Will post again soon

I have been busy at school, but will be posting regularly again sometime this summer.
For now, I will be better about responding to comments and/or email. Until the summer,
a preview:
(1) books on General Relativity
(2) books on Group Theory in Physics
(3) books on Quantum Field Theory
(4) a list of book series like Feynman, Landau+Lifshitz, Sommerfeld, etc.

Walter Greiner's Theoretical Physics

Walter Greiner's "Theoretical Physics: Text & Exercise Books" is slowly becoming a classic series in the vein of Sommerfeld's "Lectures" or Landau & Lifshitz's "Course." His books cover a lot of modern topics with a heavy emphasis on Quantum Mechanics (QM) & Quantum Field Theory (QFT). Two outstanding features of his books are the many worked out exercises and historical/biographical notes. The original version (in German) of this series is already legendary in Europe. So far, 13 of the 15 books in the original series have been prepared for English speaking audiences. Note, however, that the English translations lag behind the German editions by several years! Reviews of the translation itself have generally been negative, whereas the pedagogical style has received high marks. His books do not have a bibliography, however, some references are given in situ. The original series had 11 core books and 4 "A"-label advanced topics/special chapter books. Around 1990, the first English set of "Theoretical Physics" was published. Only 5 volumes covering QM & QFT were published at that point. Since then, Springer has added 4 more volumes to English series. In the late 90's, the classical physics books were given their own series ("Classical Theoretical Physics"), but they lacked the "Contents of Examples & Exercises" that were common to the "Theoretical Physics" series. All of the English series books have essentially the same forward by D. Allan Bromley written in 1989.

Theoretische Physik (Theoretical Physics - the original series)

1. Band 1, Klassische Mechanik I, Kinematik und Dynamik der Punktteilchen - Relativität
   Volume 1, Classical Mechanics I, Kinematics & Dynamics of Point Particles and Relativity
   8th Ed. (2007), amazon.de
2. Band 2, Klassische Mechanik II, Teilchensysteme - Lagrange-Hamiltonsche Dynamik
   Volume 2, C.M. II, Systems of Particles and Lagrangian & Hamiltonian Dynamics
   8th Ed. (2008), amazon.de
3. Band 2A, Hydrodynamik
   Volume 2A, Hydrodynamics (Fluid Mechanics)
   w/ Horst Stock, 4th Ed. (1991), amazon.de
4. Band 3, Klassische Elektrodynamik
   Volume 3, Classical Electrodynamics
   7th Ed. (2008), amazon.de
5. Band 3A, Spezielle Relativitätstheorie
   Volume 3A, Special Theory of Relativity
   w/ Johann Rafelski, 3rd Ed. (1992), amazon.de
6. Band 4, Quantenmechanik, Einführung
   Volume 4, Quantum Mechanics, Introduction
   6th Ed. (2005), amazon.de
7. Band 4A, Quantentheorie: Spezielle Kapitel
   Volume 4A, Quantum Theory, Special Chapters
   4th Ed. (1993), amazon.de
8. Band 5, Quantenmechanik: Symmetrien
   Volume 5, Quantum Mechanics, Symmetries
   w/ Berndt Müller, 4th Ed. (2005), amazon.de
9. Band 6, Relativistische Quantenmechanik, Wellengleichungen
   Volume 6, Relativistic Quantum Mechanics, Wave Equations
   2nd Ed. (1999), amazon.de
10. Band 7, Quantenelektrodynamik
    Volume 7, Quantum Electrodynamics
    w/ Joachim Reinhardt, 2nd Ed. (1995), amazon.de
11. Band 7A, Feldquantisierung
    Volume 7A, Field Quantization
    w/ Joachim Reinhardt, 1st Ed. (1993), amazon.de
12. Band 8, Eichtheorie der schwachen Wechselwirkung
    Volume 8, Gauge Theory of Weak Interactions
    w/ Berndt Müller, 2nd Ed. (1994), amazon.de
13. Band 9, Thermodynamik und Statistische Mechanik
    Volume 9, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
    w/ Ludwig Neise & Horst Stöcker, 2nd Ed. (1993), amazon.de
14. Band 10, Quantenchromodynamik
    Volume 10, Quantum Chromodynamics
    w/ Andreas Schäfer, ? Ed. (2003), amazon.de
15. Band 11, Kernmodelle
    Volume 11, Nuclear Models
    w/ Joachim Maruhn, 1st Ed. (1995), amazon.de

Classical Theoretical Physics - English Series

1. Classical Mechanics, Point Particles and Relativity (amazon)
   1st English Ed. (2004), trans. from (?) 5th Ed. (1989)
2. Classical Mechanics, Systems of Particles and Hamiltonian Dynamics
   1st English Ed. (2003), trans. from 5th Ed. (1989)
3. Classical Electrodynamics
   1st English Ed. (1998), trans. from 5th Ed. (1991)
4. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
   w/ Ludwig Neise & Horst Stöcker, 1st English Ed. (1995), trans. from 1st Ed. (1987)

Theoretical Physics - English Series
(note this warning on the cheap reprints from amazon)

1. Quantum Mechanics, An Introduction
   4th English Ed. (2001), trans. from (?) 4th Ed. (1989)
   (cheap reprint (2008)? on amazon)
   originally: Theoretical Physics 1, QM, Int, 1st English Ed. (1989)
2. Quantum Mechanics, Special Chapters
   1st English Ed. (1998), trans. from (?) 3rd Ed. (1989)
3. Quantum Mechanics, Symmetries
   w/ Berndt Müller, 2nd English Ed. (2004), trans. from (?) 2nd Ed. (1990)
   (cheap reprint (2008)? on amazon)
   originally: Theoretical Physics 2, QM, Sym, 1st English Ed. (1989)
4. Relativistic Quantum Mechanics, Wave Equations
   3rd English Ed. (2000), trans. from 2nd Ed. (1987)
   originally: Theoretical Physics 3, QM, Relativistic Wave Equations, 1st English Ed. (1990)
   chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, & 13 are nearly identical to chapters 2, 4, & 5 in:
   Quantum Electrodynamics of Strong Fields
   w/ Berndt Müller & Johann Rafelski, 2nd Ed. (1985)
5. Field Quantization
   w/ Joachim Reinhardt, 1st English Ed. (1996), trans. from 1st Ed. (1993)
   (cheap reprint (2008)? on amazon)
6. Quantum Electrodynamics
   w/ Joachim Reinhardt, 4th English Ed. (2009), trans. from 2nd Ed. (1995)
   originally: Theoretical Physics 4, QED, 1st English Ed. (1992)
7. Quantum Chromodynamics
   w/ Stefan Schramm & Eckart Stein, 3rd English Ed. (2007), trans. from ? Ed. (1989)
8. Nuclear Models
   w/ Joachim A. Maruhn, 1st English Ed. (1996), trans. from 1st Ed. (1995)
   appears to be an update to the three volume Nuclear Theory w/ Judah M. Eisenberg:
   Volume 1, Nuclear Models (1975)
   Volume 2, Excitation Mechanisms of the Nucleus (1976)
   Volume 3, Microscopic Theory of the Nucleus (1975)
9. Gauge Theory of Weak Interactions
   w/ Berndt Müller, 3rd English Ed. (2000), trans. from 1st Ed. (1986)
   (4th English Ed. (2009) on amazon)
   originally: Theoretical Physics 5, GToWI, 1st English Ed. (1993)

Addison Wesley/Benjamin Cummings Books Since 2000

Addison Wesley & Benjamin Cummings (imprints of Pearson) have been updating classic texts over the last 8 years or so. In addition they've done a commendable job filling in the gap for undergraduate/graduate texts in astrophysics & cosmology. Their recent books can be identified by the attractive & consistent cover scheme they've been applying. Here's a fairly complete list in reverse chronological order:

• Foundations of Astrophysics (2009)
  
  by Barbara S. Ryden & Bradley M. Peterson
• Solid State Physics: Essential Concepts (2008)
  
  by David W. Snoke
• An Introduction to Modern Galactic Astrophysics and Cosmology, 2nd Ed. (2006) errata
  
  by Bradley W. Carroll & Dale A. Ostlie
• An Introduction to Modern Stellar Astrophysics, 2nd Ed. (2006) errata
  
  by Bradley W. Carroll & Dale A. Ostlie
• An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, 2nd Ed. (2006) errata
  
  by Bradley W. Carroll & Dale A. Ostlie
• An Introduction to Computer Simulation Methods, 3rd Ed. (2006) errata
  
  by Harvey Gould, Jan Tobochnik & Wolfgang Christian
• Open Source Physics: A User's Guide, 3rd Ed. amazon (2006) web
  by Wolfgang Christian
• Quantum Mechanics: An Accessible Introduction (2005)
  
  by Robert J. Scherrer
• Astrobiology: A Multidisciplinary Approach (2004)
  
  By Jonathan I. Lunine
• Particle Physics: A Comprehensive Introduction (2004)
  
  by Abraham Seiden
• Spacetime and Geometry (2003) errata
  by Sean M. Carroll
• Classical Electromagnetism (2005) errata
  
  by Jerrold Franklin
• Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity (2003) errata
  
  by James B. Hartle
• Introduction to Cosmology (2002)
  
  by Barbara S. Ryden
• Introductory Quantum Mechanics, 4th Ed. (2002) classic
  
  by Richard L. Liboff
• Mathematica for Physics, 2nd Ed. (2002) errata: RLZ-web & FIO-web
  
• by Robert L. Zimmerman & Fredrick I. Olness
• The Science of Sound, 3rd Ed. (2001)
  
  by Thomas D. Rossing, F. Richard Moore & Paul A. Wheeler
• Electromagnetism (2001)
  
  by Gerald L. Pollack & Daniel R. Stump
• Optics, 4th Ed. (2001)
  
  by Eugene Hecht
  
• Classical Mechanics, 3rd Ed. (2001) errata classic
  
  by Herbert Goldstein, Charles P. Poole & John L. Safko

Google Book Search

I've been trying to decide the best way to reference books on this blog. I've decided to go with Google. Amazon is fantastic, but Google Books has a couple of features that I love (1) a direct link to worldcat for library info and (2) a way to personalize comments for each book in a library. Over the next few days, all of the links in this blog will be switched over. In addition, all the books in my collection (plus many more) will be listed.

Finally, I am working on a very long and thorough post regarding books for General Relativity.

String Theory Books

String theory is a difficult subject that is still evolving. As a field of study becomes more familiar and better understood, the books that are published about it start becoming addressed to a wider audience (professional → student → layperson). There are plenty of popular books on the subject, but IMHO the more relevant indication of a field's conceptual progress is the availability of undergraduate level texts (practitioner → graduate student → undergraduate student). String theory is starting to approach the advanced undergraduate level, as evidenced by these books in reverse chronological order:

• String Theory Demystified
  (2008), undergraduate/graduate
  by David McMahon
• String Theory in a Nutshell
  (2007), graduate, errata
  by Elias Kiritsis
  
• String Theory and M-Theory: A Modern Introduction
  (2007), graduate
  by Katrin Becker, Melanie Becker, & John H. Schwarz
  
• Supersymmetry and String Theory: Beyond the Standard Model
  (2007), graduate/practitioner, errata
  by Michael Dine
  
• An Introduction to String Theory and D-Brane Dynamics
  (2004), graduate/practitioner
  by Richard J. Szabo
• A First Course in String Theory
  (2004, 2nd Ed. in Feb 2009), undergraduate/graduate
  by Barton Zwiebach
  
• D-Branes
  (hardcover 2003, paperback 2006), practitioner, errata
  by Clifford V. Johnson
  
• String Theory, Volume I: An Introduction to the Bosonic String
  String Theory, Volume II: Superstring Theory and Beyond
  (hardcover 1998, paperback 2005), graduate, errata for both volumes
  by Joseph Polchinski
  
• Quantum Field Theory of Point Particles and Strings
  (1998), graduate
  by Brian Hatfield
  
• Supersymmetric Gauge Field Theory and String Theory
  (1994), graduate/practitioner, errata
  by D. Bailin & A. Love
  
• Introduction to Superstrings and M-Theory
  (1988, 2nd Ed. 1999), practitioner
  by Michio Kaku
  
• Superstring Theory: Volume I, Introduction
  Superstring Theory: Volume 2, Loop Amplitudes, Anomalies and Phenomenology
  (hardcover 1987, paperback 1988), graduate/practitioner
  by Michael B. Green, John H. Schwarz, & Edward Witten