This book had its origins in lectures presented at EPFL, Lausanne, during two separate visits (the most recent being to IRRMA). The author is most grateful to Professors A. Baldereschi, R. Car, and A. Quattropani for making these visits possible, and for the splendidly stimulating environment provided. Professors S. Baroni and R. Resta also influenced considerably the presentation of material by constructive help and comments. Most importantly, Chapters 4 and 5 were originally prepared for a review article by Professor G. Senatore, then at Pavia and now in Trieste, and myself for Reviews of Modem Physics (1994). In the 'course of this collaboration, he has taught me a great deal, especially about quantum Monte Carlo procedures, and Chapter 5 is based directly on this review article. Also in Chapter 4, my original draft on Gutzwiller's method has been transformed by his deeper understanding; again this is reflected directly in Chapter 4; especially in the earlier sections. In addition to the above background, it is relevant here to point out that, as a backcloth for the present, largely state of the art, account, there are two highly relevant earlier books: The Many-body Problem in Quantum Mechanics with W.