This book fills a gap between many of the basic solid state physics and materials science

books that are currently available. It is written for a mixed audience of electrical

engineering and applied physics students who have some knowledge of elementary

undergraduate quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. This book, based on a

successful course taught at MIT, is divided pedagogically into three parts: (I) Electronic

Structure, (II) Transport Properties, and (III) Optical Properties. Each topic is explained

in the context of bulk materials and then extended to low-dimensional materials where

applicable. Problem sets review the content of each chapter to help students to understand

the material described in each of the chapters more deeply and to prepare them to master

the next chapters.