Customer Reviews

Fixed Point Theory

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been examining this book carefully for the last several weeks for possible use in a nonlinear analysis course I am constructing at Brigham Young University. All the positive things that the professional reviews say are true: this is really a remarkable work!

But here's the problem: If you order this book now, you will probably receive a low-grade digital reprint, as I did when my copy arrived from Amazon this afternoon. Gone is the sturdy sewn binding of the original printing, the graphics now look like they were produced on a 1980s vintage dot matrix printer, and the digital reprinting process makes it even difficult to tell bold from regular type. Advanced mathematics uses symbols with fine detail; the more difficult that detail is to discern, the more difficult the content is to absorb. To present the fine work of Dugundji and Granas in this inferior format is a travesty.

Publishers freely acknowledge the difference between hardcover and softcover books in their advertising and pricing; why won't they do the same when it comes to the difference between an original printing and a digital reprint?

I sent my copy back for a refund, and I'll refrain from purchasing any more math texts that have been given this "digital printing" treatment in the future. To the extent that I am aware of their status, I will also henceforth refrain from adopting such texts for courses I teach. I'm probably tilting at windmills, but these cheap knockoffs are apparently becoming more and more common, and if there's even a slight chance of getting publishers to think twice about cutting corners like this, it will be worth it.

[December 2009 Update: The author has contacted me about my previous 2-star rating hurting his sales, so I have changed the rating to 5-stars, even though "I don't like it" still captures my feelings about this book as Springer is currently producing it. I will not buy it in its current state.]