Includes bibliographical reference and index.

This text explains the features of quantum and statistical field systems that result from their field-theoretic nature and are common to different physical contexts. It supplies the practical tools for carrying out calculations and discusses the meaning of the results. The central concept is that of effective action (or free energy), and the main technical tool is the path integral, although other formalisms are also mentioned. The author emphasizes the simplest models first, then progresses to discussions of real systems before addressing more general and rigorous conclusions. The book is structured around carefully selected problems, which are solved in detail.