100 Best Topology Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best topology books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

Featuring recommendations from Mark Kurlansky, Dan Hooper, Eric Weinstein, and 14 other experts.
1

Team Topologies

Evolving Organization Design for Business and Technology

Successful teams are fundamental to create successful outcomes for any business, across all industries, to include building and running modern software systems, and successful organizations take care in designing and evolving their team structures. In TEAM TOPOLOGIES DevOps consultants Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais share secrets of successful team patterns and interactions to help readers choose and evolve the right team patterns for their organization, making sure to keep the software healthy and optimize value streams. TEAM TOPOLOGIES will help readers discover: Team patterns used by... more
Recommended by Gene Kim, and 1 others.

Gene Kim@notoriousMVK @CloudBees Congrats to @matthewpskelton and @manupaisable for their amazing book, “Team Topologies,” which they’ll be signing this week, too! (Source)

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2

Algebraic Topology

In most major universities one of the three or four basic first-year graduate mathematics courses is algebraic topology. This introductory text is suitable for use in a course on the subject or for self-study, featuring broad coverage and a readable exposition, with many examples and exercises. The four main chapters present the basics: fundamental group and covering spaces, homology and cohomology, higher homotopy groups, and homotopy theory generally. The author emphasizes the geometric aspects of the subject, which helps students gain intuition. A unique feature is the inclusion of many... more

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3

Differential Forms in Algebraic Topology

Developed from a first-year graduate course in algebraic topology, this text is an informal introduction to some of the main ideas of contemporary homotopy and cohomology theory. The materials are structured around four core areas: de Rham theory, the Cech-de Rham complex, spectral sequences, and characteristic classes. By using the de Rham theory of differential forms as a prototype of cohomology, the machineries of algebraic topology are made easier to assimilate. With its stress on concreteness, motivation, and readability, this book is equally suitable for self-study and as a one-semester... more
Recommended by Eric Weinstein, and 1 others.

Eric Weinstein[Eric Weinstein recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

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4

Topology

This introduction to topology provides separate, in-depth coverage of both general topology and algebraic topology. Includes many examples and figures. GENERAL TOPOLOGY. Set Theory and Logic. Topological Spaces and Continuous Functions. Connectedness and Compactness. Countability and Separation Axioms. The Tychonoff Theorem. Metrization Theorems and paracompactness. Complete Metric Spaces and Function Spaces. Baire Spaces and Dimension Theory. ALGEBRAIC TOPOLOGY. The Fundamental Group. Separation Theorems. The Seifert-van Kampen Theorem. Classification of Surfaces. Classification of Covering... more

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5

Introduction to Topology

Highly regarded for its exceptional clarity, imaginative and instructive exercises, and fine writing style, this concise book offers an ideal introduction to the fundamentals of topology. It provides a simple, thorough survey of elementary topics, starting with set theory and advancing to metric and topological spaces, connectedness, and compactness. 1975 edition. less

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6
A contrarian argues that modern physicists' obsession with beauty has given us wonderful math but bad science.

Whether pondering black holes or predicting discoveries at CERN, physicists believe the best theories are beautiful, natural, and elegant, and this standard separates popular theories from disposable ones. This is why, Sabine Hossenfelder argues, we have not seen a major breakthrough in the foundations of physics for more than four decades. The belief in beauty has become so dogmatic that it now conflicts with scientific objectivity: observation has been unable to...
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Recommended by Barbara Kiser, and 1 others.

Barbara KiserThis is a firecracker of a book—a shot across the bows of theoretical physics. Sabine Hossenfelder, a theoretical physicist working on quantum gravity and blogger, confronts failures in her field head-on. (Source)

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7

Counterexamples in Topology

According to the authors of this highly useful compendium, focusing on examples is an extremely effective method of involving undergraduate mathematics students in actual research. It is only as a result of pursuing the details of each example that students experience a significant increment in topological understanding. With that in mind, Professors Steen and Seebach have assembled 143 examples in this book, providing innumerable concrete illustrations of definitions, theorems, and general methods of proof. Far from presenting all relevant examples, however, the book instead provides a... more

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9
This elegant book by distinguished mathematician John Milnor, provides a clear and succinct introduction to one of the most important subjects in modern mathematics. Beginning with basic concepts such as diffeomorphisms and smooth manifolds, he goes on to examine tangent spaces, oriented manifolds, and vector fields. Key concepts such as homotopy, the index number of a map, and the Pontryagin construction are discussed. The author presents proofs of Sard's theorem and the Hopf theorem. less

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10
Leonhard Euler's polyhedron formula describes the structure of many objects--from soccer balls and gemstones to Buckminster Fuller's buildings and giant all-carbon molecules. Yet Euler's formula is so simple it can be explained to a child. Euler's Gem tells the illuminating story of this indispensable mathematical idea.


From ancient Greek geometry to today's cutting-edge research, Euler's Gem celebrates the discovery of Euler's beloved polyhedron formula and its far-reaching impact on topology, the study of shapes. In 1750, Euler observed that any polyhedron composed...
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11
In the 1980's, James Gleick's Chaos introduced the world to complexity. Now, Albert-László Barabási's Linked reveals the next major scientific leap: the study of networks. We've long suspected that we live in a small world, where everything is connected to everything else. Indeed, networks are pervasive--from the human brain to the Internet to the economy to our group of friends. These linkages, it turns out, aren't random. All networks, to the great surprise of scientists, have an underlying order and follow simple laws. Understanding the structure and behavior of these networks will help us... more
Recommended by Anne-Marie Slaughter, Bill Barhydt, and 2 others.

Anne-Marie SlaughterLinked is about how to understand the world in terms of networks. To understand network science the first thing to do is to visualise the world the way you visualise the Internet or even the universe – hubs of infinitely intersecting networks. As the author says, everything can be reduced to links and nodes. This book is a very accessible introduction to the science of networks and to how to... (Source)

Bill BarhydtWritten before Facebook, this book predicts what the world will look like with amazing precision. (Source)

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12
World-renowned bestselling author Carlos Castaneda's Selection of his wrtings on the shamans of ancient Mexico.

Originally drawn to Yaqui Indian spiritual leader don Juan Matus for his knowledge of mind-altering plants, bestselling author Carlos Castaneda soon immersed himself in the sorcerer’s magical world entirely. Ten years after his first encounter with the shaman, Castaneda examines his field notes and comes to understand what don Juan knew all along—that these plants are merely a means to understanding the alternative realities that one cannot fully embrace on one’s own. In...
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Recommended by Aubrey Marcus, and 1 others.

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13

General Topology

Among the best available reference introductions to general topology, this volume is appropriate for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Its treatment encompasses two broad areas of topology: "continuous topology," represented by sections on convergence, compactness, metrization and complete metric spaces, uniform spaces, and function spaces; and "geometric topology," covered by nine sections on connectivity properties, topological characterization theorems, and homotopy theory. Many standard spaces are introduced in the related problems that accompany each section (340... more

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14
This series of books in physics and related subjects is designed to meet the needs of graduate students. Although not primarily research texts, they point out the direction which research is currently taking and where it is expected to lead. less

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15
This is the first volume of a three-volume introduction to modern geometry which emphasizes applications to other areas of mathematics and theoretical physics. Topics covered include tensors and their differential calculus, the calculus of variations in one and several dimensions, and geometric field theory. This new edition offers substantial revisions, and the material is written in concrete language with terminology acceptable to physicists. less
Recommended by Eric Weinstein, and 1 others.

Eric Weinstein[Eric Weinstein recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

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16
Written by an award-winning author, this classroom text comfortably brings students into the world of knot theory. It can be used as a course text for undergraduates and for supplementary reading or independent study by graduate students. less

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17

Topology for Computing

Written by a computer scientist for computer scientists, this book teaches topology from a computational point of view, and shows how to solve real problems that have topological aspects involving computers. Such problems arise in many areas, such as computer graphics, robotics, structural biology, and chemistry. The author starts from the basics of topology, assuming no prior exposure to the subject, and moves rapidly up to recent advances in the area, including topological persistence and hierarchical Morse complexes. Algorithms and data structures are presented when appropriate. less

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18

Geometry Revisited

Among the many beautiful and nontrivial theorems in geometry found in Geometry Revisited are the theorems of Ceva, Menelaus, Pappus, Desargues, Pascal, and Brianchon. A nice proof is given of Morley's remarkable theorem on angle trisectors. The transformational point of view is emphasized: reflections, rotations, translations, similarities, inversions, and affine and projective transformations. Many fascinating properties of circles, triangles, quadrilaterals, and conics are developed. less

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19

Homotopical Topology

This textbook on algebraic topology updates a popular textbook from the golden era of the Moscow school of I. M. Gelfand. The first English translation, done many decades ago, remains very much in demand, although it has been long out-of-print and is difficult to obtain. Therefore, this updated English edition will be much welcomed by the mathematical community. Distinctive features of this book include: a concise but fully rigorous presentation, supplemented by a plethora of illustrations of a high technical and artistic caliber; a huge number of nontrivial examples and computations done in... more

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20

Topology for Analysis

Starting with the first principles of topology, this volume advances to general analysis. Three levels of examples and problems make it appropriate for students and professionals. Abundant exercises, ordered and numbered by degree of difficulty, illustrate important concepts, and a 40-page appendix includes tables of theorems and counterexamples. 1970 edition. less

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Don't have time to read the top Topology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

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21
The book offers a good introduction to topology through solved exercises. It is mainly intended for undergraduate students. Most exercises are given with detailed solutions.In the second edition, some significant changes have been made, other than the additional exercises. There are also additional proofs (as exercises) of many results in the old section 'What You Need To Know', which has been improved and renamed in the new edition as 'Essential Background'. Indeed, it has been considerably beefed up as it now includes more remarks and results for readers', convenience. The interesting... more

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22

General Topology

"The clarity of the author's thought and the carefulness of his exposition make reading this book a pleasure," noted the Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society upon the 1955 publication of John L. Kelley's General Topology. This comprehensive treatment for beginning graduate-level students immediately found a significant audience, and it remains a highly worthwhile and relevant book for students of topology and for professionals in many areas.
A systematic exposition of the part of general topology that has proven useful in several branches of mathematics, this...
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23
This book gives an introduction to fiber spaces and differential operators on smooth manifolds. Over the last 20 years, the authors developed an algebraic approach to the subject and they explain in this book why differential calculus on manifolds can be considered as an aspect of commutative algebra. This new approach is based on the fundamental notion of observable which is used by physicists and will further the understanding of the mathematics underlying quantum field theory. less

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24
This book can form the basis of a second course in algebraic geometry. As motivation, it takes concrete questions from enumerative geometry and intersection theory, and provides intuition and technique, so that the student develops the ability to solve geometric problems. The authors explain key ideas, including rational equivalence, Chow rings, Schubert calculus and Chern classes, and readers will appreciate the abundant examples, many provided as exercises with solutions available online. Intersection is concerned with the enumeration of solutions of systems of polynomial equations in... more

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25
This book is a well-informed and detailed analysis of the problems and development of algebraic topology, from Poincar� and Brouwer to Serre, Adams, and Thom. The author has examined each significant paper along this route and describes the steps and strategy of its proofs and its relation to other work. Previously, the history of the many technical developments of 20th-century mathematics had seemed to present insuperable obstacles to scholarship. This book demonstrates in the case of topology how these obstacles can be overcome, with enlightening results.... Within its chosen boundaries... more

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26
This material is intended to contribute to a wider appreciation of the mathematical words "continuity and linearity." The book's purpose is to illuminate the meanings of these words and their relation to each other. less

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27

Differential Topology

Originally published: Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1974. less
Recommended by Eric Weinstein, and 1 others.

Eric WeinsteinFolks frequently ask “What are the books that changed your life?” If I tell them, they are usually radically disappointed. I find that curious. I just cleared out of an office, and these are 4 shelves of spines of books that mattered enough to me to bring home. So here they are. (Source)

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28

Counterexamples in Analysis

These counterexamples deal mostly with the part of analysis known as "real variables." The 1st half of the book discusses the real number system, functions and limits, differentiation, Riemann integration, sequences, infinite series, more. The 2nd half examines functions of 2 variables, plane sets, area, metric and topological spaces, and function spaces. 1962 edition. Includes 12 figures. less

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31

Topology and Groupoids

This is the third edition of a classic text, previously published in 1968, 1988, and now extended, revised, retitled, updated, and reasonably priced. Throughout it gives motivation and context for theorems and definitions. Thus the definition of a topology is first related to the example of the real line; it is then given in terms of the intuitive notion of neighbourhoods, and then shown to be equivalent to the elegant but spare definition in terms of open sets. Many constructions of topologies are shown to be necessitated by the desire to construct continuous functions, either from or into a... more

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32
This book is an introductory graduate-level textbook on the theory of smooth manifolds. Its goal is to familiarize students with the tools they will need in order to use manifolds in mathematical or scientific research--- smooth structures, tangent vectors and covectors, vector bundles, immersed and embedded submanifolds, tensors, differential forms, de Rham cohomology, vector fields, flows, foliations, Lie derivatives, Lie groups, Lie algebras, and more. The approach is as concrete as possible, with pictures and intuitive discussions of how one should think geometrically about the abstract... more

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33
The scion of a political dynasty ushers in the era of big government

Politics was in Benjamin Harrison's blood. His great-grandfather signed the Declaration and his grandfather, William Henry Harrison, was the ninth president of the United States. Harrison, a leading Indiana lawyer, became a Republican Party champion, even taking a leave from the Civil War to campaign for Lincoln. After a scandal-free term in the Senate-no small feat in the Gilded Age-the Republicans chose Harrison as their presidential candidate in 1888. Despite losing the popular vote, he trounced the...
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34

Cohomology of Groups

As a second year graduate textbook, Cohomology of Groups introduces students to cohomology theory (involving a rich interplay between algebra and topology) with a minimum of prerequisites. No homological algebra is assumed beyond what is normally learned in a first course in algebraic topology. The basics of the subject are given (along with exercises) before the author discusses more specialized topics. less

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35
This book is an introduction to manifolds at the beginning graduate level, and accessible to any student who has completed a solid undergraduate degree in mathematics. It contains the essential topological ideas that are needed for the further study of manifolds, particularly in the context of differential geometry, algebraic topology, and related fields.

Although this second edition has the same basic structure as the first edition, it has been extensively revised and clarified; not a single page has been left untouched. The major changes include a new introduction to CW complexes...
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36

Three-Dimensional Geometry and Topology, Volume 1

This book develops some of the extraordinary richness, beauty, and power of geometry in two and three dimensions, and the strong connection of geometry with topology. Hyperbolic geometry is the star. A strong effort has been made to convey not just denatured formal reasoning (definitions, theorems, and proofs), but a living feeling for the subject. There are many figures, examples, and exercises of varying difficulty.


This book was the origin of a grand scheme developed by Thurston that is now coming to fruition. In the 1920s and 1930s the mathematics of two-dimensional...
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37
They call it �speedcubing”—a mind-bending blur of quick twists and turns that solves Rubik’s Cube in times that have been clocked at less than 20 seconds! Today, thanks to the 2003 revival of the Rubik’s World Championships, speedcubing is spreading like wildfire. Here, complete with detailed illustrations and basic as well as advanced solving techniques, is the ultimate speedcuber’s guide. It not only gives the solution to the familiar 3x3x3 cube (which has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000—that’s 43 quintillion—possible positions), but also the 2x2x2, 4x4x4, and staggeringly difficult 5x5x5... more

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38

Principles of Topology

Topology is a natural, geometric, and intuitively appealing branch of mathematics that can be understood and appreciated by students as they begin their study of advanced mathematical topics. Designed for a one-semester introduction to topology at the undergraduate and beginning graduate levels, this text is accessible to students familiar with multivariable calculus. Rigorous but not abstract, the treatment emphasizes the geometric nature of the subject and the applications of topological ideas to geometry and mathematical analysis.
Customary topics of point-set topology include metric...
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39
Special Offer FREE TRIAL Access to 400+ practice questions that your child can practice with directly from our website. Chat with us at www.argoprep.com and mention PROMO: AMZARGOCC

This book is your comprehensive workbook for Daily Math Practice Grade 4 (Common Core Math).



By practicing and mastering this entire workbook, your child will become very familiar and comfortable with the state math exam and common core standards. This Daily Math Practice Grade 4...
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40
One of the ways in which topology has influenced other branches of mathematics in the past few decades is by putting the study of continuity and convergence into a general setting. This new edition of Wilson Sutherland's classic text introduces metric and topological spaces by describing some of that influence. The aim is to move gradually from familiar real analysis to abstract topological spaces, using metric spaces as a bridge between the two. The language of metric and topological spaces is established with continuity as the motivating concept. Several concepts are introduced, first in... more

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41

Topology

Contents: Introduction. - Fundamental Concepts. - Topological Vector Spaces.- The Quotient Topology. - Completion of Metric Spaces. - Homotopy. - The Two Countability Axioms. - CW-Complexes. - Construction of Continuous Functions on Topological Spaces. - Covering Spaces. - The Theorem of Tychonoff. - Set Theory (by T. Brcker). - References. - Table of Symbols. -Index. less

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42

Algebraic Topology from a Homotopical Viewpoint

The authors present introductory material in algebraic topology from a novel point of view in using a homotopy-theoretic approach. This carefully written book can be read by any student who knows some topology, providing a useful method to quickly learn this novel homotopy-theoretic point of view of algebraic topology. less

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44
Theodore Frankel explains those parts of exterior differential forms, differential geometry, algebraic and differential topology, Lie groups, vector bundles and Chern forms essential to a better understanding of classical and modern physics and engineering. Key highlights of his new edition are the inclusion of three new appendices that cover symmetries, quarks, and meson masses; representations and hyperelastic bodies; and orbits and Morse-Bott Theory in compact Lie groups. Geometric intuition is developed through a rather extensive introduction to the study of surfaces in ordinary space.... more

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46

A Basic Course in Algebraic Topology

This textbook is intended for a course in algebraic topology at the beginning graduate level. The main topics covered are: the classification of compact 2-manifolds, the fundamental group, covering spaces, singular homology theory, and singular cohomology theory. The text consists of material from the first five chapters of the author's earlier book, "Algebraic Topology; an Introduction (GTM 56)" together with almost all of his book, "Singular Homology Theory (GTM 70)." The material from the two earlier books has been substantially revised, corrected, and brought up to date. This textbook on... more

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47

Topology and Geometry

This book is intended as a textbook for a first-year graduate course on algebraic topology, with a strong flavoring in smooth manifold theory. Starting with general topology, it discusses differentiable manifolds, cohomology, products and duality, the fundamental group, homology theory, and homotopy theory. It covers most of the topics all topologists will want students to see, including surfaces, Lie groups, and fibre bundle theory.

With a thoroughly modern point of view, it is the first truly new textbook in topology since Spanier, almost 25 years ago. Although the book is...
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48

Schaum's Outline of General Topology

The ideal review for your general topology course

More than 40 million students have trusted Schaum's Outlines for their expert knowledge and helpful solved problems. Written by renowned experts in their respective fields, Schaum's Outlines cover everything from math to science, nursing to language. The main feature for all these books is the solved problems. Step-by-step, authors walk readers through coming up with solutions to exercises in their topic of choice. 391 solved problems 356 supplementary problems Teaches effective problem-solving Outline format supplies a concise...
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49

The Divine Proportion

Using simple mathematical formulas, most as basic as Pythagoras's theorem and requiring only a very limited knowledge of mathematics, Professor Huntley explores the fascinating relationship between geometry and aesthetics. Poetry, patterns like Pascal's triangle, philosophy, psychology, music, and dozens of simple mathematical figures are enlisted to show that the "divine proportion" or "golden ratio" is a feature of geometry and analysis which awakes answering echoes in the human psyche. When we judge a work of art aesthetically satisfying, according to his formulation, we are making it... more

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50
First year, undergraduate, mathematics students in Japan have for many years had the opportunity of a unique experience---an introduction, at an elementary level, to some very advanced ideas in mathematics from one of the leading mathematicians of the world. English reading students now have the opportunity to enjoy this lively presentation, from elementary ideas to cartoons to funny examples, and to follow the mind of an imaginative and creative mathematician into a world of enduring mathematical creations. less

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51
Pure Mathematics for BeginnersPure Mathematics for Beginners consists of a series of lessons in Logic, Set Theory, Abstract Algebra, Number Theory, Real Analysis, Topology, Complex Analysis, and Linear Algebra.The 16 lessons in this book cover basic through intermediate material from each of these 8 topics. In addition, all the proofwriting skills that are essential for advanced study in mathematics are covered and reviewed extensively.Pure Mathematics for Beginners is perfect for


professors teaching an introductory college course in higher...
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52

Metric Spaces

The abstract concepts of metric spaces are often perceived as difficult. This book offers a unique approach to the subject which gives readers the advantage of a new perspective on ideas familiar from the analysis of a real line. Rather than passing quickly from the definition of a metric to the more abstract concepts of convergence and continuity, the author takes the concrete notion of distance as far as possible, illustrating the text with examples and naturally arising questions. Attention to detail at this stage is designed to prepare the reader to understand the more abstract ideas with... more

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53

Undergraduate Topology

General topology offers a valuable tool to students of mathematics, particularly in such courses as complex, real, and functional analysis. This introductory treatment is essentially self-contained and features explanations and proofs that relate to every practical aspect of point set topology. Hundreds of exercises appear throughout the text. 1971 edition. less

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54
Since its original publication in 1990, Kenneth Falconer's Fractal Geometry: Mathematical Foundations and Applications has become a seminal text on the mathematics of fractals. It introduces the general mathematical theory and applications of fractals in a way that is accessible to students from a wide range of disciplines. This new edition has been extensively revised and updated. It features much new material, many additional exercises, notes and references, and an extended bibliography that reflects the development of the subject since the first edition.
* Provides a comprehensive...
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55

Geometry

This textbook demonstrates the excitement and beauty of geometry. The approach is that of Klein in his Erlangen program: a geometry is a space together with a set of transformations of that space. The authors explore various geometries: affine, projective, inversive, non-Euclidean and spherical. In each case they carefully explain key results and discuss the relationship among geometries. This richly illustrated and clearly written text includes full solutions to over 200 problems and is suitable both for undergraduate courses on geometry and as a resource for self study. less

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56

The purpose of this book is to put together in one place the basic elementary techniques for solving problems in maxima and minima other than the methods of calculus and linear programming. The emphasis is not on the individual problems, but on methods that solve large classes of problems. The many chapters of the book can be read independently, without references to what precedes or follows. Besides the many problems solved in the book, others are left to the reader to solve, with sketches of solutions given in the later pages.

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57

The Cambridge Companion to St Paul

The apostle Paul has been justifiably described as the first and greatest Christian theologian. His letters were among the earliest documents to be included in the New Testament and, as such, they influenced Christian thinking from its very beginning. This Companion provides an important assessment of the apostle as well as a new appreciation of his continuing contemporary significance. With eighteen chapters written by a team of well-known international Pauline specialists, the collection will have wide appeal and be an invaluable point of departure for subsequent studies. less

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58

Higher Topos Theory (Am-170)

Higher category theory is generally regarded as technical and forbidding, but part of it is considerably more tractable: the theory of infinity-categories, higher categories in which all higher morphisms are assumed to be invertible. In Higher Topos Theory, Jacob Lurie presents the foundations of this theory, using the language of weak Kan complexes introduced by Boardman and Vogt, and shows how existing theorems in algebraic topology can be reformulated and generalized in the theory's new language. The result is a powerful theory with applications in many areas of mathematics. more

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59
In this book we display the fundamental structure underlying classical electro- dynamics, i. e., the phenomenological theory of electric and magnetic effects. The book can be used as a textbook for an advanced course in theoretical electrodynamics for physics and mathematics students and, perhaps, for some highly motivated electrical engineering students. We expect from our readers that they know elementary electrodynamics in the conventional (1 + 3)-dimensional form including Maxwell's equations. More- over, they should be familiar with linear algebra and elementary analysis, in- cluding... more

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60

Essential Topology

Taking a direct route, Essential Topology brings the most important aspects of modern topology within reach of a second-year undergraduate student. Based on courses given at the University of Wales Swansea, it begins with a discussion of continuity and, by way of many examples, leads to the celebrated "Hairy Ball theorem" and on to homotopy and homology: the cornerstones of contemporary algebraic topology.

While containing all the key results of basic topology, Essential Topology never allows itself to get mired in details. Instead, the focus throughout is on providing interesting...
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Don't have time to read the top Topology books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
61

A Taste of Topology

If mathematics is a language, then taking a topology course at the undergraduate level is cramming vocabulary and memorizing irregular verbs: a necessary, but not always exciting exercise one has to go through before one can read great works of literature in the original language.

The present book grew out of notes for an introductory topology course at the University of Alberta. It provides a concise introduction to set theoretic topology (and to a tiny little bit of algebraic topology). It is accessible to undergraduates from the second year on, but even beginning graduate...
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62
Ten amazing curves personally selected by one of today's most important math writers

Curves for the Mathematically Curious is a thoughtfully curated collection of ten mathematical curves, selected by Julian Havil for their significance, mathematical interest, and beauty. Each chapter gives an account of the history and definition of a curve, providing a glimpse into the elegant and often surprising mathematics involved in its creation and evolution. In telling the ten stories, Havil introduces many mathematicians and other innovators, some whose fame has withstood the...
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63
Fractal Geometry is the geometry of the natural world - animal, vegetable and mineral. It's about the broken, wrinkled, wiggly world - the uneven shapes of nature, unlike the idealized forms of Euclidean geometry. We see fractals everywhere; indeed we are fractal! Fractal Geometry is an extension of classical geometry. Using computers, it can make precise models of physical structures - from ferns to galaxies. Fractal geometry is a new language. Once you speak it, you can describe the shape of cloud as precisely as an architect can describe a house. less

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64
This challenging problem-solving book on Euclidean geometry requires nothing of the reader other than courage. Readers will encounter cyclic quadrilaterals, power of a point, homothety, and triangle centers, as well as such classical gems as the nine-point circle, the Simson line, and the symmedian. Both a traditional and a computational view of the use of complex numbers and barycentric coordinates is offered, while more advanced topics are covered in the final part. These include inversion in the plane, the cross ratio and projective transformations, and the theory of the complete... more

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65

The Topology of 4-Manifolds

This book presents the classical theorems about simply connected smooth 4-manifolds: intersection forms and homotopy type, oriented and spin bordism, the index theorem, Wall's diffeomorphisms and h-cobordism, and Rohlin's theorem. Most of the proofs are new or are returbishings of post proofs; all are geometric and make us of handlebody theory. There is a new proof of Rohlin's theorem using spin structures. There is an introduction to Casson handles and Freedman's work including a chapter of unpublished proofs on exotic R4's. The reader needs an understanding of smooth manifolds and... more

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66

Elements Of Algebraic Topology

Elements of Algebraic Topology provides the most concrete approach to the subject. With coverage of homology and cohomology theory, universal coefficient theorems, Kunneth theorem, duality in manifolds, and applications to classical theorems of point-set topology, this book is perfect for comunicating complex topics and the fun nature of algebraic topology for beginners. less

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67
There is a canard that every textbook of algebraic topology either ends with the definition of the Klein bottle or is a personal communication to J. H. C. Whitehead. Of course, this is false, as a glance at the books of Hilton and Wylie, Maunder, Munkres, and Schubert reveals. Still, the canard does reflect some truth. Too often one finds too much generality and too little attention to details. There are two types of obstacle for the student learning algebraic topology. The first is the formidable array of new techniques (e. g., most students know very little homological algebra); the second... more

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68
Tough Test Questions? Missed Lectures? Not Enough Time? Fortunately, there's Schaum's. This all-in-one-package includes more than 650 fully solved problems, examples, and practice exercises to sharpen your problem-solving skills. Plus, you will have access to 25 detailed videos featuring Math instructors who explain how to solve the most commonly tested problems--it's just like having your own virtual tutor! You'll find everything you need to build confidence, skills, and knowledge for the highest score possible.

More than 40 million students have trusted Schaum's to help them...
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69

Lectures on Algebraic Topology

Springer is reissuing a selected few highly successful books in a new, inexpensive softcover edition to make them easily accessible to younger generations of students and researchers. Springer-Verlag began publishing books in higher mathematics in 1920. This is a reprint of the Second Edition. less

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70
Algebraic topology is a basic part of modern mathematics, and some knowledge of this area is indispensable for any advanced work relating to geometry, including topology itself, differential geometry, algebraic geometry, and Lie groups. This book provides a detailed treatment of algebraic topology both for teachers of the subject and for advanced graduate students in mathematics either specializing in this area or continuing on to other fields.

J. Peter May's approach reflects the enormous internal developments within algebraic topology over the past several decades, most of which...
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71

Algebraic Topology

A First Course

Great first book on algebraic topology. Introduces (co)homology through singular theory. less

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72
This textbook treats Lie groups, Lie algebras and their representations in an elementary but fully rigorous fashion requiring minimal prerequisites. In particular, the theory of matrix Lie groups and their Lie algebras is developed using only linear algebra, and more motivation and intuition for proofs is provided than in most classic texts on the subject.

In addition to its accessible treatment of the basic theory of Lie groups and Lie algebras, the book is also noteworthy for including:


a treatment of the Baker Campbell Hausdorff formula and its use in place of...
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73

Fibre Bundles

Fibre bundles play an important role in just about every aspect of modern geometry and topology. Basic properties, homotopy classification, and characteristic classes of fibre bundles have become an essential part of graduate mathematical education for students in geometry and mathematical physics. In this third edition two new chapters on the gauge group of a bundle and on the differential forms representing characteristic classes of complex vector bundles on manifolds have been added. These chapters result from the important role of the gauge group in mathematical physics and the continual... more

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74

Regular Polytopes

Foremost book available on polytopes, incorporating ancient Greek and most modern work done on them. Beginning with polygons and polyhedrons, the book moves on to multi-dimensional polytopes in a way that anyone with a basic knowledge of geometry and trigonometry can easily understand. Definitions of symbols. Eight tables plus many diagrams and examples. 1963 edition.
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75

A Topological Picturebook

Aims to encourage mathematicians to illustrate their work and to help artists understand the ideas expressed by such drawings. This book explains the graphic design of illustrations from Thurston's world of low-dimensional geometry and topology. It presents the principles of linear and aerial perspective from the viewpoint of projective geometry. less

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76
Students must prove all of the theorems in this undergraduate-level text, which features extensive outlines to assist in study and comprehension. Thorough and well-written, the treatment provides sufficient material for a one-year undergraduate course. The logical presentation anticipates students' questions, and complete definitions and expositions of topics relate new concepts to previously discussed subjects.
Most of the material focuses on point-set topology with the exception of the last chapter. Topics include sets and functions, infinite sets and transfinite numbers, topological...
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77
Topology, the mathematical study of the properties that are preserved through the deformations, twistings, and stretchings of objects, is an important area of modern mathematics. As broad and fundamental as algebra and geometry, its study has important implications for science more generally, especially physics. Most people will have encountered topology, even if they're not aware of it, through Mobius strips, and knot problems such as the trefoil knot.

In this Very Short Introduction Richard Earl gives a sense of the more visual elements of topology (looking at surfaces)...
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78
★★Grab RUBIKS CUBE SOLUTION BOOK FOR KIDS now at this discounted price for a limited time only★★

Available To Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet!

The Rubik
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80
The remarkable developments in differential topology and how these recent advances have been applied as a primary research tool in quantum field theory are presented here in a style reflecting the genuinely two-sided interaction between mathematical physics and applied mathematics. The author, following his previous work (Nash/Sen: Differential Topology for Physicists, Academic Press, 1983), covers elliptic differential and pseudo-differential operators, Atiyah-Singer index theory, topological quantum field theory, string theory, and knot theory. The explanatory approach serves to illuminate... more

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81
This self-contained introduction to algebraic topology is suitable for a number of topology courses. It consists of about one quarter 'general topology' (without its usual pathologies) and three quarters 'algebraic topology' (centred around the fundamental group, a readily grasped topic which gives a good idea of what algebraic topology is). The book has emerged from courses given at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to senior undergraduates and beginning postgraduates. It has been written at a level which will enable the reader to use it for self-study as well as a course book. The... more

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82
AUTHOR Chris McMullen earned his Ph.D. in particle physics from Oklahoma State University. Dr. McMullen currently teaches physics at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. His background on the geometry and physics of a possible fourth dimension of space includes a half-dozen research papers on the prospects of discovering large extra dimensions at the Large Hadron Collider.

DESCRIPTION This book takes you on a visual tour of a fourth dimension of space. It is much more visual and conceptual than algebraic, yet it is detailed and technical, with the intention of...
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83

Elements of Point-Set Topology

This basic treatment, specially designed for undergraduates, covers preliminaries — sets, relations, and more — topological spaces, continuous functions — mappings — and homeomorphisms, special types of topological spaces, metric spaces, and more. The book utilizes a geometric and axiomatic approach for easier accessibility. Includes exercises and a bibliography. less

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84

Book of Curves

This book opens up an important field of mathematics at an elementary level, one in which the element of aesthetic pleasure, both in the shapes of the curves and in their mathematical relationships, is dominant. This book describes methods of drawing plane curves, beginning with conic sections (parabola, ellipse and hyperbola), and going on to cycloidal curves, spirals, glissettes, pedal curves, strophoids and so on. In general, 'envelope methods' are used. There are twenty-five full-page plates and over ninety smaller diagrams in the text. The book can be used in schools, but will also be a... more

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85

First Concepts of Topology

86

Categorical Homotopy Theory

This book develops abstract homotopy theory from the categorical perspective with a particular focus on examples. Part I discusses two competing perspectives by which one typically first encounters homotopy (co)limits: either as derived functors definable when the appropriate diagram categories admit a compatible model structure, or through particular formulae that give the right notion in certain examples. Riehl unifies these seemingly rival perspectives and demonstrates that model structures on diagram categories are irrelevant. Homotopy (co)limits are explained to be a special case of... more

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87
The road that leads from the Möbius strip — a common-sense-defying continuous loop with only one side and one edge, made famous by the illustrations of M.C. Escher — goes to some of the strangest spots imaginable. It takes us to where the purely intellectual enters our world: where our senses, overloaded with grocery bills, the price of gas, and what to eat for lunch, are expected to absorb really bizarre ideas. And no better guide to this weird universe exists than the brilliant thinker Clifford A. Pickover, the 21st century's answer to Buckminster Fuller. From molecules and metal sculptures... more

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88
Here is an introduction to plane algebraic curves from a geometric viewpoint, designed as a first text for undergraduates in mathematics, or for postgraduate and research workers in the engineering and physical sciences. The book is well illustrated and contains several hundred worked examples and exercises. From the familiar lines and conics of elementary geometry the reader proceeds to general curves in the real affine plane, with excursions to more general fields to illustrate applications, such as number theory. By adding points at infinity the affine plane is extended to the projective... more

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89

Modern Geometry-- Methods and Applications: Part II

The Geometry and Topology of Manifolds

Up until recently, Riemannian geometry and basic topology were not included, even by departments or faculties of mathematics, as compulsory subjects in a university-level mathematical education. The standard courses in the classical differential geometry of curves and surfaces which were given instead (and still are given in some places) have come gradually to be viewed as anachronisms. However, there has been hitherto no unanimous agreement as to exactly how such courses should be brought up to date, that is to say, which parts of modern geometry should be regarded as absolutely essential to... more

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90

Algebraic Topology

A First Course

To the Teacher. This book is designed to introduce a student to some of the important ideas of algebraic topology by emphasizing the re- lations of these ideas with other areas of mathematics. Rather than choosing one point of view of modem topology (homotopy theory, simplicial complexes, singular theory, axiomatic homology, differ- ential topology, etc.), we concentrate our attention on concrete prob- lems in low dimensions, introducing only as much algebraic machin- ery as necessary for the problems we meet. This makes it possible to see a wider variety of important features of the subject... more

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91

From Geometry to Topology

This introduction to topology eases readers into the subject by building a bridge from the familiar concepts of geometry to the formalized study of topology. Focuses on congruence classes defined by transformations in real Euclidean space, continuity, sets, functions, metric spaces, and topological spaces, and more. Exercises and Problems. Includes 101 black-and-white illustrations. 1974 edition. less

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92

Basic Topology

In this broad introduction to topology, the author searches for topological invariants of spaces, together with techniques for their calculating. Students with knowledge of real analysis, elementary group theory, and linear algebra will quickly become familiar with a wide variety of techniques and applications involving point-set, geometric, and algebraic topology. Over 139 illustrations and more than 350 problems of various difficulties help students gain a thorough understanding of the subject. less

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93

Algebraic Topology

Based on lectures to advanced undergraduate and first-year graduate students, this is a thorough, sophisticated and modern treatment of elementary algebraic topology, essentially from a homotopy theoretic viewpoint. The presentation of the homotopy theory and the account of duality in homology manifolds make the text ideal for a course on either homotopy or homology theory.
The idea of algebraic topology is to translate problems in topology into problems in algebra with the hope that they have a better chance of solution. The translation process is usually carried out by means of the...
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94
This book explains and helps readers to develop geometric intuition as it relates to differential forms. It includes over 250 figures to aid understand and enable readers to visualize the concepts being discussed. The author gradually builds up to the basic ideas and concepts so that definitions, when made, do not appear out of nowhere, and both the importance and role that theorems play is evident as or before they are presented. With a clear writing style and easy-to- understand motivations for each topic, this book is primarily aimed at second- or third-year undergraduate math and physics... more

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95

Topology

Superb one-year course in classical topology. Topological spaces and functions, point-set topology, much more. Examples and problems. Bibliography. Index.
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96
This well-written and engaging volume, intended for undergraduates, introduces knot theory, an area of growing interest in contemporary mathematics. The hands-on approach features many exercises to be completed by readers. Prerequisites are only a basic familiarity with linear algebra and a willingness to explore the subject in a hands-on manner.
The opening chapter offers activities that explore the world of knots and links — including games with knots — and invites the reader to generate their own questions in knot theory. Subsequent chapters guide the reader to discover the formal...
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97

A User's Guide to Algebraic Topology

We have tried to design this book for both instructional and reference use, during and after a first course in algebraic topology aimed at users rather than developers; indeed, the book arose from such courses taught by the authors. We start gently, with numerous pictures to illustrate the fundamental ideas and constructions in homotopy theory that are needed in later chapters. A certain amount of redundancy is built in for the reader's convenience: we hope to minimize: fiipping back and forth, and we have provided some appendices for reference. The first three are concerned with background... more

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98

Differential Topology

This book presents some of the basic topological ideas used in studying differentiable manifolds and maps. Mathematical prerequisites have been kept to a minimum; the standard course in analysis and general topology is adequate preparation. An appendix briefly summarizes some of the back- ground material. In order to emphasize the geometrical and intuitive aspects of differen- tial topology, I have avoided the use of algebraic topology, except in a few isolated places that can easily be skipped. For the same reason I make no use of differential forms or tensors. In my view, advanced algebraic... more

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99
The circle has fascinated mathematicians since ancient times. This entertaining book describes in layperson's terms the many intriguing properties of this fundamental shape. If math has intimidated you, this may be the ideal book to help you appreciate the discipline through one of its most important elements.

The authors begin with a brief review of the basic properties of the circle and related figures. They then show the many ways in which the circle manifests itself in the field of geometry--leading to some amazing relationships and truly important geometric theorems. In...
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100

Vector Analysis

�The present book is a marvelous introduction in the modern theory of manifolds and differential forms. The undergraduate student can closely examine tangent spaces, basic concepts of differential forms, integration on manifolds, Stokes theorem, de Rham- cohomology theorem, differential forms on Riema-nnian manifolds, elements of the theory of differential equations on manifolds (Laplace-Beltrami operators). Every chapter contains useful exercises for the students.�� ZENTRALBLATT MATH less

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  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
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