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Mathematical Methods for Physicists, Fifth Edition Review

I read a lot of reviews of how bad the book is and with trepidation set out to buy it. Fortunately I bought it abroad where I paid for a new copy! It is also prescribed for the course I am taking in Graduate school. I went through some of it and actually found it well explained. Not sure what people want from a Math book. People have said that the book is too terse and not enough explanations. So far I disagree. If it was terse, it would not have been 1200 pages! Still others have questioned the sanity of the authors' capability to do math or to organize themselves and have complained that the book reads like it has been written by an army of authors! Its a text on Mathematical methods in Physics and so cannot be a breeze, which it isn't. It starts with Multivariable calculus concepts (Vectors, their analysis and its calculus) and goes on to topics such as Tensors (which is slightly treated), matrices and Group theory. Much of the rest of the book after this goes on to Complex Analysis, Infinite Series and the series treatment of Integral calculus (the real beauties - Fourier, Special Functions, Integral transforms etc), Partial and Ordinary Differential equations. The books ends with an introduction to Probability.

I think in the philosophy of approach, the authors have chosen topics that they like and interest them. On the whole, it is a good book. Its definitely not bad as people who have reviewed it make it out to be. I don't know the Mary Boas book but another book that I have that uses a more modern approach to Mathematical Physics is the one by David Appel. I found that book beautifully reproduced but harder than this one to read as it takes a Theorem based approach. So I guess in terms of validating some mathematical truth, the Appel book seeks to fulfill that approach. This book uses the more classical approach to Math methods in Physics. In that sense you could say that it is old fashioned but tried and tested approach of the older format. You may also want to try the Appel book out. If you are in for a truly delightful read, then try Tristan Needham's Visual Complex Analysis. Its a beautiful book with glorious illustrations. I am not sure if after reading this book, you'll be easily able to follow Robert Geroch's General Relativity for instance.

Best of luck and happy reading. I am quite sure you won't tear your hair out. I am sure that you may if you want to know the answers to problems which is sometimes only given

Mathematical Methods for Physicists, Fifth Edition Overview

Through four editions, Arfken and Weber's best-selling Mathematical Methods for Physicists has provided upper-level undergraduate and graduate students with the paramount coverage of the mathematics necessary for advanced study in physics and engineering. It provides the essential mathematical methods that aspiring physicists are likely to encounter as students or beginning researchers. Appropriate for a physics service course, as well as for more advanced coursework, this is the book of choice in the field.

* Provides the essential mathematical methods that aspiring physicists are likely to encounter as students or beginning researchers
* * Serves as both text and useful reference for students of physics and applied mathematics
* * Throughout the text the physical relevance of the mathematics is constantly reinforced

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Customer Reviews

An unnecessary book - physics student - St. John's, Newfoundland Canada
In my early days as a lecturer I did attempt to use Arfken but found it rather treacherous in that it would
lead one into difficulties and strand one. Its explanations were not satisfactory, its coverage was spotty, etc.
I am fascinated in reading the other reviews to find that someone actually likes it.

It is mendacious if not self-contradictory to refer to it as a "comprehensive guide".

My old favorite was Margenau and Murphy, which doesn't go far enough any more; but is nearly ideal for clarity.
Most of my needs could be met with Jackson, or monographs on special functions etc. These days I usually use
Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics,
as well as more specialised references (it's still hard to beat Watson A Treatise On The Theory of Bessel Functions for Bessel functions and for many examples on the use of complex analysis. For elliptic functions,
Whittaker and Watson A Course of Modern Analysis. Fourth Edition is an excellent introduction.
And any serious applied mathematician will own Abramowitz and Stegun and its successor, or even the Bateman
MS Project. Andrews Special Functions is a good modern ref. for special functions,
especially for q-functions.

"Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics" is not quite an undergrad text (neither is Arfken) but works well
as a source for the instructor.

I suppose that I'll have to reread Arfken. Of course Arfken's co-author
might have improved it drastically

Still a great one - Ingmar A. Prada Rojas - Mexique
This book is still a great source of information to learn and review. There are a lot of books on mathematical methos for physics, but this one is very complete.

books damaged - Y. Y. Chun - Istanbul
a great book, but during delivery the books had been damaged before arrived.
as a thick hard-book, a bit heavy and not very easy to carry.

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Friday, September 3, 2010