Category Theory: Intro Texts & Recommended Books

[ForMyThunder]

I'm looking to start studying Category Theory. What books would you recommend for these? I can't seem to find an introductory book on categories. What is the standard text for such a thing?

 

[Msh1]

I read a book titled "Basic Category Theory for Computer Scientists" by Benjamin C.Pierce a few months ago. It is fairly short and straightforward and doesn't require a lot of background knowledge.

 

[zpconn]

The standard book is Categories for the Working Mathematician by Saunders MacLane--one of the pioneers of the subject.

 

[micromass]

The usual reference is "Categories for the working mathematician" by MacLane. I suggest you read this, but I'll give some other references. Check them out and pick what you like best:

"Arrows, Structures and Functors: a categorical imperative" by Arbib is a good book if you're not very familiar to mathematical structures. MacLanes book already assumes that you're familier to a lot of things (like abstract algebra, topology,...). If you're not, then this book is better

"Abstract and concrete categories" by Adamek, Herrlich, Strecker is the very best book on categories! Furthermore, it is freely available on the website katmat.math.uni-bremen.de/acc/acc.pdf The book provides a lot of theory, and a massive amount of examples (the examples are really important for somebody studying categories!). However, I would consider the book more of a reference text than a textbook. But I really suggest reading this book together with MacLane!

 

[Caramon]

Thanks so much for the material micromass! I've been very interested in Category theory recently as well. :D

 

[mathwonk]

when i was a kid the standards were those by peter freyd and by barry mitchell.

 

[micromass]

when i was a kid the standards were those by peter freyd and by barry mitchell.

Aren't these more for abelian categories? Or did they write stuff on general categories too, I may want to check those out!

 

[micromass]

I just think about it now, but they're is a great video lecture series on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCatsters

I don't say that it's a substitute for a textbook, but the explanations are very clear! Definitely worth a look! Furthermore, the initiative comes from a university which is well-known for it's categories, so it's certainly good material...