Customer Reviews

Topology and Geometry (Graduate Texts in Mathematics)

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

 

 

If you want to learn topology, this book is the place. Though this text can require some maturity, the range of topics and the clarity of exposition are outstanding. My only complaint is that an additional appendix covering the basics of category theory would have been quite useful. Bredon not infrequently uses the language of category theory (though always in a non-essential way). Since this text is aimed at 1st year graduate students, I think the tacit assumption that the student has already encountered these topics is not justified. That such a minor point is my chief complaint speaks volumes of my esteem for this text.

While I agree with reviewers generally that this is a good book, i should warn that bredon isnt for the faint of heart. He makes use of simple language from category theory, doesnt always completely introduce his discussions (see for example the chapter on the tangent bundle where tangent bundle is never defined), and some other things that are nuisances to the newcomer.

I do think this is a good modern readable textbook, but for the student who has a solid foundation in mathematics. I didnt find it as accessable as other topology books, say Hatcher or Lee's books (but lee's are not as complete).

Today I told someone that Bredon's "Topology and Geometry" book was my secret weapon. I say this because it has mostly everything a grad student in topology needs to know in order to be fluent in the subject. I bought it not because I was taking a class from it--I got it because I saw it at the library and realized that this is the 'end all' topology book for me and that I will not need to buy all those 'other' books in topology anymore. I will warn you though--some of the proofs are terse, so you have to be somewhat 'mathematically mature'. It is definately harder than Munkres' "Topology: A first course" (the red book). But it goes beyond the point set crap that gets (in my opinion) too much airtime. I wish I would have taken a class under this book.

As the previous reviewers have commented, this book is very accessible and detailed. I should add that the authour never lets you get lost in the labyrinth of abstract nonsense; the treatment is always geometric rather than homologico-algebraic. The only complaint I have is, the book would be more useful with chapters on spectral sequences, cobordism and K-theory.

This was the assigned book in my first year grad topology course. It has good examples, interesting exercises. I like the emphasis on geometrical examples, constructions. It's not easy to read, but interesting.

I used this book to review for a Qualifier in Topology and found it exceptional. Lots of material presented in a well thought out manner. As a student, I highly recommend it as a first year grad text..

but maybe you will.
i think it was Vick's book that i preferred.
Massey--I preferred Massey.
i think that this is the one for the grown-ups.