Customer Reviews

Geometrical Methods of Mathematical Physics

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a very enjoyable and clearly written book. From a physics point of view the approach is rather abstract, so although differential geometry is developed from 'scratch', it is probably better to have studied a more elementary text on the theory of 2-surfaces in 3-space first (eg Faber's book Differential Geometry and Relativity Theory ). The first chapter sets the mathematical background expected of the reader. The rudiments of analysis, topology, calculus of many variables and basic linear algebra is reviewed.The ensuing chapters cover differential geometry from a 'modern' viewpoint but the style is quite relaxed and the links to 'co-ordinate approach' are well explained. The exercises concentrate on the abstract approach. Throughout the book the underlying structure of manifolds is concentrated upon. No extra 'structure' eg connections and 'distance' concepts are added until the final chapter on Riemannian spaces. For example the metric tensor throughout the body of the book is merely used as a map between a tangent space and its dual space. It is only used as a 'distance' operator in the final chapter.For the purposes of independent study this is a sound book, there are hints and partial solutions for many of the exercises, which is always a welcome feature for those studying entirely on their own.

A heuristic and intuitive intro. to manifolds, fiber bundles, connections etc. Some applications are briefly touched upon. This is a good book to study for those that feel they didn't learn enough geometry from their GR class. Note: no complex algebraic geometry here, so this book would be considered too elementary for those looking for a mathematics book for strings.

Advanced mathematics, such as differential geometry and topology, plays an important role in many areas of physics. This excellent book covers one of these topics, differential geometry. This is a topic essential for understanding general relativity and gauge theory. There are several good books aimed at physicists that cover differential geometry. While some of these have a broader scope than this book, nevertheless this book is my favorite one for differential geometry.

The topics covered include those necessary for reading advanced treatments of general relativity (such as Wald or Misner/Thorne/Wheeler). These include manifolds, fiber bundles, tangent/cotangent bundles, forms, Lie derivatives, Killing vectors and Lie groups.

Following this basic material a chapter covering some applications to physics, one example is electromagnetism. Up to this point the consideration of manifolds had been fairly general. In the final chapter the implications of adding a connection, and then a metric, are considered.

Why do I think this book is so good? It's not the breadth of material covered, this book is very focused on a limited range of material. It's the quality of the presentation for what it does cover. The development follows a logical order, the writing is exceptionally clear and the diagrams are very useful since Schutz explains them so well.

This book presents the basic concepts of differential geometry in a clear, concise manner using modern notation. Schutz's writing style is very readable and there is a considerable breadth of coverage. In areas where one might wish for greater depth, Schutz provides excellent references. My only regret is that the physical applications chapters weren't longer. An excellent starter book and a good quick reference if you continue in differential geometry, GR or field theory.

Written in a attractive and even seductive way, relying more on Lie algebraic language than is typical, this book is probably as stimulating an intro. to modern geometry as you can find, within certain limits. The section on noncoordinate bases might have been more clearly written, however. Frobenius's theorm is discussed, something that Fomenko et al should have covered, and the section on connections can be worked throuigh independently of the heavy machinery of exterior differential forms, which is attractive for physics students.

This book presents the basic concepts of differential geometry in a clear, concise manner using modern notation. Schutz's writing style is very readable and there is a considerable breadth of coverage. In areas where one might wish for greater depth, Schutz provides excellent references. My only regret is that the physical applications chapters weren't longer. An excellent starter book and a good quick reference if you continue in differential geometry, GR or field theory.

The exposition in this book is concise, intuitive and, for the most part, quite lucid. It's really tops for getting the larger view, relating key mathematical concepts to applications in physics. As an autodidact, I've found it particularly productive to use this book in conjunction with a more detailed treatment on some particular topic, e.g. tensors, representation theory for groups and the relationship between that and Lie groups and algebras. I've also found it enlightening to supplement this book with the typically more detailed and superb expositions on some topic in Frankel The Geometry of Physics: An Introduction, Second Edition, another book I cannot praise to highly and think all autodidacts should study closely. In addition, there are solutions or hints to the exercises. It is a comparatively quick read and overall, quite enjoyable. I find that I return to this book often to review something I'm hazy on. Highly recommended for self-study but see the caveats below.

Despite my high praise, I think that this book is best used as a supplement to more thorough treatments of the math covered (mainly, differential manifolds, forms, Lie derivatives, Lie groups). With some foundation, the book can profitably be used to solidify and extend one's intuitive understanding of these mathematical topics and come to understand how they are of use in physics. One can also use the book to identify weakness in one's understanding and to determine what else one needs to study to make further progress.

Schutz states that the aim of "this book is to teach mathematics, not physics". In general, I do not think one's math should be learned soley from physics books (having experienced the inadequate job done on mathematics in typical general relativity and quantum mechanics books). This book is no exception despite its exceptional lucidity. The claim that one only needs reasonable familiarity with "vector calculus, calculus of many variables, matrix algebra ... and a little operator theory ..." is overly optimistic. In some narrow sense, it might be true that this is all that is required to follow the basic logic of the mathematical development, but to really understand the text, I believe some background in differential geometry, forms and Lie groups -- preferably acquired from math books written by mathematicians -- is required.

As I said, despite the caveats immediately above, I found the book both illuminating and enjoyable to read.

This book is only readable AFTER you have read Schutz "Introduction to general relativity", the latter is a much better book.

One key flaw is that the author tries to cover lots of stuff in very little space, which requires read to take leap of faith. Lie group and Lie algebra are not covered well in this book.

"Tensor Analysis on Manifold" is a good alternative on differential geometry, but the fonts are too small.

I had read first the "first course in general relativity"and was exited,so i fygured out that this book from the same author would reach the same standards,but it didnt.If Ihadnt read the first book from Schutz this book would be incomprenheceble.The greatest problem i think is the lack of exercices.Without them you cant really go anywhere.Another problem ,i believe,is the short space given to analyzeeach topic.Eventhough i understand tensor calculus very well I just cant get anywhere with the differential forms.
Eventhough its not the worst book out there its not the best either.My advise,buy a better book.

I am very angry with paying this much money for a book which obviously dosen't live up to it's name. Think I that Schuz's writing "exposition" is no more than symbolic buffoonery. If you want a book that will knack ya sax off than get a copy of Schutz's "A First Course in General Relativity". <end transmission>