One should have some familiarity with topics such as vectors and their representations, summation notation, matrices/matrix manipulations, and complex numbers! In addition, knowledge of trigonometry and calculus would be helpful. Why? The book takes full advantage of the symbolic representations of vectors, matrices, and integrals.This is the type of book that is compatible with the efforts of anyone who has some familiarity with these topics and desires to increase her/his understanding of Quantum Mechanics. The book should ease some of the confusion that one might encounter as the topics unfold. During the latter part of the book, some understanding of Classical Mechanics would be helpful (See Susskind's book on Classical Mechanics.).<br><br>I like this book because (1) it introduces one to a modern presentation of the subject, (2) it emphasizes the statistical nature of quantum states from the very beginning, and (3) it has exercises interspersed throughout the book so that one can check progress.<br><br>No answers are provided for the exercises. However, a close reading of the exercises demonstrate, for the most part, that they are of the "show that type." I am trying to convince myself that the author's proofs and suggestions (provided in the exercises) are sufficient to allow one to arrive at her/his own reliable solutions! I "have only just begun;" time will tell!<br><br>Even though the book has ~350 pages, they are not cluttered! The pages are manageable in that the print is of an "ideal size" and it doesn't take long to read a page. This enhances one's sense of accomplishment! The placement of the exercises is reminiscent of the "Programmed Instruction" books of yesteryear; you had to work your way to success!<br><br>I gave the book five stars because it is an excellent source for readers who have some previous experience with both the "older" and "newer" presentations of Quantum Mechanics but still remain intolerably confused. I fall in this category and have plenty of "fog" obscuring the topic! My copy of the book arrived over a week ago and at this point some of the "fog" is beginning to dissipate.