Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell

This Quantum Field Theory text stands apart from others in so many ways that it's difficult to list them all :-). A very unique QFT introductory text. One problem with learning QFT is that it is so easy to get lost in the mathematical details that the core physics concepts often get obscured. In my opinion, Tony Zee overcomes this particular problem quite successfully. He keeps algebra to a bare minimum, and tries to find the shortest route to the physics ideas. He chooses examples that illustrate concepts in the fastest possible way. The chapters are short. So refreshing! Each chapter has one or two core ideas. You can go through one in ten minutes (glossing over the math), and then you go back and do the math. Part I (first eighty or so pages) is called "Motivation and Foundation" and is a rapid introduction to QFT. It is also a summary and sweeping overview --- introducing path integrals and Feynman diagrams and making a very intuitive transition from Quantum mechanics to Field theory. The next three parts cover spin-1/2 particles (Dirac spinors), renormalization, and symmetry (breaking), standard fare for QFT texts. A sampling of condensed-matter applications is given in Parts V & VI, and then current high-energy topics are treated in parts VII & VIII. The applications make this text stand out. There is a selection of advanced current topics like the quantum hall physics, surface growth, string theory, D-branes and quantum gravity, not usually found in introductory field theory texts. Of course none of these topics can be done justice in a book at this level, but getting a taste of advanced issues is a great treat. The exposition is breezy and chatty, as the author admits was his intention. The text is never boring to read, and is at times very, very funny. Puns and jokes abound, as do anecdotes involving the inventors of QFT. Renormalization is discussed through a lively dialog between student Confusio, a female Smart Experimentalist (SE), and a senior (Egghead) theorist. Ode to Galileo! Section headings alternate between serious and hilarious --- one section is called "Wisdom of the son-in-law". The path integral formulation of quantum mechanics comes out of a conversation between a teacher and a "wise-guy" student, who happens to be Feynman. And so on and so forth. The net result is a book which is much easier, and more fun, to read than any of the other common QFT books out there. Tony Zee's skills as a popular physics writer have been used to excellent effect in writing this textbook. One more distinctive feature is that there is equal emphasis on condensed-matter and high-energy applications. Most QFT texts today, unfortunately, are so biased toward particle-physics that they tend to put off condensed-matter students. A. Zee has broken the mold! Is the treatment "over"-simplified? Maybe simplified, but not dumbed-down. The high concept-to-pain ratio certainly seems worth the simplification. Is this

I am really pleased that Zee undertook to write this book. QFT can be a hefty topic. All too often, writers of many texts know their topic well but do an inadequate job of conveying to the reader where they are leading them as well as identifying the important insights that can be gleaned. In this manner, Zee's book stands out from the crowd. He likes to explain how to reason through a problem or idea. As I started reading the text, I found many things started making a lot more sense to me.From my perspective, Zee's book serves a dual role:1) Its a great book for picking up lots of useful concepts and techniques.2) Now that I have some orientation and sense of direction, I can go back to some of other texts on QFT and Superstring Theory and begin prying open some of the less accessible topics.The technical community is in need of more books like this. I hope Zee will go on to publish additional textbooks on related topics (for both an introductory level, and separately on a more advanced level).You should be aware that this book has three prerequisites: reasonable knowledge of Quantum Mechanics, Relativity Theory and a certain level of mathematical maturity. Without these prerequisites, you won't get very far in this book and will need to supplement it; whether having some other texts handy, or enlisting the help of a fellow colleague or professor to fill in the gaps.All in all, QFT in a Nutshell is a wonderful find. For the money and time spent putting my nose to the grindstone to learn something new and useful, this book has truly turned out to be one of my better purchases.

I could not imagine that one canexplain so much field theory concept in 500 pages.I taught QFT during the fall of2002, I regret that I did not have Professor Zee's book.

The first sentence of the text sets the tone: "Quantum field theory arose out of our need to describe the ephemeral nature of life." (The entire first chapter is available at http://pup.princeton.edu/chapters/s7573.pdf) This is *not* your father's quantum field theory text. I particularly appreciate that things are motivated physically before their mathematical articulation. Further, the author is willing to fill in steps (in chapter appendices), rather than take the "it will be recalled" or "it can be shown" approach across intermediate steps. Most especially though, the author's "heuristic" descriptions are the best I have read anywhere. From them alone the essential ideas become crystal clear. If you are comfortable with non-relativistic quantum mechanics and special relativity, but not so with their union, I think you will find this book very helpful.