Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics
Recommendations from 25 sampled comments out of 25 eligible comments. This page covers the sample, rather than the entire HN thread.
senorcrab · Jan 3, 2026The Road to Reality by Roger Penrose
QuadmasterXLII · Jan 3, 2026Road to Reality is excellent.
aristofun · Jan 4, 2026many specific topics and areas covered in a set of books under same authors
senorcrab · Jan 3, 2026Course of Theoretical Physics by Landau
codinhood · Jan 4, 2026I strongly recommend this textbook. I used in college, and it's really good.
senorcrab · Jan 3, 2026Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick, Walker
senorcrab · Jan 3, 2026University Physics by Young and Freedman
timthorn · Jan 3, 2026I also second OgsyedIE's suggestion og Young & Freedman.
senorcrab · Jan 3, 2026Geometry, Topology, and Physics by Nakahara
rramadass · Jan 3, 2026Walecka's books seem to be more mathematically rigorous than most others.
senorcrab · Jan 3, 2026Modern Physics by Krane
rramadass · Jan 3, 2026The Felder & Felder book looks really good and doesn't seem as mathematical as Walecka i.e. more expository.
OgsyedIE · Jan 3, 2026OpenStax series of free textbooks published by Rice University
thraxil · Jan 3, 2026Leonard Susskind's "The Theoretical Minimum" series is a great start.
kurtis_reed · Jan 3, 2026Understanding Time and Space by Steven E Landsburg