Thermodynamics and an introduction to thermostatistics

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1. chermiJun 2024
   Crutchfield has recorded lectures on YouTube. I thought they were quite good. I'm biased toward learning statistical mechanics and nonlinear dynamics as a starting point. Search "phy 256 a(b) crutchfield" on YouTube. Crutchfield has been doing amazing work for quite some time. If you want a critical and very entertaining read, I would check out cosma shalizi's blog. He does a lot of book reviews too that may be helpful. http://bactra.org/weblog/

   Other names/references include "The nature of computation" Stuart kauffman. "Nonlinear dynamics and chaos"

   Too many stat mech books to possibly recommend, for the idea of emergence you'll want something including phase transitions so... Can't go wrong with 'thermodynamics and an introduction to thermostatistics". And for stat mech with lots of complex systems diversions, Sethna's book is excellent but difficult to learn from. "Entropy, complexity, and order parameters. Names in thermo/complexity: Sethna Goldenfeld Parisi HE stanley

   Finally, it's hard to talk about complex systems without talking about networks, "Networks"-Newman is unambiguously the best choice. Names in networks: Mark Newman Reka Albert Avoid barabasi especially more recent stuff.

   There may be better lectures/resources out there I don't know of, but I would start with crutchields lectures. Note again I am coming from heavy physics bias.

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2. RazorXNov 2022
   The Geometry of Physics: An Introduction by Theodore Frankel

   A masterpiece that formalizes all of the handway bits you learned in physics. Will change your perspective forever.

   Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics Herbert B. Callen

   The only book that actually taught me thermo. Everything else was just confusing garbage.

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3. chermiDec 2021
   You didn't ask me, but piggybacking anyway. Some of these I've been going back to for years starting back in my PhD, working through some ideas as I have time. Some I have recently been learning new things from.

   Approximately in that order below:

   Too many stat mech books, but honestly favorite is this old one. If you want a real challenge try to read to the OG Gibbs. Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics

   Lectures On Phase Transitions And The Renormalization Group

   Probability Theory: The Logic of Science

   Information Theory, Inference and Learning Algorithms

   Information, Physics, and Computation

   Elements of Information Theory

   Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning

   The Nature of Computation

   Principles of Cyber-Physical Systems

   Introduction to Embedded Systems, Second Edition: A Cyber-Physical Systems Approach

   Data-Driven Science and Engineering: Machine Learning, Dynamical Systems, and Control

   An Invitation to Applied Category Theory: Seven Sketches in Compositionality

   BTW, feel free to ask for recommendations in physics, especially stat mech, simulation/computation, condensed matter theory

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