Statistical Mechanics (Harper's Chemistry Series) [Hardcover]

Donald A. McQuarrie (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0060443669 | ISBN-13: 978-0060443665 | Publication Date: July 1976 | Edition: 1St Edition

"Statistical Mechanics" is the extended version of McQuarrie's earlier text - "Statistical Thermodynamics" (USB 1984). This text (previously published by Longman Education) is an accessible introduction to the subject. It contains a large number of problems at the end of each chapter to help students understand the material and to introduce them to selected extensions.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

DONALD A. McQUARRIE, University of California, Davis --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 641 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins College Div; 1St Edition edition (July 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060443669
• ISBN-13: 978-0060443665
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,754,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The standard, but maybe not the best, July 3, 2003

By 

Justin Bois (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Statistical Mechanics (Hardcover)

McQuarrie's book is typically the standard text in many undergraduate and graduate programs, but I believe there are many other resources to learn statistical mechanics in a much clearer way.

I find the following things to be particularly annoying about the book:
1) The typesetting! The pages are very difficult to read, especially equations. It's a very old typeface and my eyes literally hurt after reading McQuarrie for too long.
2) Very few problems are worked out. Many important concepts that should involve more detailed discussion are simply left as exercises to the student. I believe that more peripheral results and extensions of fundamental material are better left as problems, as opposed to fundamental results.
3) The glaring absense of good discussion on spin systems (such as Ising magnets) and critical phenomena. These are VERY important topics in modern statistical mechanics.

I would recommend the following if you want to find good books on statistical mechanics:
1) If you want one comprehensive volume, use Linda Reichl's book.
2) If you are only interested in statistical thermodynamics, use David Chandler's book.
3) If you want both statistical thermodynamics and nonequatilibrium statistical mechanics, use Chandler and Robert Zwanzig's book.
Also, Kubo's statistical thermodynamics book is really good.

I really would not recommend McQuarrie. Save your eyes and get a more modern book with at least a better typesetting.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classical textbook., March 23, 2001

By 

Jason Dejoannis (Boston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Statistical Mechanics (Hardcover)

I have found this book to be an excellent resource during my PhD and postdoctoral studies in molecular simulations. It is concise, rigorous and spans the classic problems in statistical mechanics more thoroughly than any other text. The development of the central axioms and theorems and connection with macroscopic thermodynamics is quite enlightening.

I have studied the sections on: foundations, perfect gases, imperfect gases, crystals and liquids. The book also covers kinetic theory, reactions and more.

The book is necessarily concise and therefore is a bit difficult as a first course. However a diligent graduade student could conceivably "slog" through it and would later come to appreciate the rewards. For a cheaper alternative, turn to the other classic of this field by T. L. Hill.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Maybe good for a reference, but not the best first source, April 23, 2006

By 

A. Potter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Statistical Mechanics (Hardcover)

I am a engineering/physics student, and I used this book for a first year graduate course in statistical mechanics. The book contains a lot of information, and the chapters are extremely concise. In this, lies both the strengths and weaknesses of the book. I think that the short, too the point writing style makes this book an excellent reference. However, the relatively small amount of exposition made it hard to learn material for the first time from the book. Overall, I would not suggest this book as a first introduction to the subject. But i think that it could be a usefull reference for someone with some background in the subject.