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This is still one of the best books on Solid-State Physics. Very well written, easy to follow and with a wide range of topics. I would suggest it to any student interested in learning the basics.
Yes, this book is a little more advanced than Kittel as far as the math is concerned, but, in my opinion, no familiarity with solid state is required.The thing I really dislike about Kittel is his wording. I really liked them so much and found them very insightful.
I first read most of Kittel. I am interested in Magnetic Properties of Materials.
I started with chapters 31,32, and 33. I had to read it about 4 or 5 times to really know what he means.
Then, I started reading A&M. Then I found myself reading chapters 1-9, and kept going on.
It is just too concise and precise that if one misses one word he finds himself lost.
when i become the king of the world i will make it compulsory on everyone to study physics and then people will know about this book.
Like most physics books, the direct application of the physics to real world tools is an afterthought, as it took me 5 years of experience to finally realize that Ashcroft's treatment of phonons in later chapters could be used to describe the piezoelectric efficiency of acoustic sensors. As a side note, while it seems to be par for the course for most solid state texts, little is done to address the findamentals of crystalline structure that have led to the growth and evolution of the field of materials science. Despite having several decades to write a better book, few authors have.There are advanced chapters toward the end of the book that lay the foundations for superconductivity and vibrations in solids, among other things. It is not fair to under-rate the book simply because it is "old". The Ashcroft text is superior to other Solid State texts because of its readbility. In short, if you are an instructor considering a text for you upcoming course, I strongly recommend Ashcroft. Between Ashcroft and Kittel, a student would have a strong reference library. A lesser book by Ibach and Luth, while it has just a few positive qualities, will fail a student unless they have Ashcroft on hand.
However, it requires a leap of understanding to see that solid state physics is not just about semiconductors, but it is also about strength of materials and the fundamentals of transmission electron microscopy, among other things. The work in superconductivity is advanced for a typical solid state course and might be better for a special topics series, as it was when I was a graduate student. It is not over-written like some texts, and its presentation of fundamentals is appropriate for a graduate course in solid state physics. One of Ashcroft's introductory chapters summarizes a fundamental MSE text (such as Callister) very well by describing different crystalline structures and calculating packing fractions. Perhaps this is because the book is dated, or perhaps it is because many physics texts fail to make the link between consumer technologies and fundamental breakthroughs in understanding, as if it is beneath the moral integrity of physics to worry about the engineering that follows. Ashcroft will serve as a good primer for most solid state topics, and it is well augmented with Kittel. Ashcroft is not to blame for this oversight - perhaps publishers would rather separate these topics for diversification and an overall increase in sales. The physics hasn't changed since the book was introduced, though the applications have.
As a source for reading the book works very well, as concepts are explained throughly. Unfortunately this is the only solid fundamental Solid State physics book available. The problems at the ends of chapters have very little to do with the reading and there is no solution manual available. However I do not recommend using this book as a source for homework since the problems are more concerned with mindless algebra rather than physical concepts. A lot of "make this expression look like this" type problems.
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