/lit/ - Literature

>>21011036
pic rel gives a good start but is more math-focused overall. Then again, most undergrad physics is just math (and virtually every part of math finds its use in physics somewhere).
Here are some math books good for physicists. They are very pedagogically sound. Tons of interesting examples and geometric intuition. I don't think you need any knowledge of physics to read these.
>Hori et al. Mirror Symmetry.
Just chapter 1 is an amazing exposition on differential geometry.
>Baez. Gauge Fields, Knots, and Gravity
Probably the best starting place for differential geometry I've read.
>Bertlmann. Anomalies in Quantum Field Theory
Chapter 1 is a good summary.
>Isham. Modern Differential Geometry for physicists
Not that careful since these are lecture notes but it covers plenty
>Hermann. Lie Groups for Physicists.
Hidden gem from the 60s.
>Schlichenmaier. Riemann Surfaces, Algebraic Curves, and Moduli Spaces
Just an amazing intro to complex algebraic geometry with excellent references.
>Rubakov. Classical Theory of Gauge Fields
Covers some gauge theory without needing quantum mechanics knowledge.
>Cahn. Semi-simple Lie Algebras and their Representations
Covers the basics of representation theory for the gauge groups that physicists mostly care about, U(1), SU(2), SU(3). For context. Yang-Mills gauge theory over the gauge groups U(1)xSU(2) describe the electroweak (electric and weak) force and over SU(3) desribes the strong force (called chromodynamics for the "colors" of particles).
>Geroch. Mathematical Physics
Despite its name, this is really a book on category theory.
Here are some math books that I found especially easy to read.
>Smith et al. Invitation to Algebraic Geometry.
Very clean and short book on classical varieties.
>Artin. Algebra.
Motivating book on algebra for geometers, emphasizes linear algebra, representation theory, and geometry instead of number theory.
>Guillemin and Pollack. Differential Topology
Physicists I know love this one. It's just an expanded version of Milnor's book. Milnor's book is also good but it's too concise for beginners.
>Rosenlicht. Intro to Analysis
Good intro to Analysis. There's also Zorich's excellent series that is specifically focused on physics.
>Lieb and Loss. Analysis
Makes grad analysis easy to understand.
>Eisenbud. Geometry of Schemes
Gives geometric intuition for schemes.
>Hatcher. Algebraic Topology
Very complete book on classical algebraic topology that's easy to read.
>Griffiths and Harris. Principles of Algebraic Geometry
This is on complex algebraic geometry. The more expanded Schlichenmaier.

The /sci/ wiki has a good article for just physics books (since I just mentioned math books): https://4chan-science.fandom.com/wiki/Physics_Textbook_Recommendations
I'd personally add Nair's and Zinn-Justin's books on QFT. For string theory, there's Deligne et al.'s series that's excellent but very math-focused.
Also see this: https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/books+and+reviews+in+mathematical+physics