Algebra: 211 (Graduate Texts in Mathematics, 211)

1

This is comprehensive, clear and moreover accessible if at cost of a little work . It is ,of course, "a standard " and essential guide to what any algebraist should know regardless of course .

A really good book

If you want to learn algebra, read R. Godement's Algebra. If you want a good reference book, Lang is a smart choice. I don't know why so many graduate algebra courses list this book as the main text. The author is certainly competent, but this is *not* a textbook. Thus, when presented as a 'Graduate Text in Mathematics', Lang's Algebra is somewhat misleading. Hence 3 stars.

It is not often that an author of a graduate textbook shares their understanding rather than merely provide a collection of theorems and proofs. Lang always delivers on this front. I'm partial to analysis myself, so I was certainly hesitant picking up this tome. But you'll find that it has everything you need (and much more). I primarily used the first four chapters, as well as the chapter on algebraic varieties. Each chapter is concise and written in a conversational style. There are many many great exercises as well.

I love this book. It is, of course, not meant as a first exposure, but it is an amazing read if you are familiar with the basics of algebra. Every time I see some algebraic construction that I'm not familiar with I just look it up in Lang and read some epsilon-neighbourhood of the construction. The point is, the text is SO WELL ORGANISED that you really can learn about constructions and theorems and even general theories etc. very very quickly if you know what it's supposed to be about (i.e. if you don't need 5 pages of motivation and various visualisations etc.). The constructions and arguments leading to theorems and so on are almost always clearly recognisable. Also, great, huge list of references about anything of interest that comes up in the text (more specific references being at the end of the corresponding bits). Even if you don't buy it now, a time WILL COME that you'll want to have this book on your shelf.

It's really an amazing book. The quality of pages, the printing and overall of whole book is good. I definitely suggest to buy this book if you want to invest your time, money & energy in some good book.

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