Help in locating this oustanding beginners book on algebraic structures?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying a specific book on algebraic structures that a participant remembers from the early 1990s. The inquiry focuses on the book's physical characteristics, content, and unique features, particularly its historical context provided at the end of each chapter. The scope includes aspects of book identification and recommendations for locating it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recalls a book that was a plain brown hard-back, over 500 pages, published before 1990, likely in the 1980s, and included historical context at the end of chapters.
  • Another participant suggests that without knowing the title or author, it is unlikely anyone can help locate the book, recommending self-research through online searches or library visits.
  • A different participant expresses skepticism about the book being introductory if it includes terms like monoids or modules in the title, implying it may be more advanced.
  • Some participants express frustration with the lack of specific information and suggest that the brown cover may not be a reliable identifier due to potential library re-binding practices.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the feasibility of locating the book based on the provided information, with some expressing doubt about the book's introductory nature and others encouraging further inquiry.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the vague details provided about the book, reliance on physical characteristics, and the uncertainty regarding the specific content and level of the book.

jason12345
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I'm posting this question here because I recall a certain book as being an outstanding introducton to algebraic structures and therefore worth knowing about in 2012. The problem is that I borrowed it from a library in the early 1990s and I can't remember it's name!

Here's what I remember:

- It was a plain brown hard-back, over 500 pages, measuring around 16cm x 24cm
- Had a title with the words groups, rings and maybe monoids or modules; I'm not too sure.
- Published before 1990, probably in the 1980s
- At the end of each chapter it devoted a few pages on the history of the development of the subject matter contained in that chapter which I've never seen in any other book before or since on algebraic structures.

Thanks in advance,

Jason
 
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please delete this question.
 
mathwonk said:
please delete this question.

Ok, how do I do that?

It's an amazing book, all the same.
 
If you do not know either the title or the author of a book and only the decade more or less it was published in and the color of the cover, and that the words modules rings or some such occurred in it, there is little chance anyone can help you locate it. Please do some more homework yourself. E.g. go om amazon and type in some of your key words and search through the hundreds of titles you will fin there, or go back to the library where you checked it out and look on the shelves.
 
jason12345 said:
Here's what I remember:

- It was a plain brown hard-back, over 500 pages, measuring around 16cm x 24cm
- Had a title with the words groups, rings and maybe monoids or modules; I'm not too sure.
- Published before 1990, probably in the 1980s
- At the end of each chapter it devoted a few pages on the history of the development of the subject matter contained in that chapter which I've never seen in any other book before or since on algebraic structures.

The brown cover may not help. I am afraid that many Libraries re-bind their books, particularly older ones that may have seen a lot of use.

I wouldn't be so harsh as to recommend deleting your question, but if you remember any more information, it might give some help in finding it.

You are sure it was an introductory book? Something with monoids or modules in the title sounds more advanced to me.
 
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