Reviews from Amazon

A first course in string theory

This book is based on courses the author gave to undergraduates. I have a feeling that most students at this level would struggle with the material - but then its a difficult subject, and this is probably their best option. The book is in two parts. The first develops the theory, leading up to closed and open relativistic quantum strings. The second gives some applications of this theory, including a chapter on string thermodynamics and black holes.

For the students wishing to work their way through the book, be warned - it's not the sort of work where you can skip some of the maths and still get an idea of what's going on (as you can with say Penrose's The Road to Reality). Rather it's necessary to work through the mathematics and complete each chapter before going on to the next (at least in the first part of the book). But it does start from a level which an undergraduate physicist should find understandable - the lagrangian of a piece of string - rather than jumping straight in with Quantum Field Theory. Relativity and quantum theory are then introduced when needed. Students who do work through this book will not just learn about a single candidate for a 'Theory of Everything', they will also get an understanding of much of the mathematics needed for the rest of modern physics

Amazon.com info

Hardcover 578 pages
ISBN: 0521831431
Salesrank: 59540
Weight:2.87 lbs

Published: 2004 Cambridge University Press

Amazon price $63.20

Marketplace:New from $45.00:Used from $35.97

Buy from Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk info

Hardcover 578 pages
ISBN: 0521831431
Salesrank: 252892
Weight:2.87 lbs

Published: 2004 Cambridge University Press

Amazon price £39.90

Marketplace:New from £29.99:Used from £35.40

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.ca info

Hardcover 578 pages
ISBN: 0521831431
Salesrank: 60266
Weight:2.87 lbs

Published: 2004 Cambridge University Press

Amazon price CDN$ 52.26

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 50.00:Used from CDN$ 89.75

Buy from Amazon.ca

Product Description
An accessible introduction to string theory, this book provides a detailed and self-contained demonstration of the main concepts involved. The first part deals with basic ideas, reviewing special relativity and electromagnetism while introducing the concept of extra dimensions. D-branes and the classical dynamics of relativistic strings are discussed next, and the quantization of open and closed bosonic strings in the light-cone gauge, along with a brief introduction to superstrings. The second part begins with a detailed study of D-branes followed by string thermodynamics. It discusses possible physical applications, and covers T-duality of open and closed strings, electromagnetic fields on D-branes, Born/Infeld electrodynamics, covariant string quantization and string interactions. Primarily aimed as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate courses, it will also be ideal for a wide range of scientists and mathematicians who are curious about string theory.

Product Description

An accessible introduction to string theory, this book provides a detailed and self-contained demonstration of the main concepts involved. The first part deals with basic ideas, reviewing special relativity and electromagnetism while introducing the concept of extra dimensions. D-branes and the classical dynamics of relativistic strings are discussed next, and the quantization of open and closed bosonic strings in the light-cone gauge, along with a brief introduction to superstrings. The second part begins with a detailed study of D-branes followed by string thermodynamics. It discusses possible physical applications, and covers T-duality of open and closed strings, electromagnetic fields on D-branes, Born/Infeld electrodynamics, covariant string quantization and string interactions. Primarily aimed as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate courses, it will also be ideal for a wide range of scientists and mathematicians who are curious about string theory.

An undergraduate's textbook *****
For any advanced undergraduate student in physics who is interested in string theory, this book is ideal. It starts off very easily, reviewing concepts of free point particle actions in special relativity and then gradually introduces classical strings, which are then quantised in the light-cone gauge. It doesn' get too technical, but it provides one with a good foundation in string theory's concepts. The topics are discussed very clearly, both in words and in formulae. At the end of the book, black holes are discussed very briefly (in connection with the Hagedoorn temperature) in an easy way, covariant quantisation (as an "improvement" on the light-cone gauge, which does not preserve Lorentz invariance all the way through), and D-branes. This book is intended for advanced undergraduates, but for those who find beginning graduate courses in string theory too complicated at the outset, buy this one, read it and you'll probably understand more of the classics by Polchinski or Green/Schwarz/Witten. Those who have a solid knowledge of QFT might go passed this book, but it might be a good back-up for what more standard textbooks might call "trivial calculations".

An undergraduate's textbook *****

For any advanced undergraduate student in physics who is interested in string theory, this book is ideal. It starts off very easily, reviewing concepts of free point particle actions in special relativity and then gradually introduces classical strings, which are then quantised in the light-cone gauge. It doesn' get too technical, but it provides one with a good foundation in string theory's concepts. The topics are discussed very clearly, both in words and in formulae. At the end of the book, black holes are discussed very briefly (in connection with the Hagedoorn temperature) in an easy way, covariant quantisation (as an "improvement" on the light-cone gauge, which does not preserve Lorentz invariance all the way through), and D-branes.
This book is intended for advanced undergraduates, but for those who find beginning graduate courses in string theory too complicated at the outset, buy this one, read it and you'll probably understand more of the classics by Polchinski or Green/Schwarz/Witten. Those who have a solid knowledge of QFT might go passed this book, but it might be a good back-up for what more standard textbooks might call "trivial calculations".

The long way to learning string theory ****
Until chapter 10, the book is a pleasure to read. It is very systematic, everything is explained in great detail, and the different concepts are very clear and well exposed. The author succeeds in turning a rather obscure scientific topic into an exciting adventure. If I should judge the book only for this first part, I would give it 5 stars. In fact the book is misleading since when you start reading, you get the illusion string theory can be made accessible even for beginners with an average background. However, this illusion is in vain since the panorama changes dramatically in chapter 10, where the author enters directly into quantum field theory, without any further preparation. An this is the real problem, because the author who developed from the ground up the classical approach to strings mechanics, takes for granted the reader is highly knowledged in quantum mechanics. In spite of his efforts to introduce the subject in successive approximations, all is in vain because the subject is too intricate. The book is not any more systematic for readers lacking adequate quantum theory background. Certainly this is not a book for beginners. The book requires previous deep understanding of quantum mechanics. Beginners can still learn some interesting concepts from the first part of the book, but a complete reading would require deep study of less advanced quantum mechanics bibliography. That said, I must also point out if the level of the book is maintained in its second part, it may become a top ten for more advanced readers.

The long way to learning string theory ****

Until chapter 10, the book is a pleasure to read. It is very systematic, everything is explained in great detail, and the different concepts are very clear and well exposed. The author succeeds in turning a rather obscure scientific topic into an exciting adventure. If I should judge the book only for this first part, I would give it 5 stars. In fact the book is misleading since when you start reading, you get the illusion string theory can be made accessible even for beginners with an average background.

However, this illusion is in vain since the panorama changes dramatically in chapter 10, where the author enters directly into quantum field theory, without any further preparation. An this is the real problem, because the author who developed from the ground up the classical approach to strings mechanics, takes for granted the reader is highly knowledged in quantum mechanics. In spite of his efforts to introduce the subject in successive approximations, all is in vain because the subject is too intricate. The book is not any more systematic for readers lacking adequate quantum theory background.

Certainly this is not a book for beginners. The book requires previous deep understanding of quantum mechanics. Beginners can still learn some interesting concepts from the first part of the book, but a complete reading would require deep study of less advanced quantum mechanics bibliography. That said, I must also point out if the level of the book is maintained in its second part, it may become a top ten for more advanced readers.

Hopelessly dated ***
In spite of being published only two years ago, this book does not make any mention of Professor Susskind's Landscape theory, the single most important advancement in string theory since anomaly cancellation was discovered. The book does a disservice to the students it is intended for, letting them think they understand string theory while depriving them of key mathematical and physical concepts, such as the Lanscape or Calabi Yau manifolds.

Hopelessly dated ***

In spite of being published only two years ago, this book does not make any mention of Professor Susskind's Landscape theory, the single most important advancement in string theory since anomaly cancellation was discovered. The book does a disservice to the students it is intended for, letting them think they understand string theory while depriving them of key mathematical and physical concepts, such as the Lanscape or Calabi Yau manifolds.

Satisfy curiosity but not envision advancement ****
I still think advanced physics needs advanced mathematics to explain and explore. With limited depth of mathematics in this book, even though lots of ideas can be expressed, the process is tedious. This introductory book can satisfy my curiosity but not enough to envision the potential study advancement.

Satisfy curiosity but not envision advancement ****

I still think advanced physics needs advanced mathematics to explain and explore. With limited depth of mathematics in this book, even though lots of ideas can be expressed, the process is tedious. This introductory book can satisfy my curiosity but not enough to envision the potential study advancement.

Emanuel Degni *****
Top quality and well revised. To emit my opinion I will have to complete the readings, but before that I am studying Quantum mechanics and Relativity

Emanuel Degni *****

Top quality and well revised.
To emit my opinion I will have to complete the readings, but before that I am studying Quantum mechanics and Relativity

Msi student thinks this book is really good. *****
Am currently working on a dissertation using path integrals and wanted to look at an application within string theory. I instantly felt this book was very well written and informative. Anyone who didn't get Tensors and special relativity so well the first time will realise how clear this book is, from the start. Read someone elses copy and bought my own. I would say that if one is at 2nd year undergraduate (UK) or above then this text not going to be too hard to follow. Of course this is not a book to teach you tensors or quantum mechanics and for that use, Schaum's outline to Tensors and F.S.Levin Intro to Quantum mechanics, but would still be easily accessible to someone with only basic knowledge of these two topics. Just as with any physics book one must be prepared to solve the problems, after all its all about the mathematics and concepts. Not a popular science book but certainly a pleasure to read. Comparitive in style to A.ZEE Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell.(Learn a bit, solve some problems, learn a bit more).

Msi student thinks this book is really good. *****

Am currently working on a dissertation using path integrals and wanted to look at an application within string theory. I instantly felt this book was very well written and informative. Anyone who didn't get Tensors and special relativity so well the first time will realise how clear this book is, from the start. Read someone elses copy and bought my own.

I would say that if one is at 2nd year undergraduate (UK) or above then this text not going to be too hard to follow. Of course this is not a book to teach you tensors or quantum mechanics and for that use, Schaum's outline to Tensors and F.S.Levin Intro to Quantum mechanics, but would still be easily accessible to someone with only basic knowledge of these two topics. Just as with any physics book one must be prepared to solve the problems, after all its all about the mathematics and concepts. Not a popular science book but certainly a pleasure to read. Comparitive in style to A.ZEE Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell.(Learn a bit, solve some problems, learn a bit more).

String theory made understandable?! Who'd have thought it! *****
Armed only with an AS level in physics, the task of understanding the mathematics of string theory would seem an impossible task. And at first, it was - until I was recommended this book. 20 pages in I had already been introduced to reams of mathematics I had previously never heard of but - an important but - I could understand ALL of it. I'll admit that still doesn't make it an easy read - I've often re-read paragraphs to make sure I understood them - but Zwiebach explains everything in such a way that you need only have learned a bit about special relativity, basic quantum mechanics, electromagnetism and some statistics to be able to make sense of it. The first two, if you don't know much about them already, can be easily picked up by the curious layman via various popular science books (I myself only learned about them by doing so), and the latter two are pretty much covered by GCSE/A level maths and physics. Other textbooks you might find on the subject are all aimed at graduate level and as a result make no sense whatsoever, but this book is far more accessible. It even has problems in it for you to have a go at yourself... If you're thinking this book looks good but expensive, there are things to bear in mind - you won't find it at your local library, it's far too specialised. Unless you have access to a university library, the only way to get hold of it is buy a copy. For anyone with an undergraduate level of understanding in physics, this book really shouldn't be too difficult, and if you're as geeky and interested in the subject as I am then AS or A level could be enough (provided you are prepared to have done some reading around the subject first - books I have found particularly useful were Brian Greene's 'The Elegant Universe', Stephen Hawking's 'The Universe in a Nutshell' and 'The Quark and the Jaguar' by Murray Gell-Mann. But there are many others around that would be useful too). At first I got a copy from a university library via my brother, but having found it so instantly useful and understandable I'm buying my own!

String theory made understandable?! Who'd have thought it! *****

Armed only with an AS level in physics, the task of understanding the mathematics of string theory would seem an impossible task. And at first, it was - until I was recommended this book. 20 pages in I had already been introduced to reams of mathematics I had previously never heard of but - an important but - I could understand ALL of it. I'll admit that still doesn't make it an easy read - I've often re-read paragraphs to make sure I understood them - but Zwiebach explains everything in such a way that you need only have learned a bit about special relativity, basic quantum mechanics, electromagnetism and some statistics to be able to make sense of it. The first two, if you don't know much about them already, can be easily picked up by the curious layman via various popular science books (I myself only learned about them by doing so), and the latter two are pretty much covered by GCSE/A level maths and physics. Other textbooks you might find on the subject are all aimed at graduate level and as a result make no sense whatsoever, but this book is far more accessible. It even has problems in it for you to have a go at yourself...

If you're thinking this book looks good but expensive, there are things to bear in mind - you won't find it at your local library, it's far too specialised. Unless you have access to a university library, the only way to get hold of it is buy a copy. For anyone with an undergraduate level of understanding in physics, this book really shouldn't be too difficult, and if you're as geeky and interested in the subject as I am then AS or A level could be enough (provided you are prepared to have done some reading around the subject first - books I have found particularly useful were Brian Greene's 'The Elegant Universe', Stephen Hawking's 'The Universe in a Nutshell' and 'The Quark and the Jaguar' by Murray Gell-Mann. But there are many others around that would be useful too). At first I got a copy from a university library via my brother, but having found it so instantly useful and understandable I'm buying my own!

Strings Everywhere *****
Highly recommended! Dr. Zwiebach's book is an excellent resource for individuals with at least an undergraduate education in physics who are interested in pursuing string theory and related topics. Advanced students in other disciplines can also benefit with some hard work. It is very well organized, starting with the necessary mathematics and relativistic formalism/notation later used in calculations. The book is very rewarding, leading the student with great detail through derivations and avoiding the common "it can easily be shown that..." statements found in other books. The most enjoyable thing is that you really can begin grasping the basics of string theory and branes. After going through this book (maybe in a one year course) the reader should be prepared enough to start looking at other books such as Hatfield, Polchinski, and Green et. al.

Strings Everywhere *****

Highly recommended!
Dr. Zwiebach's book is an excellent resource for individuals with at least an undergraduate education in physics who are interested in pursuing string theory and related topics. Advanced students in other disciplines can also benefit with some hard work. It is very well organized, starting with the necessary mathematics and relativistic formalism/notation later used in calculations. The book is very rewarding, leading the student with great detail through derivations and avoiding the common "it can easily be shown that..." statements found in other books. The most enjoyable thing is that you really can begin grasping the basics of string theory and branes. After going through this book (maybe in a one year course) the reader should be prepared enough to start looking at other books such as Hatfield, Polchinski, and Green et. al.

Barton Zwiebach

A first course in string theory