Modern Theory of Critical Phenomena

Rating:
Summary: Very poor typsetting
Review: I was very disappointed on receiving this book because of its poor quality typesetting. It uses a very old-technology typesetting program which is mostly courier with integral and summmation symbols added. The typesetting reminded me of the old Chi-writer version from graduate school days. It just turned me off. It would be easy enough for the author to rewrite the book with Latex which would improve it considerably. It may seem to be a shallow reason, but one gets use to seeing pleasing typesetting which facilitates reading. I would not have ordered this book if I was able to view some inside pages.

Rating:
Summary: A great introduction to RG and critical phenomena
Review: This is a very pedagogical introduction to critical phenomena, and the techniques to study it. In particular, Ma really explains the conceptual aspects of the renormalization group, and provides enough steps in the calculations of some standard theories that you can fill in the lines. This book has really been my first exposure to this topic, and I am definately applying it in my graduate studies!