How many non-professors read research journals for fun?

[InquilineKea]

<p>After all, tenure is incredibly hard to get - and most people who strive for it don’t earn it.</p>

<p>So for those who couldn’t get tenure (and a lot other interested people) - do they still read research journals for fun? (or say, read through graduate level textbooks in other fields for fun)? </p>

<p>I just read a review of this: <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Spacetime-Geometry-Introduction-General-Relativity/dp/0805387323[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Spacetime-Geometry-Introduction-General-Relativity/dp/0805387323&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>which said…</p>

<p>

My comments come with a few caveats.</p>

<li>This is my fourth GR book.</li>
<li>I’m not hardcore into physics. I’m not a physic grad and I’m reading GR for fun. I have a decent graduate math background but I’ve been corrupted with 10+ years in working in various roles software engineering, electronics engineering and marketing.</li>
<li>I assume that since you’re considering buying this book, you’re goal is to get at the “real” GR, not the watered down discover channel version.</li>
</ol>

<p>With these caveats in mind, here are my comments.</p>

<p>First, on a scale of 1-5, I rank Carroll at level 3 in terms of math/physics maturity and thoroughness. Here is my full ranking of authors from my limited reading: 1. schutz 2. hartle 3. penrose 3. carroll 4. wald 5. physics journal articles</p>

<p>Second, using the rankings above, I recommend Carroll as the second port of entry. If you’re comfortable with multivariable calculus, start with schutz (#1). You’ll get warm fuzzies doing the toy exercises. But Schutz is tensor/math-lite. If you’ve had advanced calculus and geometry already, jump in with carroll (#3). But you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone else as polite to the reader. He won’t prepare you for 80 percent of what’s published. If you’re ready to throw off the training wheels and jump dive into mainstream GR go with Wald (#4).</p>

<p>Note that Hartle (#2) is a good “tweener” book with feel-good exercises and some of the full-on GR equations at the end. I bet most instructors teaching a first year grad course would go with Hartle along with a dose of supplementary material.</p>

<p>Third, don’t expect Carroll to be your last GR book purchase if you want to reach the promised land (see caveat #4). Living and breathing GR is found in physics journals and for that you’ll need Wald or another advanced GR book.

</p>

[cherrybarry]

<p>sure, although it’s a small community. but there are ppl who read textbooks and academic journals for fun. i’m reading a stat. mech. book this summer. after a while, you can start reading these texts from a pedagogical lens too, which sometimes is more interesting to analyze than the information itself</p>

[Milton_Roark]

<p>I pickup a few articles off of JSTOR from time to time. The political science articles are enjoyable even if they are somewhat jargon heavy. I also occasionally look through economics papers. It is really exciting to read the academic journals especially because they motivate you to learn more about a specific field. They also usually give me a different way to evaluate a certain topic.</p>

[UCLAri]

<p>After I finish my time in grad school, I sincerely doubt that I’ll ever pick up an academic journal ever again. 2 years of this is two too many. </p>

<p>Well, that’s a lie. I might still read Foreign Affairs…</p>