MAA Reviews

<< homepage

 

show printer friendly

send to a friend

Algebra, Volume I

See the table of contents

MAA Review

In the glad to have you back department, I'm delighted that Springer has decided to reprint the two volumes of B. L. van der Waerden's Algebra. Based in part on lectures by Emmy Noether and Emil Artin, this is the book that brought "abstract algebra" to the mathematical world. It is not for the faint of heart: van der Waerden is terse and precise and does not spend much time on easy details. On the other hand, the book reflects the excitement that accompanied the birth of axiomatic algebra. It was written when the power of the new methods was still news for most mathematicians, and a guide to the new ideas was still needed. This is that guide. It covers all the usual topics and then some. Not, perhaps, a book to give to an undergraduate (though who knows? for some undergraduates, it might just work), but still a book to treasure. I'm glad it's back. My only hesitation is to wonder whether it would not have been better to bring it back as one fat volume instead of two thin ones.

BLL*** — The Basic Library List Committee considers this book essential for undergraduate mathematics libraries.

Comments

Submit your Review