The Theoretical Minimum
Leonard Susskind's intuitive introduction to QFT - perfect companion to the rigorous MIT course
What is "The Theoretical Minimum"?
The Theoretical Minimum is a series of Stanford lectures and books by Professor Leonard Susskind, designed to give you the absolute minimum theoretical foundation needed to understand modern physics.
Unlike traditional textbooks that dive deep into mathematical formalism, Susskind focuses on physical intuition and conceptual understanding. His conversational teaching style makes complex topics accessible without sacrificing depth.
📚 The Book Series
- Classical Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum (2013)
- Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum (2014)
- Special Relativity and Classical Field Theory: The Theoretical Minimum (2017)
- General Relativity: The Theoretical Minimum (2023)
All co-authored with Art Friedman (and André Cabannes for GR)
This section combines Susskind's video lectures from Stanford with summaries of key concepts, providing an intuitive on-ramp before diving into the more rigorous MIT-based main course.
🎯 How to Use This Section
🌟 For Beginners
- Start here with Susskind's lectures
- Build intuition with physical concepts
- Watch videos & review key concepts
- Then transition to MIT course for rigor
🚀 For Advanced Students
- Jump directly to MIT course
- Use this section when concepts feel abstract
- Return for intuitive explanations
- Balance rigor with understanding
📖 Course Modules
1. Special Relativity & Classical Fields
Spring 2012 • 10 lectures
Space-time, four-vectors, Lorentz transformations, and classical field theory. The foundation for understanding relativistic quantum fields.
2. Advanced Quantum Mechanics
Fall 2013 • 10 lectures
Deep dive into quantum mechanics: Dirac equation, spin, fermions vs bosons. Essential QM foundations before quantizing fields.
3. Particle Physics: Basic Concepts
Fall 2009 • 10 lectures
Introduction to quantum field theory! Particles as field excitations, creation/annihilation, and the basics of interactions.
4. Particle Physics: The Standard Model
Winter 2010 • 10 lectures
Gauge symmetry, QED, weak interactions, and QCD. Building up to the complete Standard Model of particle physics.
💡 Why Leonard Susskind?
Leonard Susskind is one of the founding fathers of string theory, discoverer of holographic principle, and professor at Stanford for over 50 years.
- Physical Intuition: Explains why before how
- Conversational Style: Feels like learning from a friend at a blackboard
- No Prerequisites: Assumes only basic calculus and physics
- Complementary to MIT: Perfect balance of intuition + rigor
- Accessible: Free videos + affordable books
"The minimum you need to know to understand modern physics" - Leonard Susskind