Book Description
This is Jurgen Habermas's most concrete historical-sociological book and one of the key contributions to political thought in the postwar period. It will be a revelation to those who have known Habermas only through his theoretical writing to find his later interests in problems of legitimation and communication foreshadowed in this lucid study of the origins, nature, and evolution of public opinion in democratic societies.
Customer Reviews:
Indispensable for Understanding Contemporary Culture.......2007-08-10
Okay, perhaps I've got the social-theory-geek gene, but when I first read this book some fourteen years ago (during grad school), I was able finally to put together a lot of things that had been swimming around in my brain. I'd already read a good bit of Adorno before a professor (with whom I was doing an independent study on Adorno) recommended that I read this. Habermas's historical analysis was so compelling that I simply couldn't put the book down. Moreover (all this may seem hard to believe), the lucidity of his presentation also helped me put a lot of what was going on in Adorno's writings in a clearer light.
While I don't agree with the directions in which Habermas later went--I strongly resist the notion of recuperating the modern project--this book provides a compelling analysis of how Western society and culture got to where it is now.
Habermas: The Public in History.......2005-09-17
In this monograph, Habermas tracks the origination, the evolution, and the dispersal of an informed "public sphere" among democratic Western nations. He defines public sphere as "private people com[ing] together as a public" (27). Once these individuals, gathered as reading groups or as aficionados of theatre, the arts, and politics, the individuals melded into a public capable of debating the government. Habermas locates these fledgling "publics" primarily in eighteenth-century France, England and to a lesser extent in the areas of Europe designated as German. Tellingly, Habermas strongly links the formation of the public sphere with the rise of capitalism and a continuing bourgeois revolution. Comprised of literate individuals governed by the principals of the Enlightenment, these "publics" eventually challenged the validity and legitimacy of governments, most notably in France during the French Revolution and England during the English Civil War.
Habermas builds a compelling argument based upon his interpretation of Rousseau, Kant, Locke, Hegel, and Marx. He links the works of these philosophers and sociologists in a credible chain stretching back to the eighteenth century. However, he only deals thoroughly with the educated, propertied elite of society. Habermas views the "unpropertied" and illiterate as a separate from and incapable of participating in a true public sphere. To do this he must dismiss a plethora of lower class uprisings found throughout the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. Even when the various governments quickly quashed these rebellions, the Ludites in England and the various rebellions of 1848 come to mind, it is difficult to dispute the effect these rebels and rebellions had upon the public discourse. As an early work on the subject, it is almost certain that Habermas had to amend his arguments following E.P. Thompson's The Making of the English Working Class, published in 1963 a scant year after this work. His exclusion of the great press of society from a functioning public sphere seems arrogant at best and naïve at worst.
One of the most influential studies on the subject.......2004-11-01
Habermas' work, though written more than four decades ago, still retains most of its original relevance for the study of the public sphere. If you are interested in this subject, and if you are into critical thinking, then this book is certainly worth reading. Why? Well, if you take in consideration the fact that no other book has been written so far on the subject that has been able to surpass Habermas' account both in depth and originality, then you begin to get my point. As to a critical reading of the argument put forth by Habermas, one should read "Habermas and the Public Sphere", edited by Craig Calhoun. This book includes an appendix by Habermas where he revises some of his original positions.
The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere.......2002-04-04
When you talk about the public sphere in front of intellectuals, Jürgen Habermas's name is bound to come up. Habermas's 1962 study, "The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere," examines the creation, brief flourishing, and demise of a public sphere based in rational-critical debate and discussion. The feasibility of a true public sphere, which is inclusive of anyone who would participate, is for Habermas of utmost importance. Habermas follows a methodology similar to the one Michel Foucault takes in "Discipline and Punish," which analyzes the abolition of public displays of power, and the process by which the structures of power are inculcated in the individual from the 17th through the 20th centuries. Habermas analyzes historical, economic, and political conditions from classical antiquity through his own historical moment, tracing the circumstances in which the public sphere arises, how it functions, and ceases to function over time.
Habermas begins with a delineation of the terms 'public' and 'private,' orienting them philologically from their roots and meanings in classical antiquity. From here, he traces the adoption of the words and their synonyms into the European Middle Ages and the era of feudalism. Habermas says that in this period, the feudal lord and the monarch, for whom `representative publicness' functioned as a display of power before their subjects, dominated the public. Authority figures embodied virtues and powers in a public fashion. Public representation of political and economic power continued, unabated until the Reformation, at which time, the privatization of religious faith signaled a separation between society and the state. Economically, in the 16th and 17th centuries, the spread of trade necessitated the spread of news from various locales. As news outside of the home became relevant to home economy, the private individual begins to take an interest in public events. Consolidation of 'national' financial administration and state-controlled taxation, along with the rise of print culture, facilitated the dissemination of news, initially in the form of governmental decrees, market conditions, and happenings at court. Through this, the actions of the authorities came under the scrutiny of a reading public.
The 18th century is the key moment for Habermas. In this period, the government, along with private individuals, made use of the press, for the first time, in persuasive appeal to a public made up of private people. The press now presented the public with information, with which they were to use reason and discussion to determine what was in the public's interest. Habermas emphasizes the theoretical parity that this brings about - the rise of the coffee houses and salons, in which merchants met with gentility and engaged in rational-critical debate over issues of public import. Stretching this into the realm of the franchise, Habermas is careful to point out the problematics of a situation in which actual decision-making was restricted to those with money and land, but stresses that the opportunity for anyone to acquire these prerequisites was, again, theoretically, open to all.
For a brief time during the 18th century, Habermas sees the flourishing of a public sphere, born out of a reading public, that began to interact with the processes of public policy, legally, and morally. The purpose of this public sphere, according to Habermas, is to eliminate the domination of authoritative power, and establishing a government that is actually representative of the public will and contingent upon public opinion. Unfortunately, in the 19th century, with the stratification of party politics, the proliferating press encouraged less rational-critical discussion. Increasingly, debate moved into parliamentary circles, and the public was asked only to approve of party measures, not participate in the formation of the rules that governed them. In the 20th century, along with the creation of the welfare-state, consolidation of moneyed interests, and the expansion of universal suffrage (ironically), the public sphere disintegrated even further. New media - radio, television, etc. - turned its addresses to the public into mere advertising. Even the illusion of a private people engaged, as a public, in matters of their own governance, was gone, and the public became vessels for mass media.
To recuperate a true participatory public sphere, Habermas takes a guarded approach. He indicates that some kind of elite could be formed. These private individuals would undertake the responsibility of rational-critical debate, determining the public interest. The general public, then, would give their approval or disapproval to the measures decided on by this elite. This is kind of a bleak outlook, and one I don't much care for myself. Of course, this is a horribly limited review of Habermas's "Structural Transformation". I haven't even noted the break he takes to outline the historical-philosophical evaluation and critique of the public sphere by Kant, Hegel, Marx, Mill, and Tocqueville. Nor did I note the extensive use Habermas makes of political and economic changes in his key nations - England, France, and Germany - and the contributions these make to the disintegration of the public sphere. At any rate, "Structural Transformation" is an exhaustive (and exhausting) study, as relevant now to the study of literature, economics, government, history, etc., especially of the last three centuries, as it ever was. Even though it is a pain to read, you'll be glad you finally read it. Think of it as theoretical medicine - it may not taste good, but in the long run, it's good for you.
Habermas puts me to sleep.......2000-07-23
... This is Habermas' dissertation, but his writing is so poor, in English or in German, that it really doesn' matter. The book is a response, in my opinion, to Carl Schmitt, and specifically to Schmitt's argument that the core of liberal democracy is debate in parliament, that liberal democracy is rule by discussion (or, as its called now, "political discourse"), but that that discussion is now more real than painted flames on a radiator. Liberal democracy is in fact the triumph of aliberal, private, hidden powers, who rule from the shadows and through the true organs of power, the media, and through the hidden power of the private vote cast in the illicit privacy of the voting booth, where the bourgeois individual is free to exercise his worst prejudices and basest motives. So argues Schmitt. Habermas gives an interesting historical account of the rise of "Offentlichkeit" (which translates into the all-too-easy abstraction "public sphere," whatever that is), from the letters passed in the mail relating the news from town to town, to French salons, to newspapers, to television and radio. Habermas, like Schmitt, seeks to unmask the illiberal powers lurking behind the good liberal prejudices, but he, like Schmitt, mistakes liberalism for a debating society when in fact it is much more sophisticated than that. Habermas needs to read the Federalist Papers and the debates (!) at the constitutional convention to understand how little the founders of one liberal democracy thought of the power of discussion.
Average customer rating:
- You can't live without Groovy. You just can't.
- Cracking stuff
- Mostly as good as everyone says
- Programming literature
- An amazing journey
|
Groovy in Action
Dierk Koenig ,
Andrew Glover ,
Paul King ,
Guillaume Laforge , and
Jon Skeet
Manufacturer: Manning Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Java
| Programming
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
Object-Oriented Design
| Software Design, Testing & Engineering
| Programming
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
Testing
| Software Design, Testing & Engineering
| Programming
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Programming
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Languages & Tools
| Programming
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| SQL
| Databases
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
XML & Databases
| Databases
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Software
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
Web Services
| Web Development
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Definitive Guide to Grails (Definitive Guide)
-
Groovy Programming: An Introduction for Java Developers
-
Java Persistence with Hibernate
-
Getting Started with Grails
-
Java Concurrency in Practice
ASIN: 1932394842 |
Book Description
Groovy, the brand-new language for the Java platform, brings to Java many of the features that have made Ruby popular. Groovy in Action is a comprehensive guide to Groovy programming, introducing Java developers to the new dynamic features that Groovy provides. To bring you Groovy in Action, Manning again went to the source by working with a team of expert authors including both members and the Manager of the Groovy Project team. The result is the true definitive guide to the new Groovy language.
Groovy in Action introduces Groovy by example, presenting lots of reusable code while explaining the underlying concepts. Java developers new to Groovy find a smooth transition into the dynamic programming world. Groovy experts gain a solid reference that challenges them to explore Groovy deeply and creatively.
Because Groovy is so new, most readers will be learning it from scratch. Groovy in Action quickly moves through the Groovy basics, including:
Simple and collective Groovy data types
Working with Closures and Groovy Control Structures
Dynamic Object Orientation, Groovy style
Readers are presented with rich and detailed examples illustrating Groovy's enhancements to Java, including
How to Work with Builders and the GDK
Database programming with Groovy
Groovy in Action then demonstrates how to Integrate Groovy with XML, and provides,
Tips and Tricks
Unit Testing and Build Support
Groovy on Windows
An additional bonus is a chapter dedicated to Grails, the Groovy Web Application Framework.
Early PDF chapters of Groovy in Action are available from the Manning Early Access Program (MEAP) at http://www.manning.com/koenig. As part of this program, readers can also discuss the early manuscript with the author and help shape the manuscript as it's being developed by joining the Author Forum.
Customer Reviews:
You can't live without Groovy. You just can't........2007-08-18
I am going to make this short, because I want to get ONE message across to you, loud and clear. If you are working with Java, you MUST take a look at Groovy.
I cannot overemphasize the coming importance of Groovy on the Java platform, not just in web development, but everywhere. Just try it already. You'll "get it." Just trust me and do it!
Groovy in Action is a first rate introduction and reference, and you really do need a book for this language. I don't recommend trying to go it alone with online reference material, though there is plenty there to give you a taste of why Groovy is about to become your new favorite language.
Read the other reviews. I'm not going to repeat a bunch of stuff here. But whatever you do, TRY GROOVY. You will quickly come to wonder how you ever got along without it.
Cracking stuff.......2007-07-20
Whatever you think about the merits of Groovy as a language, a serious contender on the JVM, or a complete mess, you couldn't hope to find a better advocate for Groovy than this book.
One of the secrets of GinA's success is that it assumes the reader is already proficient with Java development, including Swing, Ant and JUnit. It would also help to know about XML, SQL, HTML, JSP and a vague idea of how MVC applies to web apps. You don't need to be an expert in these areas, though. If you've sufficient knowledge to decode the preceeding alphabet soup of initialisations, you'll be ok.
The reward for possessing this background knowledge is that GinA doesn't waste time with trivial examples, and barrels through Groovy the language in the first part, leveraging your existing knowledge of Java to highlight the important differences in Groovy. In particular, the advantages of interpolating strings, simple hash and array construction syntax, optional typing and metaprogramming are stressed. The big win in Groovy over Java is the use of closures and their used in a block-based approach to iteration, which is as well motivated here as the material in, say, The Pickaxe is for Ruby.
The second part of the book provides examples of the Groovy library. It begins with an excellent chapter on Groovy's Builders, which provide a very neat, uncluttered syntax for putting together hierarchical structures. An obvious application is XML, and by extension Ant scripts, which appears to have some major advantages compared to the challenging readability of vanilla Ant. Even more impressive is the SwingBuilder example, which builds a GUI with the minimum of fuss and a complete lack of anonymous inner classes.
Beyond the Builders, there are also compelling chapters on templating HTML and server side Groovy (Groovlets), writing DAOs and DTOs in Groovy to simplify database programming, and a chapter on XML, which even manages to find the space to introduce Groovy for SOAP, XML-RPC and REST web services.
The final part of the book describes some non-core libraries and other applications of Groovy. The chapter on Groovy extensions to JUnit is interesting, although perhaps this is one place where it assumes too little on behalf of the reader. I would have assumed that the average developer sufficiently motivated to pick up a book on Groovy knows enough about unit testing and JUnit that more space could have been given to the advanced topics. Particularly appealing is the idea of testing Java code with dynamically typed Groovy unit tests, which would make mocking and stubbing more palatable; I would have liked more on that subject.
Another noteworthy chapter is the last one, which introduces the web app framework Grails. This has a different style to the other chapters, being a dialogue between two of the authors as they build a simple app. This reader admits to finding it a little bit naff, but it does usefully demonstrate the grails way (which is a lot like Rails).
If you have the slightest interest in Groovy, alternatives to Java on the JVM, or dynamic languages, GinA makes the perfect case for Groovy as a first class integration language for all the bits of Java where you really wish you were working with something like Perl, Ruby or Python. It's well-written, with good examples, clear explanations, and it's relentlessly practical, never forgetting its target audience. It's all the more impressive given lead author Dierk Konig's comment in the preface that English is not his first language. Kudos to him and his co-authors for what they've delivered.
One can only wish that every language had its GinA. Outstanding.
Mostly as good as everyone says.......2007-06-22
What more can be said of a book extolled by dozens of reviewers, a book that seems to have matched its subject in ubiquity, a book that will likely become to Groovy what the "pickaxe book" is to Ruby? As much as I would love to be a lone voice (or rather a lone whisper) of dissent, the clarity, simplicity, and accuracy of most of Groovy in Action cannot be overlooked. Let no one be fooled by the size of the book - to learn the gist of Groovy, all you really need is a leisurely stroll through chapters 2 through 7 (chapter 1 is the mandatory introduction/history chapter which, in the frustrating tech book tradition, doubles as the "free sample" chapter). Of course, most of its clarity and concision GIA inherits from the language it describes. Still, it is encouraging to have a book that is as valuable a reference as it is a tutorial, and GIA shines in both capacities.
With all its accolades, GIA does have two caveats. First, it is getting closer and closer to being out of date. Groovy 1.1 is already in Beta, and it has an impressive list of features not covered in this Groovy 1.0 book: EJB3 support, JUnit4 and TestNG integration and annotations, just to name a few. I am reminded of Pragmatic Programmers' Agile Web Development with Rails, whose second edition shipped a year after its first. I sincerely hope GIA 1.0 buyers will not be similarly cheated.
The second caveat is the coverage of Grails. Grails may be the single most attractive Groovy application to date yet its coverage in GIA is flaky at best. The authors decide to abandon their polished, clear, and concise writing style and instead author the entire chapter as a bland conversation amongst themselves. In addition to failing to grasp the humor in such presentation, I find that this style hinders me from following along with the tutorial. It makes scanning back for missed steps or clarifications extremely difficult. Furthermore, vapid attempts at humor occupy space that could be otherwise devoted to some omitted topics, such as mapping domain objects to specific tables or using data sources. Coverage of these topics would have been far more valuable than the authors' purported beer garden conversations with a DBA named Martin.
Despite the pour Grails coverage and the looming Groovy 1.1, Groovy in Action is a must-have for anyone who is even mildly interested in Groovy or dynamic languages in Java in general. Coupled with the ease, clarity, and downright beauty of the Groovy language, GIA can turn even a passing interest in Groovy into a burning passion.
Programming literature.......2007-05-15
It is a Gordian challenge to write an interesting and readable book about nothing but a programming language. Dierk König and his co-authors actually did succeed in cutting the knot. They even accomplished much more: they added lots of insight about object orientation, programming language design and good software development. As long as I only had the PDF availabe, it served me as THE reference for all my questions about Groovy. Now the printed copy makes my commuting time worthwhile. Cover to cover. 700 pages of computer LITERATURE.
An amazing journey.......2007-03-29
The book contains a lot of Groovy interesting features, with samples tested to work,asides the writting style exciting to you to discover the new programming world open in front of your eyes thanks to the exceptional Groovy features.
I consider it as much as a Groovy bible.
Book Description
Learn how extraordinary companies do what they do so well, and obtain the tools and ideas you need to emulate them. Full of case studies and personal reflections by leaders of exceptional companies, this book is designed to help anyone transform their run-of-the-mill business into an extraordinary company–whether you operate a multinational corporation or a mom-and-pop shop. Calloway doesn’t offer any mumbo-jumbo or flavor-of-the-day buzzwords, just simple lessons that lead to real, proven results.
Customer Reviews:
Stand Out From The Competition.......2007-05-14
Joe Calloway has a way of connecting with the reader in "Becoming A Category of One". As you read the pages of this book, you will sense that he is talking to you at a level of your business soul.
In a world where nearly everything is becoming a comodity, Calloway teaches us how to stand out from the crowd. This book is important for bankers, lawyers, accountants, and others who get lumped in as an also-ran with their competition.
Just looking at the cover, how that one apple stands out because of its color, this is how we all want to shine in our careers. But to shine, you must be polished. This book will give you the tools to show how you are unique.
How to Create Your Own Category.......2007-03-05
Becoming a Category of One is primarily about branding, creating a strong corporate culture (but this often overused strategy doesn't smack you in the face 1,000 times in this book the way some crazy HR people do), and finding points of genuine differentiation for a business.
I liked the book. It isn't rocket science, but it has simple, valuable ideas that might get you thinking. It talks about how you can't differentiate on the basis of factors that are already generally common to your marketplace or are "entry-level" in nature and how, if you want to "become a category of one," you should:
1. Know more about the customer than anyone else does.
2. Get closer to the customer than anyone else.
3. Emotionally conenct with the customer better than anyone else.
Calloway goes on to describe how he feels you can accomplish this. You should study the marketplace thoroughly, go into a transaction with more knowledge than anyone else about your product and your customer's needs, and use corporate culture as a method of creating consistency of performance in your suborindates.
Calloway ends with a study of The Tractor Supply Company and discusses how management has taught each employee the importance of corporate values and of "doing the right thing."
If you're looking for a detailed study of branding or positioning, this book isn't for you (although it's still possibly worth reading for ideas). If you're looking for a nice collection of anecdotes, stories, and examples about branding, serving customers, and winning in a commoditized industry (which the author believes every industry to be to some extent), here it is!
A book on excellence masquerading as one on differentiating.......2006-04-26
I chose to read this book because its title lead me to believe I'd be reading about differentiation and creating a "new category" in the business world. I am pleased I read the book, but it was not about creating something new, but instead was about creating something exceptional. The author points out that companies with strategic leadership, exceptional sales people, a state of the art product, stellar operations, and excellent customer service are going to set themselves apart. However, setting oneself apart is not the same thing as creating a category of one. In my view, setting oneself apart means being at the top of a list within a category.
The author admits early in the book that the ideas he presents are not new or his. He says he is just a reporter. I agree. I recommend entrepreneurs read this book to get a feel for many of the things they will have to do to be successful when starting their new business. The author tells us what should be done, but he's kind of thin on telling us how to do it. Fortunately, the "how" is specific to each business and an entrepreneur should be able to figure how what he or she needs to do when preparing his or her business plan.
At one point the author provides a list of 3:
1. Know your customers
2. Get close to your customers
3. Emotionally connect to your customers
This sounded more like it was being directed to a sales team than someone who was leading a company to success. I would have liked the book better if the material about "sales" had been left out. Either the book was supposed to be about creating a great company or it was supposed to be about selling what a company has to offer. I don't think it was about both. Nor do I think it should have been about both.
It would have been nice if the author had pointed out that salesmen have to be great if they want to be successful at selling commodities. And great companies that don't produce commodities do not have to be particularly good salesmen - the products sell themselves.
Innovative yet elemental approach ... BEST professional read ..........2005-11-04
I work in the apparel industry where your brand is everything; compelling your consumer to aspire to the lifestyle & image your product represents. This book was an excellent read in providing an innovative yet elemental though ... stop gauging success by competition and strive for top performance by your own standards of excellence. I would also recommend this read from the personal "brand" perspective; marketing yourself as a unique entity that defies competition. Definitely a book that will stay on my bookshelf for reference throughout my career.
Do you know what your business does?.......2005-09-29
This book is not for every person in business, which is unfortunate because only those who "get" this book will have the years of fulfillment that come from really knowing why they are doing what they are doing and the immense satisfaction and success that comes with that kind of clarity and focus. This is a totally different "how to" business book that requires asking and anwering the most fundamental questions about what you do and why you do it. These are most the difficult questions to answer in a meaningful way, but the rewards are equally great. I had the great good fortune to work in a company that could be another study case for this book, so understand from that perspective the power of what Calloway is talking about. The second half of the book is a little weak and somewhat repetitive, but the first half makes the book more than worth the cover price if you truly want your business to excel and provide a rewarding experience for you and your staff. It's sometimes difficult to admit that, as Calloway points out, we do get what we want most.
Book Description
Algebra fulfills a definite need to provide a self-contained, one volume, graduate level algebra text that is readable by the average graduate student and flexible enough to accomodate a wide variety of instructors and course contents. The guiding philosophical principle throughout the text is that the material should be presented in the maximum usable generality consistent with good pedagogy. Therefore it is essentially self-contained, stresses clarity rather than brevity and contains an unusually large number of illustrative exercises. The book covers major areas of modern algebra, which is a necessity for most mathematics students in sufficient breadth and depth.
Customer Reviews:
Hungerford- A Strong Book With Faults.......2007-10-09
My impressions of Hungerford as an undergraduate student with a degree of aptitude towards mathematics. First, the text seems like a good text for strong undergraduates and lower-caliber graduates. Otherwise, an apt first-year grad student should not have problems reading a text like Lang's.
The book is clear, relatively concise and really doesn't stray from the path of teaching elementary algebra till later in the text. This is useful, since a discussion of functors isn't likely to be on an undergraduate midterm about algebra. However, later in the text, Hungerford begins to rely on the axiom of choice/Zorn's Lemma to simplify some of his major proofs. I see this as a major detraction, since most of these proofs are independent of that axiom. As of this point, that's my major gripe with the text. Still, I would definitely suggest it to apt undergraduates.
Worth it's weight in GOLD!.......2006-12-12
Having read the texts of Lang and Jacobson, I would defintely recommend this text to anyone who desires a very solid and rigorous mathematical base with respect to the basics of Algebra. Not as simple as Jacobson I or as terse and dry as Jacobson II or as lifeless as Lang's Algebra, this text is by far the best 'classic' that exists and can be adequately utilized by satifactorially trained first year graduate students or highly motivated undergraduates.
So what seperates this text from the myriad of other Alegra texts that exist? The simple answer is that Hungerford actually proves the essential theorems in detail. Sure there are plenty of '...left as an exercise for the reader' but, like in his undergraduate text, Hungerford clearly illustrates how to prove a theorem. Compare this with Jacobson who takes a less than rigorous tone and, in almost a one-on-one conversation with the reader, explains/proves an idea in the matter of, say, a paragraph. Then at the end of the paragraph Jacobson will state the theorem, leaving you to re-read the paragraph in order to assure yourself this in fact was the case. Further, compare Hungerford's style with that of Lang. Lang is notorious for stating a theorem in its most abstract case and then giving what Hungerford, or most of use mere mortals, would call a sketch of a proof. This high level of rigor and commitment to the reader pays off and, in fact, rubs off when turns around and attempts to prove the various exercises. It's like the saying 'if you want to be successful, then surround yourself with sucessful people'. If you want to learn Algebra and, in particular, see how to construct rock-solid proofs, then you should surround yourself with teachers or texts written by the Hungerford's out there.
Well, if the previous paragraph did not convince you that buying and subsequently struggling through this text would be benificial, then let me try this. Out of the given texts who can claim the status of 'classic', this is by-far the most versatile Algebra text. That is, it offers the greatest flexibility with respect to learning about a specific sub-field of Algebra. This allows you to focus and properly chart your course. Whereas, with other texts you are given little or no insight into how to plot a course and hence you are left to assume reading the given text cover to cover is the only possible option. Furthermore, the material presented is foundational to any and every graduate student regardless of their Mathematical predilection and therefore cannot be considered out-of-date as asserted by other reviewers. Finally, and as far as notation/aesthetics goes, if this is why you dis-like the text and feel detracts from your ability to learn Algebra, then I would strongly suggest venturing into another field other than Mathematics. If you are a graduate student or someone doing research on their own, then you are required to read works written by authors from around the world and the notational differences should be the last of your worries.
In summary, this text is the best possible text that you can buy in order to adequately learn Algebra at the graduate level. Yes it is difficult and some of the problems may take you weeks to solve but that's Mathematics. Enjoy!
A very good encyclopedia of Algebra.......2006-05-25
This is the book that I read in the University for the most part of my Algebra courses, and I own it. It's a very good book that has the most important topics in Algebra (Groups, Rings, Fields, Linear Algebra over Modules) and some other topics such as Category Theory.
Deceptively Wonderful.......2004-09-20
OK here's the truth: This book is an awful text when accompanied by not so great prof is teaching from it (e.g. one who delivers nothing but the text). BUT... once you begin to understand enough to know that the "trivial" "exercise" and "left to the reader" proofs are quite straightforward, the book is probably the best reference in Algebra you can hope for.
Well worth the read for any budding mathematician.......2004-07-13
I've been acquainted with several introductory graduate algebra
books over the years, and prefer this one for its coverage of all the fundamental areas (groups, modules, rings, linear algebra, fields, and category theory), being concise, and providing great care when outlining each proof.
If one compare's the amount of material in this book to Jacobson's "Basic Algebra Vol 1", Grove's "Algebra", or Herstein's "Abstract Algebra", Hungerford's book gets the nod.
Moreover, I much more prefer the concise definition, example, theorem, proof format over the more colloquial approach, as can be found in Jacobson's text. For me at least, the payoff for reading an algebra text is the beauty found in the logic and reasoning from which very profound results arise from the complex interaction and use of more straightforward ones. And this is exactly where Hungerford's book shines through in tremendous glory. When outlining a proof he does an outstanding job in citating the results from previous Chapters that are used. For me this is the strength of algebra (In geometry I cringe when I get a picture for proof, and in analysis it is often quite complicated to verify that a given situation possesses the appropriate conditions needed to invoke some famous lemma or theorem).
One last good word about this book: I found the exercises both in abundance (after each section) and quite reasonable for a first year grad. student. Happy reading.
Book Description
This text and reference book on Category Theory, a branch of abstract algebra, is aimed not only at students of Mathematics, but also researchers and students of Computer Science, Logic, Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and any of the other fields that now make use of it.
Containing clear definitions of the essential concepts, illuminated with numerous accessible examples, and providing full proofs of all important propositions and theorems, this book aims to make the basic ideas, theorems, and methods of Category Theory understandable to this broad readership.
Although it assumes few mathematical pre-requisites, the standard of mathematical rigour is not compromised. The material covered includes the standard core of categories; functors; natural transformations; equivalence; limits and colimits; functor categories; representables; Yoneda's lemma;
adjoints; monads. An extra topic of cartesian closed categories and the lambda-calculus is also provided; a must for computer scientists, logicians and linguists!
Customer Reviews:
It's the glue........2006-11-19
Several years ago I came across an on-line .pdf format of Awodey's manuscript while trying to find a text on Category Theory whose content was not as intense as Mac Lane's `Categories for the Working Mathematician' and it is wonderful to see this book come to fruition. Without a doubt it is true that the available array of Category theoretic texts for mathematicians has been confined to the more abstract texts whose readership is limited to those individuals who are either researching topics integral to Category theory or graduate students of, say Algebraic Topology/Geometry, who utilize Categorical constructs and processes within the confines of their respective fields.
So where does this text fit in? I believe this text can be quantified as "the glue" between Category theoretic texts written for non-mathematicians and the hardcore texts of Mac Lane, Herrlich or Ademek et al.
What features set this text apart from the others? Simple, it is focused. Let me preface my explanation with the following: I firmly believe in the importance of demonstrating or motivating any given subject through the use of concrete examples and, in particular, through the use of several examples that can be built upon throughout the text. Awodey sees the importance of this and focuses on illuminating the abstractness of Category theory by carefully building on or utilizing Monoids and Posets. Such structures may readily seem un-familiar to some readers but, if they pause long enough to compare what they know with the basic axioms for a given set to be a Monoid/Poset, then they will see that the majority of structures in which they have been working are, in fact, specialized Monoids/Posets. Take for example Groups. Any set possessing an associative binary law of composition all of whose objects satisfy the 3-axioms for a group also trivially satisfy the axioms for a Monoid. This is not to say that Awodey has chosen two basic blocks from which all examples are derived, instead, he motivates each topic with a vast assortment of the standard examples taken from a diverse set of available fields.
So who should read this text? Anyone who wants to learn Category Theory from the ground up but lacks the standard assumed breadth of knowledge, namely, familiarity with Topology, in particular Algebraic Topology, as well as advanced abstract Algebra (inclusive of Module theory). As in any case of defining the readership one would state that their text is readable by the illusive and readily undefined "mathematically mature" student. Personally I would assume that you know how construct logically sound proofs and that you have taken courses in set theory (never given in America) as well as Algebra at the level of, say Hungerford's undergraduate text. Furthermore, and as is the case with anything mathematical, you must be willing to suffer through abstractness and be diligent as well as disciplined enough to work through the exercises. With respect to this last point, Awodey does a remarkable job providing a well thought out set of exercises ranging from simple applications of the material to more advanced exercises that will cause you to pull out your hair and possibly throw the book across the room in sheer agony.
As a final note regarding the overall text, I would even suggest this Awodey's book to more advanced student who lack a firm understanding of Category Theory but who have already suffered through someone else's text. Why? Simple, because Awodey's text will help you `see' and hence understand, at the necessary level, Category Theory. After all, one can not become proficient in anything unless they `see' what it is they are trying to become proficient in.
Finally, I would like to personally thank Mr. Awodey for writing this text and for doing such a remarkable job introducing and motivating a miraculous and awe-inspiring subject. Enjoy!
Book Description
The idea of a "category"--a sort of mathematical universe--has brought about a remarkable unification and simplification of mathematics. Written by two of the best-known names in categorical logic, Conceptual Mathematics is the first book to apply categories to the most elementary mathematics. It thus serves two purposes: first, to provide a key to mathematics for the general reader or beginning student; and second, to furnish an easy introduction to categories for computer scientists, logicians, physicists, and linguists who want to gain some familiarity with the categorical method without initially committing themselves to extended study.
Customer Reviews:
Great book; whether you should read it depends on you.......2006-11-30
Many of the reviews evaluate the book from the perspective of graduate students in mathematics want to learn categories, and it's certainly the wrong choice for that purpose. If you think of this as a serious math textbook, then it fails in that goal: significant proofs are the exception rather than the rule; very few, and trivial, exercises; very lacking in depth.
This is a great book because it provides a motivation for investigating categories. It helped me when I was in the position of hearing from a lot of places that subjects I was interested in often used category theory. I tried to read a few "real" books about category theory, and didn't get very far because they did not make the connections I was looking for. I accumulated three or four such books, all with bookmarks at about page 50 to 75. This book taught me relatively little about the theory of categories or the body of knowledge about them, but it provided a wealth of connections between categories and other topics, which made me better able to finish a couple of the real books and figure out what I needed to know there.
My advice, if you're in anything like that situation, is to read this book. Just don't take it too seriously, and don't try to milk more out of it than is really there. Then go learn more about category theory from elsewhere.
Oustanding book: an absolute must-read for any mathematician.......2006-10-22
In the preface of this book, the author comments that this book has been used successfully in high schools, colleges, graduate schools, and by professors. After reading this book, I can believe it. This book is simply a gem.
Mind you, although this book is very easy to read, some of the concepts contained within it are very abstract and can be very difficult to fully comprehend. While a high school student will surely get something out of this book, it would be hard to understand everything in it without knowing a fair amount of mathematics.
I would recommend this book to any mathematician. It is an absolute must-read. The author makes the claim that working through this book will improve your ability to categorize (no pun intended!) your mathematical knowledge so as to better know how to approach problems. From my experience, this claim is true. This book somehow teaches some of the things about problem-solving that many people believe cannot be taught.
This book looks deceptively simple, especially relative to beasts such as MacLane's "Categories for the Working Mathematician". However, I find that I keep coming back to this book, sometimes after several months. In particular, I have found that reading this book has opened the door to understanding some of the advanced mathematics books that previously seemed inaccessible to me, such as Lang's "Algebra".
not a book for self study.......2006-04-18
I bought this book a year ago and use it to teach myself the basics. it is difficult to go thru the exercises and tests because no answers are given, and at this stage of ignorance, with no one to rely on for verification, I am left not knowing whether I am doing the right thing or thinking the correct way on the concepts presented. Otherwise, the approach of the book is novel and easy to follow.
Objects and maps are everywhere.......2004-06-21
Excellent book for non-professional mathematicians, like me (I'm a software engineer), who wants to understand modern mathematics and apply its ideas in analysis of complex problems. Lots of pictures and diagrams (compared to terse wording in other mathematical books) really help to understand and master the subject. I think most of negative reviews come from professional mathematicians, but they don't need this book.
Very uneven, but still useful.......2002-11-11
As a topic in itself, category theory should need not to wait until grad-level to be described just because that may be when category theory's power can really begin to be exploited, but unfortunately, most of the category theory books I have looked at presume that level of mathematics.
Similar to what other reviewers noted, I would also say that this book demonstrates the potential of creating a good high-school/undergrad level intro to category theory. But unfortunately, that potential is not quite realized here.
There are hokey intermittent "conversations with students", as a tool to describe ideas, that are more distraction than aid. Some of the examples given are rather condescending in their simplicity. Yet, at other times the authors seem to breeze through more difficult topics with little or no examples. And the organization seems erratic - there is no clear sense of a gameplan as to where they are leading the reader or how all the concepts fit together.
Functors are surprisingly almost glossed over, as if they were relatively unimportant. There are exercises throughout the book, but with no answers provided, they are not really very helpful.
Having said all that, with some focused effort on the reader's part, the ideas do come forth, and admittedly, the authors do cover a fairly broad spectrum of aspects of category theory. This is certainly a non-trivial topic to try and teach, and an introductory book cannot be faulted for not carrying every notion to the nth-degree of either breadth or depth.
Category Theory is one of those topics that (to me) appears 'ho-hum' until you see it actually applied to various topics. The authors have necessarily had to perform a balancing act between describing concepts while not getting caught up in excessively complex examples. I think this will leave many readers less than satisfied, but realistically, the book would have been twice as long had they really delved deeper into examples (or they would have had to be very terse in the actual descriptions of category theory, which is the choice most authors writing for a more mathematically-inclined audience seem to make - e.g., _Mathematical Physics_ by Geroch (good book!) or _Basic Category Theory for Computer Scientists_ by Pierce).
If you are mathematically astute, you probably will find this book tedious. But if you are not a grad+ math major, then this book may well be worth the effort as a way to begin to learn a very profound and powerful set of tools and concepts.
Book Description
Category theory is a branch of pure mathematics that is becoming an increasingly important tool in theoretical computer science, especially in programming language semantics, domain theory, and concurrency, where it is already a standard language of discourse. Assuming a minimum of mathematical preparation, Basic Category Theory for Computer Scientists provides a straightforward presentation of the basic constructions and terminology of category theory, including limits, functors, natural transformations, adjoints, and cartesian closed categories. Four case studies illustrate applications of category theory to programming language design, semantics, and the solution of recursive domain equations. A brief literature survey offers suggestions for further study in more advanced texts. Benjamin C. Pierce received his doctoral degree from Carnegie Mellon University.
Contents: Tutorial. Applications. Further Reading.
Customer Reviews:
Good Introduction.......2007-02-21
I have been reading several different category theory texts recently, and this one was very succinct and accessible. Particularly useful for understanding functional programming.
Basic crib sheet for category theory.......2006-04-03
Anyone coming to this book from Pierce's "Types and Programming Languages" will be disappointed. While his "Types ..." book is a model of clear exposition, this book reads like a set of notes jotted down on the back on an envelope. The extensive bibliographic sections are more than fifteen years out of date. Much of the material referenced is no longer in print, and recent developments are, of course, not mentioned. Those seeking a very gentle introduction to category theory would do better with the book by Lawvere and Schanuel, who cover more of category theory than Pierce. Mathematically mature computer science readers will find everything they need to know about the subject in Mac Lane's book.
Really expensive for a set of notes..........2005-12-07
You can find better introductions to category theory available on the net for free. And I'm not talking about P2P! Try searching for Lambert Meertens, Marten Fokkinga, and Jaap Van Oosten, for example.
If you have some money to spend, get Barr and Wells, Category Theory for Computing Science. It's a great book, *way* better than this!
Too terse.......2004-03-28
This is a very short book: 70 pages of text + a bibliography. The first 50 pages are about general category theory, and the last 20 pages are specifically for computer scientists. My interest is in general category theory, and I bought this because I have a BS in CS and thought I'd find plenty of familiar examples. Unfortunately this book doesn't have nearly enough examples. I found it easier to skim some undergrad abstract algebra books in the library (groups, rings, vector spaces) and then continuing with category theory intros written for math students.
the best understaning of categories you can get.......2002-05-06
This book is tiny in volume but large in contents. It does not only provide the definitions of the fundamental concepts but also clear explanations and motivations of why must everything be defined that way, which are not always found in other texts. Plenty of the right examples help you build the right intuitions. The case studies at the end put everything into context and prepare you for CS texts on semantics, type theory, etc.
If you want to UNDERSTAND this wonderful theory read this book!
Book Description
In some parts of the world, especially in developing markets, category management today remains a stretch goal – a new idea full of untapped potential. In other areas, the original eight-step process that emerged in the late 1980’s forms the foundation of many companies’ approach to category management. In still others, particularly in developed countries like the U.S., the U.K., and others, refinements are being made – most of them designed to place consumer understanding front and center.
New ideas are emerging – from "trip management" to "aisle management" to "customer management." Whether a new descriptor emerges to replace "category management" is yet to be seen. Even if that does happen, what won’t change is the overall objective – to help retailers and their manufacturer partners succeed by offering the right selection of products that are marketed and merchandised based on a complete understanding of the consumers they are committed to serving.
This book, which explores both the state of and the state-of-the-art in category management, is for everyone with a vested interest in category management. It can serve such a broad audience because category management is about bringing a structured process to how executives think and make decisions about their businesses, no matter what information and information technology they have access to.
Download Description
In some parts of the world, especially in developing markets, category management today remains a stretch goal a new idea full of untapped potential. In other areas, the original eight-step process that emerged in the late 1980's forms the foundation of many companies approach to category management. In still others, particularly in developed countries like the U.S., the U.K., and others, refinements are being made most of them designed to place consumer understanding front and center. New ideas are emerging from ""trip management"" to ""aisle management"" to ""customer management."" Whether a new descriptor emerges to replace ""category management"" is yet to be seen. Even if that does happen, what won't change is the overall objective to help retailers and their manufacturer partners succeed by offering the right selection of products that are marketed and merchandised based on a complete understanding of the consumers they are committed to serving. This book, which explores both the state of and the state-of-the-art in category management, is for everyone with a vested interest in category management. It can serve such a broad audience because category management is about bringing a structured process to how executives
Customer Reviews:
The Practicle Side Of Category Management Plainly Explained........2007-02-23
Some management publications slump into excessive conceptual theories, meaningless acronyms, or pointless detail that serve only to turn off the novice, while failing to add tangible value to those seeking to enhance existing expertise. ACNielson's "Consumer-Centric Category Management" is not one of these publications. The book is well structured, guiding the reader, in plain concise English, through the key A - Z stages, techniques, benefits and risks associated with the category management. Like me, I'm sure you'll find in every chapter practical ideas you'll be keen to try out.
Category Management.......2007-02-22
If you want to win in the shelves, and add value (profit), start to think in this fundamental subject. The book is not complete and doesn't have a minucious (technical) aproach, but has good cases and ideas to how conduct this action in your business.
You must read it.......2006-12-12
if you are not a retail guru, but if you're an executive involved with retail, fast moving consumer goods, shopper understanding, category management, trade promotions, and so on, you must read it. It's clear, ordered, easy to read, and best of all is edited by ACNielsen, wich is the global leader in FMCG information.
At the end of your reading you'll understand the importance of shoppers in the FMCG business, wich is the functionallity of decision trees, what's next beyond category management (trip management). Why is so important to understand shopper's behavior to achieve succesful exhibits and boost your sales.
Excellent Information, obviously biased.......2006-03-04
This is an excellent book for anyone involved in Category Management, seasoned pros and newbies alike.
It is not surprising to see of the companies and people involved in this book. It's disappointing to get through it and not hear from some of the great companies doing great work today. More people should share what they're doing.
The authors take great care to list the different tools used by each company. Kind in mind who who sponsored the book and realize that their are other tools at work in this industry.
Mark it up and keep it around. It has a great index and will serve as a good reference tool.
Average customer rating:
|
Recent Progress in General Topology
Manufacturer: North Holland
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Algebra
| Pure Mathematics
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Functional Analysis
| Pure Mathematics
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Topology
| Geometry & Topology
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Topology
| Geometry & Topology
| Mathematics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Algebra
| Pure Mathematics
| Mathematics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Professional & Technical
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0444896740 |
Book Description
These papers survey the developments in General Topology and the applications of it which have taken place since the mid 1980s. The book may be regarded as an update of some of the papers in the Handbook of Set-Theoretic Topology (eds. Kunen/Vaughan, North-Holland, 1984), which gives an almost complete picture of the state of the art of Set Theoretic Topology before 1984. In the present volume several important developments are surveyed that surfaced in the period 1984-1991.
This volume may also be regarded as a partial update of Open Problems in Topology (eds. van Mill/Reed, North-Holland, 1990). Solutions to some of the original 1100 open problems are discussed and new problems are posed.
Book Description
This book revives a neglected but important topic in philosophy: the nature of substance. The belief that there are individual substances (for example, material objects and persons) is at the core of our common-sense view of the world, yet many metaphysicians deny the very coherence of the concept of substance. The authors develop a novel account of what an individual substance is in terms of independence from other beings.
Books:
- The Tao of Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett's Words of Wisdom: Quotations and Interpretations to Help Guide You to Billionaire Wealth and Enlightened Business Management
- The Tragic and the Ecstatic: The Musical Revolution of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde
- The Wedding of Zein and Other Stories
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Books of Wonder)
- The Year of Magical Thinking
- Theogony, Works and Days (Oxford World's Classics)
- Thomas Hardy
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer: Earthly License for Heavenly Interference
- Wanderlust: A History of Walking
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning
- Wedding Bouquets: Over 300 Designs for Every Bride
- Story Sense: A Screenwriter's Guide for Film and Television
- The Highly Selective Thesaurus for the Extraordinarily Literate
- The Mammoth Book of Sudoku: 400 New Puzzles - The Biggest and Best Collection of Sudoku Ever
- What's So Funny
- Turtle Summer: A Journal for My Daughter
- College Accounting: A Practical Approach Chapters 1-26
- Quality Manager's Complete Guide to Iso 9000 2000 Supplement
- The Most Valuable Business Legal Forms You'll Ever Need
Habermas and the Public Sphere (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought)
Publics and Counterpublics
The Theory of Communicative Action, Volume 1: Reason and the Rationalization of Society (The Theory of Communicative Action, Vol1)
The Theory of Communicative Action, Volume 2: Lifeword and System: A Critique of Functionalist Reason
Dialectic of Enlightenment (Cultural Memory in the Present)
