Customer Reviews

Classical Electrodynamics (The advanced book program)

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1 star:		(3)

 

 

Schwinger's book about electrodynamics is a book that in my opinion is better and also more advanced then Jackson's Electrodynamics. One may call Schwingers introduction of the magnetic charge an annoyance, but in my opinion, he is making an excellent point about how physics should be done: open-minded and always marking where gaps might be, that needs to be filled later. In this respect he is not just teaching electrodynamics but rather how to think like a physicist. It has the benefit that one starts to question the validity of every equation and concept presented to verify it upon its correctness. This approach is a very good one and unfortunately not seen to often in many books in physics. Schwinger is indeed an exception and his book on top of everything covers more then Jackson as well. So, it is a highly recommended book.

This is a concise, clear, and coherent account of advanced classical electrodynamics. The equation density is higher than in most books. Mostly this means that intermediate steps of the many illuminating calculations of the book are included. Many interesting topics not normally included in this type of book are included. A lot of the mathematics needed is developed in detail. I recommed it strongly to both teachers and advanced students of the subject.

You can learn from Jackson's book mastering the special functions but have less compact idea about the principle of action in electrodynamics, which is nicely covered in Landau's classic book. Schwinger's book have both for you. Besides, Schwinger has the best way of introducing the special functions. This is a nice book on both math and physics. Should be used for standard textbook.

Schwinger might have been a great physicist, but his style is "anti-Feynman". Feynman strives (usually successfully) to get to the (physical) point, Schwinger buries the subject in a morass of formalism, which obscures both the mathematics and the physics (I should say that I am a mathematician, so maybe this book is good for physicists...).

I found this book to be completely useless to me. It relies heavily on pure math rather than physical insight to treat the subject. Electrodynamics is hard enough without focusing on the physics as if they were an equation to be derived. This book is intended as a replacement for Jackson, but somehow manages to be even less clear. There are plenty of other E&M books to choose from (Schwartz, Landau, Griffiths, Jenkins) and if you are looking for an alternative to Jackson, choose one of those.

Now this is a good book. Requires that you have a Physicist Handbook handy, but aside from that, it really is a great book. It does however, make one look into using different math techniques to arrive at solutions to unsolved problems. One can do that after reading this classic. God Bless those MIT lectures.

I have taken physics courses from one of the authors, Milton, and they were some of the best classes I have taken in physics. During the semester, first the foundation is laid then everything builds else builds from it. What comes next is built on what was was taught before. Everything is logical and is built up on what was lectured on previously. Take a few concepts and develop them really well, rather than a shotgun approach of more topics but less detail. This book is of the same style. I highly recommend it.

The authors have managed to retain the clarity and sweep of Schwinger's derivations.

Let's hope this book replaces the punitive one usually inflicted upon students.

Contrary to what is said in some reviews, this does not comment at all about the physics. It is only mathematics. Only useful to those looking for some math help in the field.