid panorama of the beautiful scenery in this field. There are several points about this book that impressed me deeply and lured me to read it time and time again that I want to list as below: 1) The book describes a lot of the classical experiments that have profoundly influenced the way this new science has developed. This is interesting, because it makes the dry principles juicy. Also the experiments form a kind of challenge for the reader, because you can always set yourself in the same situations as the brainy experimenters mentioned in the book, thinking and analyzing together with them and being for and against their views and conclusions. 2) Weaker voices from the opposite side in the heated historical discussions can also be heard in this book. This is of great significance, because the realistic record encourages you to discard the preconceptions and bravely stand out to doubt the deep-rooted theories and explanations. In fact, there are few sure things, and most are mysterious, which make science magic. 3) The tradition of a branch of science can never be ignored because, to a certain degree, it decides how this science will develop, to which direction it will go, and what the chief problems are that are of the greatest power to revolutionize the whole field. The book tells you the history, along the way it tells science. And it shows great respect to the legends in this realm of science by opening boxes in every chapter to focus your attention to their contributions and to their strong willing versus an arduous journey of research. 4) The authors¡¯ diligence can be sensed from every line of the book, and every point in the book is based on concrete facts accumulated from the authors¡¯ extensive reading and research. Every item of reference is listed along the text, so it is convenient for the reader to hunt the pith from the forest of scientific literature. The strict attitude of the authors makes the book able to stand the test of time. 5) There are a lot of diagrams in the book, which make the reading activity much faster and easy, and the images printed in the mind keep the memories vivid and clear. At the same time, the language of this book is easy to understand as well as accurate. In only three pages, it clarifies Hebel¡¯s theory of visual cortex, which won the Nobel¡¯s prize in the 1980s, and science should be made easier like this, right? By all means, you should not let the chance go to experience this magic journey. Read this friendly book, and make sense how the magic nervous system comes into life!

ISBN: 0631164987

ListPrice: $28.95

Dimensions: 24 cm

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ISBN: 0671657135

ListPrice: $16.00

Dimensions: 0.75 by 8.50 by 10.75 in.

Summary: For some artificial intelligence researchers, Minsky's book is too far removed from hard science to be useful. For others, the high-level approach of The Society of Mind makes it a gold mine of ideas waiting to be implemented. The author, one of the undisputed fathers of the discipline of AI, sets out to provide an abstract model of how the human mind really works. His thesis is that our minds consist of a huge aggregation of tiny mini-minds or agents that have evolved to perform highly specific tasks. Most of these agents lack the attributes we think of as intelligence and are severely limited in their ability to intercommunicate. Yet rational thought, feeling, and purposeful action result from the interaction of these basic components. Minsky's theory does not suggest a specific implementation for building intelligent machines. Still, this book may prove to be one of the most influential for the future of AI.

ISBN: 0195062566

ListPrice: $35.00

Edition: 3rd ed.

Dimensions: 25 cm

Summary: This is a very good neurophysiology book from the morphological and physiological viewpoints. It's inexpensive and well written. Thanks Gordon.

ISBN: 0126576769

ListPrice: $54.95

Dimensions: 1 by 7.75 by 9.50 in.

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ISBN: 0590014013

Summary: She went thorouh many hardships. While her father was store keeper of a railroad. Her family then was forced to go west for the winter. Laura did not want to go west for the winter. Then they were offered to live in a surveyors house while the surveyor was out for the winter. The house was all supplied because the surveyor thought that they were going to stay there for the winter. They thought that that was a dream house. It had everything they needed. Then everybody started coming to Desmet to get settled and there house was the only place to stay so they started charging people for it. Then Pa had to go and get the claim on there homestead. While he was gone some drunks stayed at there house.

ISBN: 0262560038

ListPrice: $14.95

Dimensions: 0.50 by 5.25 by 8 in.

Summary: Can someone with freshman college physics understand Professor Feynmans theoretical physics? This cassette really combines well everything from Newton's Laws to quantum theory to Einsteinian gravity to the very mathematical (yet not too much) nature of physical law. The answer is with this two tape cassette (which I purchased and prefer) a definite yes. In spite of the fact that many of the readers aren't theoretical phyicists, this book really brings into focus "hard" physics. I bought this set hoping to benefit from Feynman's more humanistic teaching style and I was pleased with the results.I highly recommend this read (listen).

ISBN: 0153119004

ListPrice: $50.05

Dimensions: 1 by 5.50 by 8.50 in.

Summary: This textbook is a fundamental tool for the student who really wants to learn English grammar. The author has contributed with an excellent review of the basic rules of English grammar and composition. Students who come to the United States to learn English as a second language should use this book to really understand the structure and proper use of the language. This particular volume is addressed to seventh graders, but anyone interested in expanding his or her knowledge of English can use the different volumes according to the school level at which he or she is (other volumes include up to 12 grade grammar). It is a very enjoyable way to learn English. The many exercises provided in the book allow practice of the most diverse grammar situations.

ISBN: 0590327879

Summary: Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Farmer Boy" is a departure from the rest of the famed "Little House" books in that it does not relate the story of her own family's hardscrabble existence on the western frontier, but instead tells the story of her husband's boyhood on his family's prosperous farm in upstate New York. Thus, it introduces readers to an entirely new family, the Wilders, and the Ingalls family is not even mentioned. However, this is one of the best books of the "Little House" series."Farmer Boy" details a year or so in the life of 9 yr old Almanzo Wilder. A good deal of this book is spent showing that life on a farm in the 1860's, even for a well-to-do family living in a civilized part of the country, still meant never-ending, hard, physical labor. Young Almanzo and his siblings spend their lives working on one chore after another- the work changing as the seasons change. Undoubtedly, modern children will read this book and be thankful that they don't live in a time where sleeping in past 5 AM was considered odd and children were expected to be seen (at work) and not heard.In addition to describing day to day life on a farm, Mrs. Wilder also details the family relationships between the Wilders. Almanzo's parents are shown as loving, but, in contrast to Pa and Ma Ingalls, they come across as a little more stern and authoritarian with their children. For example, James Wilder, Almanzo's father, is always called "Father" never "Pa."Almanzo's relations with his three siblings are also described. (Almanzo actually had five siblings, but oldest sister, Laura, and younger brother, Perley, were left out of the book.) Almanzo looks up to his 13 yr old brother, Royal. Ten yr old sister Alice is shown as being very spunky and loveable and was obviously Almanzo's favorite sib. (Alice, who was a very pretty girl, died at a fairly young age and this book is her younger brother's tribute to her.) And finally there is Eliza Jane, age 12, who comes across as every younger brother's nightmare of a bossy older sister. It's obvious that Laura Ingalls Wilder did not care much for her sister-in-law Eliza Jane because she portrayed her pretty badly in her books. However, one of the great moments of "Farmer Boy" involves Eliza Jane showing in her own way how much she truly loved her younger brother. The wonderful descriptions of familial relationships in the "Little House" books are one of the big reasons why this series is so beloved."Farmer Boy" exudes all the hallmarks of a great "Little House" book- the wonderfully detailed depiction of life on a farm, the loving but still realistic portrayal of family life, and it also exudes a warm-hearted sentiment for an era long gone. Yet, "Farmer Boy" shows some of the darker elements of mid-19th century life. An attempted burglary is a subject of one chapter and the book opens with a pretty scary depiction of an 1860's schoolhouse. The "Little House" books often present a fairly rosy picture of the one-room schoolhouse, yet "Farmer Boy" shows a darker side. In this book, the teenage sons of farmers are shown coming to school just to bust it up and pummel any teacher who gets in their way.Finally, as an Irish-American, I've always been amused by the unconcious bigotry towards Irish immigrants found in the "Little House" books. The few Irish characters in these books are either shown as fall-down drunks or as fools- read the story about cutting-ice in "Farmer Boy" to see an example. I don't think Laura Ingalls was anti-Irish, but just writing down 19th century attitudes about certain ethnic groups. She did the same thing for American Indians, but even more blatantly.

ISBN: 0590404954

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ISBN: 0133870022

Edition: 7th ed.

Dimensions: 23 cm

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ISBN: 0521305667

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ISBN: 0590085247

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ISBN: 0590021117

Summary: "The Big Woods are Getting too Crowded." The Wilder family must sell their cozy house and move away from the big woods. They travel in a covered wagon with their watch-dog Jake running behind them. After some long days of camping and eating only meat and corn-bread, ma, pa, Mary and Laura came into a large prairie. Pa builds a nice log house and a safe log stable for the horses, Pet and Patty. They soon discover that indians are camping very near. Will the indians take all Pa's tobacco? Will they eat all the corn-bread? To find out, read Little House on the Prairie! I recommend this book because it is about life on a wild prairie that holds many suprises! I enjoyed when their dog came to them when they thought he had drowned.

ISBN: 0590404970

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ISBN: 0590300946

ListPrice: $2.50

Summary: Laura is a young girl with a wonderful family: two loving parents, an older sister Mary, and two younger sisters, Carrie and Grace. They are scared when they find out that the fist terrible storm is moments away. Blizzards strike the barren prairie in October and continue without dropping until April. It is too cold to do anything including going to school. As the cold creeps into the air, the family huddles together to keep warm. The people of De Smet are starving and running out of supplies as the train is delayed for many months. They try to use what they have the best that they can. It is young Almanzo Wilder who finally understands what needs to be done. He goes with a friend out of town on the snow and returns with wheat for everyone. But how long can that last? Finally, spring arrives and the trains come in. They receive clothes, food, and everything they need to survive. I enjoyed reading thos book very much. Some parts were boring to read, but hey, you get the good with the bad. The book kept repeating itself alot. Once one blizzard ends another begins and the same story is retold. I found some nice parts that were exciting to read. I liked the descriptions used to detail the events. I could almost feel like I was there myself. ... After so many months of blizzards, the people of De Smet had smiling faces. They were glad to have survived the long winter. Now they could be warm and do their outside chores which were difficult to do before. Overall, I would advise you to read this book. It is definitely bot the best, but good enough to read and enjoy it.

ISBN: 0590118897

ListPrice: $2.95

Summary: Dig in it ...Imagine you are sitting on a hill on the grass, You stand up and walk around, You are surprised you see a door, You want to open the door but you think someone lives there; But you do look inside anyway. It is a little house. You go inside. It is called a dugout (a house under ground). This is where the Ingalls live. This is where most of the action happens in On the Banks of Plum Creek. Nowthen, ON the Banks of plum creek is about a family. That's moves from Kansas to Minnesota. The Ingalls lives in a dugout. They harvest for a living. They have oxen and it take forever to plow the flied. Something also me happens so if you want to know what happened that get the book and read it. Also, My evaluation of ON The banks Of Plum Creek is that it is a great book. There are many happy parts & sad parts too. A happy part is that the Ingalls have a good harvest. A sad part is that Laura almost drowns. You can read it you might not like it but I did. Meanwhile, On the Banks of Plum Creek really don't connect to my life. I don't live in a dugout. I don't harvest for a living. I don't have oxen and a cow. Pretty much they are framers. My family is totally different. I live in a house. My dad delivers & my mom works at family dollar for a living. My family has 1 dog & 5 horses. After all, I recommend you to read On the Banks of Plum Creek. Everyone that can read would like On the Banks of Plum Creek. Mostly 10 & up would like it the most. Both boy/men & girls/ladies would like On the Banks of Plum Creek. People that don't like to read would not like to read On the Banks of Plum Creek. Can you see the door, did you go inside, are you in the house.

ISBN: 0879015004

ListPrice: $67.95

Edition: 2nd ed.

Dimensions: 29 cm

Summary: I found the 2e of "Principles of Biochemistry" by A. Lehninger, one of the most exciting books written in the field of Biochemistry. The book should be a treasure, especially, for undergradute students who have interest in the field. I have already adopted it as the main text book for the Biochemistry, a 300 level, course that I teach. Concepts are clearly and cleverly presented.

ISBN: 0838577016

ListPrice: $95.00

Edition: 4th, 02

Dimensions: 2.25 by 8.75 by 11.25 in.

Summary: This massive book has lots of useful information and informative figures, and the decent index makes it highly likely that you will find what you need. However, using it as a textbook for a course is a ridiculous thing to do, especially if it's an undergraduate course. The amount of material is simply overwhelming, and it would discourage students from pursuing a career in neural science. If you are a neurobiology teacher and am considering using this text in your course, please reconsider. In my opinion (as a neurobiology teacher), a concise and readable text is far more effective.

ISBN: 0691024170

ListPrice: $15.95

Edition: 04

Dimensions: 0.50 by 5.50 by 8.50 in.

Summary: Enigma - this term best describes QED, the notoriously non-intuitive basis of fundamental physics. But 'enigma" equally applies to this book, QED. Why is it so popular? Four lectures on quantum electrodynamics? Why would anyone, other than a physicist, rave about such a book?Feynman cautions the audience that they may not understand what he will be saying. Not because of technical difficulty, but because they may be unable to believe it, unable to accept what he is saying. "The theory of quantum electrodynamics describes Nature as absurd from the point of view of common sense. And it fully agrees with experiment. So I hope you can accept Nature as She is - absurd."I long had this problem. I wanted to understand why, in addition to how nature works. I wanted some philosophical understanding, some underlying meaning. I have come to accept that the fundamental laws (rules, behavior, whatever) of physics are not intuitive, but are incomprehensible in terms of common sense.To appreciate Feynman's QED lectures, you must have patience, some commitment (its not really difficult), but more than anything else you need a willingness to set aside disbelief and simply listen to a physicist talk about quantum electrodynamics. A willingness to accept that nature refuses to be understood. Analyzed, dissected, mathematically described (in a probabilistic sense), but not fundamentally understood. QED.I am largely unsatisfied by books for laymen on quantum physics, string theory, cosmology, and the like. My background includes some physics and I find that a bit of mathematics is more helpful than a great many analogies, no matter how cleverly constructed. QED should have been disappointing. But I gave it five stars.Feynman did not rely on analogies. He talks physics and experiments. Feynman had a wonderful clarity of thought, an ability to explain advanced physics, and all with a sense of humor. No math symbols, no complex numbers, no matrices, no wave mechanics, no advanced probability analysis - just simple addition of little arrows that shrink and turn.Feynman was unpredictable. He saw the world in unexpected ways. In a footnote he mentions that Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is really no longer a necessary construct. "If you can get rid of all the old-fashioned ideas and instead use the ideas that I am explaining in these lectures - adding arrows for all the ways an event can happen - there is no need for an uncertainty principle." Heisenberg relegated to a footnote!The casual reader may find some short sections a bit strenuous, particularly some of the more involved manipulations of arrows, but stay with it. As Feynman points out in the preface, these lectures represent physics accurately without distortions for simplicity. Nothing would need to be unlearned if you later majored in physics. Think about it. QED may lead you down a path heretofore not taken.

ISBN: 048664927X

ListPrice: $13.95

Edition: Dover ed.

Dimensions: 22 cm

Summary: This book is a very good intro, discussing topics which are rarely found elsewhere. A must have for Graduate/PhD in Solid State Physics.

ISBN: 0590404962

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ISBN: 059600656X

ListPrice: $29.95

Edition: 1

Summary: Being highly flexible in building dynamic, database-driven web applications makes the PHP programming language one of the most popular web development tools in use today. It also works beautifully with other open source tools, such as the MySQL database and the Apache web server. However, as more web sites are developed in PHP, they become targets for malicious attackers, and developers need to prepare for the attacks.
Security is an issue that demands attention, given the growing frequency of attacks on web sites. "Essential PHP Security" explains the most common types of attacks and how to write code that isn't susceptible to them. By examining specific attacks and the techniques used to protect against them, you will have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the safeguards you are about to learn in this book.

In the much-needed (and highly-requested) "Essential PHP Security", each chapter covers an aspect of a web application (such as form processing, database programming, session management, and authentication). Chapters describe potential attacks with examples and then explain techniques to help you prevent those attacks.

Topics covered include: Preventing cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities Protecting against SQL injection attacks Complicating session hijacking attempts

You are in good hands with author Chris Shiflett, an internationally-recognized expert in the field of PHP security. Shiflett is also the founder and President of Brain Bulb, a PHP consultancy that offers a variety of services to clients around the world.