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A Book of Abstract Algebra
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Accessible but rigorous, this outstanding text encompasses all of the topics covered by a typical course in elementary abstract algebra. Its easy-to-read treatment offers an intuitive approach, featuring informal discussions followed by thematically arranged exercises. Intended for undergraduate courses in abstract algebra, it is suitable for junior- and senior-level math
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Paperback, Second Edition, 400 pages
Published
January 14th 2010
by Dover Publications
(first published March 1st 1982)
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Holy morphism, this book is great. I can't wait until they inevitably publish the gilded-leaf KJV of it.
The first chapter is enough to get you psyched about Abstract Algebra. He makes it perfectly clear what our motivation is, so when groups and rings start coming, they feel so natural rather than like arcane math objects. I've been evangelizing to friends and coworkers the spirit of algebra with (very) limited success.
If I may be so bold as to skirt on the edges of blasphemy, some other peopl ...more
The first chapter is enough to get you psyched about Abstract Algebra. He makes it perfectly clear what our motivation is, so when groups and rings start coming, they feel so natural rather than like arcane math objects. I've been evangelizing to friends and coworkers the spirit of algebra with (very) limited success.
If I may be so bold as to skirt on the edges of blasphemy, some other peopl ...more

A Book of Abstract Algebra gives an excellent introduction to abstract algebra. The contents cover groups, rings, and fields as well as some history and additional related topics (such as a brief introduction to number theory). It is one of the most accessible books published by Dover and reads like a novel. Solutions to selected exercises are available in the back of the book.

A really useful book for those interested in learning algebra through self-study as a first exposure! The book is good in that it contains a big variety of topics (groups, rings, even a material on number theory and Galois theory), but is still very straightforward in its exposition, and builds on more conceptually straightforward concepts to bridge the gap between a person used to more computational math to someone who could learn abstract algebra.
Main gripes with the book is that the exercises ...more
Main gripes with the book is that the exercises ...more

Generally a good book, it does have some downsides. The explanations are good and start out with a minimum of assumed knowledge. The exercises are generally good and interesting, but only a few of them have solutions provided, making it very difficult to know when you have made a mistake. Additionally, there are a number of small errors in the book, some of which are difficult to catch. There is no published errata so the reader is on their own in trying to avoid these errors. In short, this boo
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Great book on abstract algebra! There were a number of things that I either did not understand or find strong motivation for when I originally learned the subject, but this book walked through these for all the material it presented extremely well! Coverage of groups, rings, field extensions, FHT, and applications to polynomials followed roughly what I did in class, so this book served as a really nice cover-up. There are also a TON of exercises in the book, though they generally weren't especia
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Despite the title, I found this monograph by Pinter surprisingly accessible! It would make an excellent accompanying text for any upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level course in modern algebra, to go along with (for example) Herstein's legendary text.
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Positives: This is a lovely book, making algebra (groups, rings, isomorphisms...) less scary.
Negatives: The lack of solutions to most of the exercises means I've no idea if I'm getting any of this right or not. Sometimes I don't even understand what the question is :-( ...more
Negatives: The lack of solutions to most of the exercises means I've no idea if I'm getting any of this right or not. Sometimes I don't even understand what the question is :-( ...more

Fantastic introduction to abstract algebra at the senior undergrad or beginner grad level. Pinter writes with passion and transforms what may seem like a too-abstract field into a lively study. My motivation for reading this book was to better understand the fundamental ideas behind things like “addition” and “multiplication” on different “objects”: schoolchildren know how to do them for numbers, and later we learn how to do them for more complex objects like matrices and functions. The amazing
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Probably the best book on the subject I've found so far. Other books of comparable size (it's not a huge book) don't seem to cover as much ground, or as effectively. Concise but still very readable, and it doesn't skimp on exercises. In fact, a lot of its conciseness probably comes from the fact that it explains a lot of its material more in-depth through exercises.
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Very good introduction to abstract algebra. Puts it on a very simple level, but that's good for students who are seeing this level of abstraction for the first time in their lives. By the end of the book it does get more difficult, but by then they've had more time to get used to everything.
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Apr 04, 2021
Ian Finlay
added it
My teacher really likes this book. As a student, it's pretty clear and enjoyable to read when I get the concepts.
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