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I'd add to this list Algebra, Chapter 0 by Aluffi. It's very clearly-written, even for a total beginner like me, but not dumbed down at all, and has a boatload
by thinkpad20 12y ago
I'd add to this list Algebra, Chapter 0 by Aluffi. It's very clearly-written, even for a total beginner like me, but not dumbed down at all, and has a boatload of exercises which IMO is very helpful for learning the material. While its focus is on algebra and not specifically a textbook on category theory, it introduces categories very early on and, to me anyway, explains them as well as or better than any other treatment I've read.
- psibi 12y agoHow does it compare it with Pinter's Book of abstract algebra ? I have been planning to settle on either one of them.
- unedjumacated 12y agoFrom Aluffi's text: This text presents an introduction to algebra suitable for upper-level undergraduate or beginning graduate courses. In this text, categories are introduced around p. 20, after a scant reminder of the basic language of naive set theory, for the main purpose of providing a context for universal properties. These are in turn evoked constantly as basic definitions are introduced. The word ‘universal’ appears at least 100 times in the first three chapters. That means Pinter's book is more elementary.