Sam Treiman (1925–1999) was the Higgins Professor of Physics Emeritus at Princeton University. Helen Quinn is professor emerita of particle physics and astrophysics at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University.
Like a master craftsman intent on reducing his accumulated skills into a compendium of traditions and practices for his apprentices, Treiman tries to be as clear, precise, and succinct as possible. A vast store of experience in research and teaching informs every page. ---Hans Christian von Baeyer, Science For quantum mechanics fans looking for a bridge between books that provide vague, qualitative descriptions and those that require an extensive background in mathematics to be understood, Sam Treiman's The Odd Quantum offers a concise introduction to the field's concepts and practices, as well as guides to its most essential equations. * Publishers Weekly * Treiman's book is outstanding. . . . This is not at all a qualitative pictorial description of the quantum world, but a rigorous formulation of its axioms in a casual language. . . . [A] wonderful guided tour through quantum mechanics. ---Asher Peres, Physics World A concise and beautifully written summary of an expert's view of the subject. ---Barry R. Holstein, American Journal of Physics In Treiman's book, we have as good a shot as we may hope for an intelligible (if demanding) account of a very advanced topic in physics. He covers much material in a short space. . . . An exposition of how the exciting intellectual tool of quantum theory has grown in scope and application. ---Brian Pippard, Times Literary Supplement Writing for persons with a background in physics or mathematics, [Treiman] does an excellent job of looking at the difficult and unusual aspects of theory. * Choice *