Differential Geometry: Curves - Surfaces - Manifolds, Second Edition [Paperback]

Wolfgang KÃ1/4hnel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0821839888 | ISBN-13: 978-0821839881 | Publication Date: December 13, 2005 | Edition: 2

Our first knowledge of differential geometry usually comes from the study of the curves and surfaces in $I\!\!R^3$ that arise in calculus. Here we learn about line and surface integrals, divergence and curl, and the various forms of Stokes' Theorem. If we are fortunate, we may encounter curvature and such things as the Serret-Frenet formulas. With just the basic tools from multivariable calculus, plus a little knowledge of linear algebra, it is possible to begin a much richer and rewarding study of differential geometry, which is what is presented in this book. It starts with an introduction to the classical differential geometry of curves and surfaces in Euclidean space, then leads to an introduction to the Riemannian geometry of more general manifolds, including a look at Einstein spaces. An important bridge from the low-dimensional theory to the general case is provided by a chapter on the intrinsic geometry of surfaces. The first half of the book, covering the geometry of curves and surfaces, would be suitable for a one-semester undergraduate course. The local and global theories of curves and surfaces are presented, including detailed discussions of surfaces of rotation, ruled surfaces, and minimal surfaces. The second half of the book, which could be used for a more advanced course, begins with an introduction to differentiable manifolds, Riemannian structures, and the curvature tensor. Two special topics are treated in detail: spaces of constant curvature and Einstein spaces. The main goal of the book is to get started in a fairly elementary way, then to guide the reader toward more sophisticated concepts and more advanced topics. There are many examples and exercises to help along the way. Numerous figures help the reader visualize key concepts and examples, especially in lower dimensions. For the second edition, a number of errors were corrected and some text and a number of figures have been added.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From a review of the German edition: "The book covers all the topics which could be necessary later for learning higher level differential geometry. The material is very carefully sorted and easy-to-read." -- Mathematical Reviews ---- Mathematical Reviews

From a review of the first edition: "It is extraordinarily welcome that this comprehensive textbook containing all the high points of differential geometry is now available in an English translation. Required reading for all mathematicians!" ---- translated from International Mathematical News

Product Details

• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: American Mathematical Society; 2 edition (December 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821839888
• ISBN-13: 978-0821839881
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #566,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast moving, November 24, 2006

By 

Daverz - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Differential Geometry: Curves - Surfaces - Manifolds, Second Edition (Paperback)

This is a very fast moving book, covering a huge amount of material at a fairly sophisticated level in under 380 pages. For example, differential forms are introduced in about 2 pages so that the Maurer-Cartan structural equations can be defined. The first 4 chapters makes up a very concise course in curves and surfaces, while the last 4 chapters cover Riemannian geometry. In comparison, do Carmo's two books take 500 pages for the former and 320 pages for the latter.

For this reason I think the claim that this could be used as an undergraduate text is overly optimistic. For that I would use a more self-contained text like Millman & Parker (ISBN: 0132641437). But it would make an excellent text for a graduate survey, or as a second text for someone wanting to make the transition from classical theory (learned from, say, one of the Dover books like Struik, ISBN: 0486656098) to more modern methods. Also, you'll probably want to supplement with a gentler introduction to differential forms.

Of interest to students of physics, the book covers curves and surfaces in Minkowski space, as well as Einstein spaces.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A excellent introduction for the 21st century, March 22, 2006

By 

C. Asplund (Santa Barbara, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Differential Geometry: Curves - Surfaces - Manifolds, Second Edition (Paperback)

While there is exist many classic texts on differential geometry, I have particularly appreciated this book for its up-to-date treatment, numerous well-done figures, broad coverage, elegant type-setting, and clear expositions. The book covers all the basics expected from an introduction to differential geometry, including curves and 2-D surfaces, but with a look towards the more advanced material in the second half of the book. It alternates between Ricci style notation and Koszul style notation, often carefully explaining the relation between the two and giving examples (I found this particularly helpful). There are, however, some sections where the english is a bit rough (perhaps the fault of the translator). It is also quite brisk throughout, often mentioning advanced topics before they are treated in detail. For example, it already mentions submanifolds, tangent spaces, and tangent bundles in the first chapter on "Notations and Prerequisites from Analysis." It will require serious attention, especially if one has not encountered a good dose of abstract mathematics before. Nonetheless, I have found myself returning to it over several years as an excellent reference and source of many additional topics that I skipped on a first reading. For example, the final chapter on Einstein spaces is a valuable, though demanding, bonus. Thanks to the AMS for publishing a fine edition of a top-notch German author's work.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful geometry, October 11, 2005

By 

Seoung Dal Jung (Korea) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Differential Geometry: Curves - Surfaces - Manifolds (Paperback)

This book is very useful for students who are interested in geometry. The book is organized from elementary facts to advanced geometry very well. This book provides to students the reason why they study the geometry. This book explains very easily that the geometry of curves and surfaces can be generalized to high dimensional Riemannian manifolds naturally.
Moreover, the edition of this book is very beautiful and helpful for readers. For example, the important results are placed in boxes.