Product Description

An esteemed researcher and acclaimed popular author takes up the challenge of providing a clear, relatively brief, and fully up-to-date introduction to one of the most vital but notoriously difficult subjects in theoretical physics. A quantum field theory text for the twenty-first century, this book makes the essential tool of modern theoretical physics available to any student who has completed a course on quantum mechanics and is eager to go on.

Quantum field theory was invented to deal simultaneously with special relativity and quantum mechanics, the two greatest discoveries of early twentieth-century physics, but it has become increasingly important to many areas of physics. These days, physicists turn to quantum field theory to describe a multitude of phenomena.

Stressing critical ideas and insights, Zee uses numerous examples to lead students to a true conceptual understanding of quantum field theory--what it means and what it can do. He covers an unusually diverse range of topics, including various contemporary developments, while guiding readers through thoughtfully designed problems. In contrast to previous texts, Zee incorporates gravity from the outset and discusses the innovative use of quantum field theory in modern condensed matter theory.

Without a solid understanding of quantum field theory, no student can claim to have mastered contemporary theoretical physics. Offering a remarkably accessible conceptual introduction, this text will be widely welcomed and used.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84270 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 518 pages

Review
Zee's book is written in the colloquial style of a good blackboard lecture, with gems of wisdom and amusing but relevant anecdotes scattered throughout. Zee has an infectious enthusiasm and a remarkable talent for slicing through technical mumbo jumbo to arrive at the heart of a problem. Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell is quite simply a triumph. I have not had this much fun with a physics book since reading The Feynman Lectures on Physics. . . . The purpose of Zee's book is not to turn students into experts--it is to make them fall in love with the subject. And Zee succeeds brilliantly. Moreover, there is nothing superficial about the depth of understanding or the choice of topics in Zee's book. The author speaks with the clarity and authority that come only from a leading practitioner in the field. . . . [I]t is for anyone who wishes to experience the sheer beauty and elegance of quantum field theory.
(Zvi Bern Physics Today )

Review
Quantum field theory is an extraordinarily beautiful subject, but it can be an intimidating one. The profound and deeply physical concepts it embodies can get lost, to the beginner, amidst its technicalities. In this book, Zee imparts the wisdom of an experienced and remarkably creative practitioner in a user-friendly style. I wish something like it had been available when I was a student.
(Frank Wilczek, Massachusetts Institute of Technology )

From the Inside Flap

"Quantum field theory is an extraordinarily beautiful subject, but it can be an intimidating one. The profound and deeply physical concepts it embodies can get lost, to the beginner, amidst its technicalities. In this book, Zee imparts the wisdom of an experienced and remarkably creative practitioner in a user-friendly style. I wish something like it had been available when I was a student."--Frank Wilczek, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Finally! Zee has written a ground-breaking quantum field theory text based on the course I made him teach when I chaired the Princeton physics department. With utmost clarity he gives the eager student a light-hearted and easy-going introduction to the multifaceted wonders of quantum field theory. I wish I had this book when I taught the subject."--Marvin L. Goldberger, President, Emeritus, California Institute of Technology

"This book is filled with charming explanations that students will find beneficial."--Ed Witten, Institute for Advanced Study

"Tony Zee explains quantum field theory with a clear and engaging style. For budding or seasoned condensed matter physicists alike, he shows us that field theory is a nourishing nut to be cracked and savored."--Matthew P.A. Fisher, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics

"This book is perhaps the most user-friendly introductory text to the essentials of quantum field theory and its many modern applications. With his physically intuitive approach, Professor Zee makes a serious topic more reachable for beginners, reducing the conceptual barrier while preserving enough mathematical details necessary for a firm grasp of the subject."--Bei Lok Hu, University of Maryland

"Like the famous Feynman Lectures on Physics, this book has the flavor of a good blackboard lecture. Zee presents technical details, but only insofar as they serve the larger purpose of giving insight into quantum field theory and bringing out its beauty."--Stephen M. Barr, University of Delaware

"This is a fantastic book--exciting, amusing, unique, and very valuable."--Clifford V. Johnson, University of Durham

Customer Reviews

An excellent book to start learning QFT
I wish more technical books could be written like this. Its emphasis is understanding, not getting bogged down in the calculations. An excellent book to get clear answers.


HOWEVER, be careful!!! If you are learning quantum field theory for the first time then you might learn perturbation theory either in terms the Hamiltonian picture or the path integral picture. This book takes the path integral picture and if you don't know anything about path integrals you might want to do some background reading into Feynman and Hibbs etc. Also, I you are learning the Hamiltonian perturbation then this book might confuse at first and won't aid your studies directly at first.


Let me say again, after reading this book you will really feel like you have learned without too much effort. It won't be such an uphill struggle as some books are (Peskin and Shroeder). If you don't mind starting with learning QFT in terms of path integrals (which is the fun way I think) then this is the book for you but if you are buying this to supplement a course at university then check first which picture you are going to learn about and maybe stick to that picture... at first.

(MSci student completing a project on Path Integrals)

Incomprehensible
Like the other books I have looked at on this topic, this is just as incomprehensible. Somebody really needs to write a good book on this subject, or we will end up with a load of people doing research into a field they barely understand. I guess the problem is that the amount of rigour required by pure mathematicians just doesn't exist in books written by physicists or even some applied mathematicians?

Anyway, for me the book went downhill just after the LOOK INSIDE preview ended.