I’m pleased to say that a 10th anniversary edition of my book with Ike Chuang on quantum computing has just been released by Cambridge University Press (Amazon link).
Apart from expressing some authorial pleasure, the point of this post is to let people who already have a copy of the book know that the book hasn’t been substantially revised. Please don’t buy another copy under the impression that it’s an all-new edition. If you actually see a copy in “real life”, the publisher has gone to some effort to make it clear that the changes to the book are largely cosmetic – we have a new foreword, and afterword, and several people kindly contributed new endorsements, and the cover has changed a bit. But I’d hate to think that someone who already owns a copy and who orders their books online will buy a copy under the impression that the book has changed a lot. It hasn’t.
Why release a 10th Anniversary edition? The suggestion came from the publisher. So far as I understand publishing (which is not well), CUP was keen because it lets them make a renewed push on the book with booksellers. Keep in mind that the publisher’s primary customer is the booksellers, not the reader, and it’s to buyers at the booksellers that they are actually selling. I don’t understand the dynamics of sales to booksellers, but it seems that releasing an edition like this, with new marketing materials and endorsements, does result in an uptick in sales. Rather pleasantly, it also drops the recommended retail price substantially (from US 100 to US 75), so if you’ve been put off by the price, now is a good time to buy. (Admittedly, the way Amazon discounts books, it ends up not making that much difference if you buy from Amazon.)
Michael, this is a little bit off topic. But, I am trying to locate a Scientific American article on quantum computing which described the quantum logic gates with the use of billiard balls. Any ideas where that issue is?
I don’t recall, Michael, sorry.
Micheal, where or how can we get some help regarding solution of some of the exercise proofs of your book.
Ali: Unfortunately, I don’t know of any good source for such assistance.
I understood in ten days using this book what I tried to learn but failed using another one…No doubt I’d fail in my quantum computing course if I’ve never seen this book…Oh you’re so great and I wanna cry~~
Michael, are errata corrected in the 10th anniversary edition (that haven’t been corrected in any previous printing)?
It’s not available yet outside the UK. Do you suggest delaying a purchase until it is,
or purchasing the old printing now?
No new errata are corrected. I’m afraid I don’t have any recommendation about purchasing now or later; I’m a bit surprised it’s not yet available.
Mr. Webster,
You may check out the following book for billiard ball like examples of gates.
http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Computing-Computer-Scientists-Yanofsky/dp/0521879965
Look up in chapter 3.
Hi Mr. Nielsen
I need ur books instructors’manuel or anything about solutions of exercieses..
Please help
Best regards…
My university library only has the first edition. Have the changes in the last ten years been substantial enough that you would recommend a grad student shelling out for the new edition vs. borrowing the first?