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Aspects of Symmetry: Selected Erice Lectures
This collection of review lectures on topics in theoretical high energy physics has few rivals for clarity of exposition and depth of insight. Delivered over the past two decades at the International School of Subnuclear Physics in Erice, Sicily, the lectures help to organize and explain material that a the time existed in a confused state, scattered in the literature. At the time they were given they spread new ideas throughout the physics community and proved very popular as introductions to topics at the frontiers of research.
420 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 6, 2012
I first heard about this book while reading through John Baez's wonderful mini-blog, "How To Learn Math & Physics" (http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/books.html). Baez characterizes the book as "a joy to read." I couldn't agree more.
Sidney Coleman was a legendary professor of physics at Harvard, into the mid-2000's when he finally succumbed to a neurone disease. His brash and witty personal style are everywhere evident in this book, a collection of lectures delivered in Italy over the course of several years. Prof. Coleman had insights into fundamental symmetries in the theoretical physics world that continue to be relevant 40+ years later.
Be forewarned: The level of thinking here is very high indeed. It is a shame that Coleman didn't live long enough to collect a Nobel Prize, which would certainly have come his way soon enough. Happily, between his writings and his recorded lectures (see Baez's page above for a link to some videos of Coleman teaching a course at Harvard back in the 1970's!), Coleman's extraordinary intellectual breadth and warmth remain for us to enjoy. I know that I don't understand everything I've read in this volume, but I can certainly appreciate it for what it is: a window into some exceptional ideas.
Sidney Coleman was a legendary professor of physics at Harvard, into the mid-2000's when he finally succumbed to a neurone disease. His brash and witty personal style are everywhere evident in this book, a collection of lectures delivered in Italy over the course of several years. Prof. Coleman had insights into fundamental symmetries in the theoretical physics world that continue to be relevant 40+ years later.
Be forewarned: The level of thinking here is very high indeed. It is a shame that Coleman didn't live long enough to collect a Nobel Prize, which would certainly have come his way soon enough. Happily, between his writings and his recorded lectures (see Baez's page above for a link to some videos of Coleman teaching a course at Harvard back in the 1970's!), Coleman's extraordinary intellectual breadth and warmth remain for us to enjoy. I know that I don't understand everything I've read in this volume, but I can certainly appreciate it for what it is: a window into some exceptional ideas.
February 26, 2016
Court and Spark
by Joni Mitchell
Love came to my door
With a sleeping roll
And a madman's soul
He thought for sure I'd seen him
Dancing up a river in the dark
Looking for a woman
To court and spark
He was playing on the sidewalk
For passing change
When something strange happened
Glory train passed through him
So he buried the coins he made
In People's Park
And went looking for a woman
To court and spark
It seemed like he read my mind
He saw me mistrusting him
And still acting kind
He saw how I worried sometimes
I worry sometimes
"All the guilty people" he said
They've all seen the stain
On their daily bread
On their christian names
I cleared myself
I sacrificed my blues
And you could complete me
I'd complete you
His eyes were the color of the sand
And the sea
And the more he talked to me
The more he reached me
But I couldn't let go of L.A.
City of the fallen angels
© 1973; Crazy Crow Music
by Joni Mitchell
Love came to my door
With a sleeping roll
And a madman's soul
He thought for sure I'd seen him
Dancing up a river in the dark
Looking for a woman
To court and spark
He was playing on the sidewalk
For passing change
When something strange happened
Glory train passed through him
So he buried the coins he made
In People's Park
And went looking for a woman
To court and spark
It seemed like he read my mind
He saw me mistrusting him
And still acting kind
He saw how I worried sometimes
I worry sometimes
"All the guilty people" he said
They've all seen the stain
On their daily bread
On their christian names
I cleared myself
I sacrificed my blues
And you could complete me
I'd complete you
His eyes were the color of the sand
And the sea
And the more he talked to me
The more he reached me
But I couldn't let go of L.A.
City of the fallen angels
© 1973; Crazy Crow Music
January 11, 2019
Un libro incredibilmente chiaro, preciso, essenziale, scritto da un grande della fisica teorica, che purtroppo è scomparso recentemente. Imperdibile per chiunque voglia studiare un po' di fisica moderna.
Want to Read
January 27, 2019Quantum field theory — for when you get really serious
*first : Sidney Coleman, Physics 253: Quantum Field Theory, 1975-1976 videos
Quantum field theory — for when you get serious
*first : Sidney Coleman, Physics 253: Quantum Field Theory, 1975-1976 videos
Quantum field theory — for when you get serious
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews