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81 points pykello | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.199s | source
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pkoird ◴[] No.45146435[source]
Nice effort. As far as textbooks for QM, Electrodynamics, and any sufficiently complex field of study goes, I always feel that these have been written using abstractions that people have developed much later retroactively. I understand the advantages: it makes the entire content concise, structured, and basically straightforward. However, what I crave is a technical book that is based upon the history of the subject. Something that doesn't start immediately with Hilbert spaces but starts off by talking about why Max Plank did what he did, how did Einstein improve upon it, what mistakes were made, what misguided hypothesis were later corrected in what manner, how were different things then unified... you get the point. I think this narrative based approach would motivate me much better than something that's condensed and distilled.
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chamomeal ◴[] No.45146824[source]
The book “quantum” was a great read. Doesn’t really delve into any theories, but covers the general story of the physicists on the eve of QM
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alok-g ◴[] No.45147095[source]
Hi. Could you please name the author. Is it this one? https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Einstein-Debate-Nature-Realit... Thanks.
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1. farrelle25 ◴[] No.45148169[source]
Yes - I think that's the one the OP recommended. Great read. Gives a superb historical overview and the reader can follow the twists-and-turns of discovery. You get to 'know' the scientists as they battled the Quantum. Sets the scene before delving into other books that teach the actual Math etc.