Introduction to Quantum Computing

by Andrew Glassner

Fall 2025, 352 pp.

ISBN-13:

9781718504004

This book teaches practical lessons on how quantum computing really works while exploring the many useful things quantum algorithms can do.
Andrew Glassner uses high school-level math to explain the unusual behaviors of quantum computers, then expands to the formulas and techniques used in those computers’ unique programs.
By the end of the book, readers will be ready to create and run their own quantum algorithms to overcome a variety of practical challenges using quantum computers and simulators freely available online.

Author Bio

Dr. Andrew Glassner is a Senior Research Scientist at Weta Digital, where he uses deep learning to help artists produce visual effects for film and television. He was Technical Papers Chair for SIGGRAPH '94, Founding Editor of the Journal of Computer Graphics Tools, and Editor-in-Chief of ACM Transactions on Graphics. His prior books include Deep Learning: A Visual Approach (No Starch Press), the Graphics Gems series, and the textbook Principles of Digital Image Synthesis. Glassner holds a PhD from UNC-Chapel Hill and paints, plays jazz piano, and writes novels in his free time.

Table of contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
PART I: STATES, OPERATORS, AND SYSTEMS
Chapter 1: A Curious Deck of Cards
Chapter 2: Quantum States
Chapter 3: Operators
Chapter 4: Working with Qubits
Chapter 5: Systems
Chapter 6: Measurement
PART II: QUANTUM ALGORITHMS
Chapter 7: Teleportation
Chapter 8: Deutsch’s Algorithm
Chapter 9: Deutsch-Jozsa’s Algorithm
Chapter 10: Bernstein-Vazirani’s Algorithm
Chapter 11: Simon’s Algorithm
Chapter 12: Grover’s Algorithm
Chapter 13: Shor’s Algorithm
Chapter 14: Next Steps
Chapter 15: Notation
Bibliography
Index

The chapters in red are included in this Early Access PDF.