- Paperback: 661 pages
- Publisher: Dover Publications Inc.; New edition edition (Jun 1980)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0486638960
- ISBN-13: 978-0486638966
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 14.2 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 923,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Not a recipe book of calculations, but a systematic exposition of the principles of statistical mechanics. Unparalled in its ponderousness, the derivations are beautiful, and the physical motivation for each one is always laid out in detail. This covers quantum as well as classical statistical mechanics. In fact, even the part on quantum mechanics alone is worth reading, because it gives insight into the state of quantum mechanics in the 1930s, as viewed by one of the deepest thinking physicists around. Back then, the fundamentals were plainly in sight, whereas now physicists are lost in the mathematical thicket.
Naturally, since it was written so long ago, it is not by any stretch the final word on statistical mechanics. It's still a masterpiece, which illuminates many deep questions in physics. This is not, repeat, NOT, just a book of historical interest.
Naturally, since it was written so long ago, it is not by any stretch the final word on statistical mechanics. It's still a masterpiece, which illuminates many deep questions in physics. This is not, repeat, NOT, just a book of historical interest.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Solid book well worth buying
12 Sep 2000
Format:Paperback
Most books on statistical mechanics are both heavy on conceptual abstraction and mathematical sophistication. Tolman's book really helps the reader understand what is going on, including a discussion of why its necessary to consider ergodic or quasi-ergodic systems in the cannonical ensemble. It also contains explicit chapters on the relationship of classical and quantum statistical mechanics, a subject often left unclear or unexplored by other textbooks, or left to the teacher to show how in the proper limit the classical results are recovered from quantum calculations.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
A "Must Read"
28 Oct 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Statistical Mechanics is a notoriously difficult subject. This books lays out the foundations of this subject first using Classical Mechanics and then again using Quantum Mechanics. Dr. Tolman then shows how Thermodynamics concepts are related to Statistical Mechanics.
This book also includes a self-contained introduction to Quantum Mechanics that is one of the clearest introductions to that subject I have seen.
The treatment throughout is excellent. This is truly one of the best physics books I have ever read. And it was the standard work on the subject for thirty years.
If you are trying to understand Statistical Mechanics, you owe it to yourself to read this book. Furthermore, this is somewhat urgent as this marvelous Dover edition is now out of print. If you can get a copy at a reasonable price, buy it. You can always read it later...
Prerequisites? Strong calculus background. You should also have a passing familiarity with Fourier Transforms as they play a key role in the development of QM in this book. Also, some exposure to probability and combinatorics is required. Finally, some exposure to advanced classical mechanics will certainly be helpful as that is the launching point of the entire book.
Downsides? No exercises. Dated notation for QM. Few pictures. No discussion of Information Theory and its connection to Entropy. Perhaps a bit too much exposition on certain points. Also, this book makes repeated references to another book focused more on the applications of Statistical Mechanics. Sadly, this second book has been out of print for decades. Finally, this book is light on applications, but that is in keeping with the author's intent.
Nonetheless, a masterpiece.
This book also includes a self-contained introduction to Quantum Mechanics that is one of the clearest introductions to that subject I have seen.
The treatment throughout is excellent. This is truly one of the best physics books I have ever read. And it was the standard work on the subject for thirty years.
If you are trying to understand Statistical Mechanics, you owe it to yourself to read this book. Furthermore, this is somewhat urgent as this marvelous Dover edition is now out of print. If you can get a copy at a reasonable price, buy it. You can always read it later...
Prerequisites? Strong calculus background. You should also have a passing familiarity with Fourier Transforms as they play a key role in the development of QM in this book. Also, some exposure to probability and combinatorics is required. Finally, some exposure to advanced classical mechanics will certainly be helpful as that is the launching point of the entire book.
Downsides? No exercises. Dated notation for QM. Few pictures. No discussion of Information Theory and its connection to Entropy. Perhaps a bit too much exposition on certain points. Also, this book makes repeated references to another book focused more on the applications of Statistical Mechanics. Sadly, this second book has been out of print for decades. Finally, this book is light on applications, but that is in keeping with the author's intent.
Nonetheless, a masterpiece.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Classic book, thanks Dover
5 Aug 2000
Format:Paperback
Yet another fundamental work made available by Dover. Tolman's book cover all the fundamental concepts on the subject of statistical physics using classical mechanics and quantum mechanics. A handbook to read along modern and concise texts like chandler
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