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$41.06
1. Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy,
$80.00
2. Joining Together: Group Theory
$43.00
3. Student Manual for Corey's Theory
$9.43
4. Symmetry: An Introduction to Group
$14.02
5. Group Theory and Quantum Mechanics
$9.55
6. Schaum's Outline of Group Theory
$7.55
7. Problems in Group Theory (Dover
$54.94
8. Groups: Theory and Experience
$55.99
9. An Introduction to the Theory
$55.56
10. Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory
$1.75
11. Group Theory in the Bedroom, and
$11.00
12. Group Theory
 
$72.51
13. Chemical Applications of Group
$39.82
14. Finite Group Theory (Graduate
$61.58
15. Effective Group Discussion: Theory
$13.20
16. Group Theory and Its Application
$44.37
17. Naive Lie Theory (Undergraduate
$69.56
18. Group Theory and Physics
 
$10.00
19. Group Theory and Chemistry
$9.95
20. Group Theory in Chemistry and

1. Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, Fifth Edition
by Irvin D. Yalom, Molyn Leszcz
Hardcover: 688 Pages (2005-07-06)
list price: US$55.00 -- used & new: US$41.06
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0465092845
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description
The fifth edition of the best-selling text-completely revised to reflect the latest developments in the field

In this completely revised and updated fifth edition of group psychotherapy's standard text, Dr. Yalom and his collaborator present the most recent developments in the field, drawing on nearly a decade of new research as well as their broad clinical wisdom and expertise. Among the significant new topics:

Online therapy

Specialized groups

Ethnocultural diversity

Trauma

Managed care

Plus hundreds of new references and clinical vignettes

"This is far and away the best book about group psychotherapy.... Yalom writes fluently, knowledgeably, and with clarity and uncommon good sense." Contemporary Psychology ... Read more

Customer Reviews (53)

2-0 out of 5 stars The Novel of Psychotherapy
Even though the Yalom's textbook has helpful information, it reads and appears to be written like a very long novel. I would have preferred to have a detailed, concise breakdown of the information rather than a long story like textbook.

5-0 out of 5 stars Excelent service
Thank you for your fast service and the quality of the book. In that you said it was a new book and it came as a new book. Unfortunately in the past, I've ordered books that they have advertised as "new" but came all beaten up and written in as well!

5-0 out of 5 stars Year of the Kindle version should be changed
I just wanted to bring to your attention if you are interested in the Kindle $39 edition, it is a 2005 copy of the book.It is an error to have typed 1970.

4-0 out of 5 stars Very helpful group therapy techniques
I had to buy this book for a class and it was actually a fun and helpful read. There are great therapy techniques as well as behaviors to be aware of, personality types in a group, selecting clients, what to do in certain situations and much more! I recommend it to anyone interested in group therapy-whether joining a counseling group or facilitating one.

5-0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Consistent with the history of Yalom and Group Process books, the current book is strong in theory and with practical translations for readers of all experience levels. ... Read more


2. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills (10th Edition)
by David W. Johnson, Frank P. Johnson
Paperback: 672 Pages (2008-04-19)
list price: US$108.00 -- used & new: US$80.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0205578632
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description

This best-selling text is a broad, integrative overview of group dynamics presented in a well researched, readable, and experiential format.

This text introduces readers to the theory and research findings needed to understand how to make groups effective, and it helps build the skills required to apply that knowledge in practical situations. More than a textbook, Joining Together illustrates how this knowledge and mastery of skills creates choices, opportunities, and successes for each individual. No competing text offers the scope of coverage and the range of experiential exercises of Joining Together

... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

3-0 out of 5 stars Expensive, but valid
Unlike some of the reviewers here who are rating a much earlier edition rather than the tenth edition), the text is quite useful and one of the more complete texts on group and team theory and and practice. If one were to want to find more in-depth information on specific theory and research, then he or she should seek out peer reviewed journals rather than an all-encompassing textbook that is designed as an introduction to group theory, which this is, albeit way overpriced...but aren't all textbooks?

The unfortunate thing for online students is that there are dozens of face-to-face scenario and role acting lessons that would be invaluable if they could be applied; however, online students are faced with posting and dialogue with other students who can barely write, command little of English grammar, and are only looking to do the minimum, check the box, and move on. Contrary to one reviewer, these are indeed place strategically throughout the text where the role-playing either leads you into the following text, or reinforces previous text by example.

Thin pages, thick book, and high price, but still an excellent reference for understanding and applying group and team theory.

One more thing: if you buy this book on Amazon, you pay 50% of what colleges charge, and most online colleges now have this in e-book form, which is almost as much as the Amazon price.

4-0 out of 5 stars perfect
I needed this book for an online course and it was half the price on Amazon.Thanks for being there for me Amazon.

2-0 out of 5 stars Adeteriorating classic
This book should fulfill an important function. Groups are ubiquitous and vital for the functioning of organizations in our society. Who can readily say that they do not interact with a group in order to solve a problem or make a decision in any work setting today? A text that provides a guideto help such groups operate should be a winner. This book used to be such. This edition falls short.

Groups are part of everything that we do. We need a guide to help members of groups contribute toand leaders to facilitate that operation. We have been in groups virtually all of our lives and are, to some degree, experts in groups. But groups do not always work. A reviewer of a previous edition complained that this book added nothing very much to what a person had already learned in sportsteams and school groups. But to me, this missed the point. We may have learned some rules and skills in our previous interactions. But those skills and rules may well have been wrong, and possibly dangerous. A review of historical decision making and a study of the literature on the psychology of groups demonstrates the ways in which groups lead members to identify with evil leaders, proceed to bad solutions and adopt processes which lead a group to self destruct. A primer such as this should help teachers and facilitators unlearn some rules and learn new ones. But his is no longer a primer. It is a text.

And as a text is falls down. In earlier editions it was brief and succinct. In this, it has become longer and fatter. As the literature on groups processes and group dynamics has grown, so has this book. But the point of a text, as a guide and a primer, is to continue to select out, to filter out the irrelevance and to present the essentials. This book seems simply to have added material where there is new literature. It has grown but has not been edited. Where it has grown, it has added material that has not reflected the social psychological literature in the world other than the United States of America. Countless references to material from Europe, central to arguments presented in the book, are simply ignored.

This is sad. The authors could have done so much by acknowledging the contribution of modern contributions from outside of the United States. They could also have done so much for the field, and for themselves, by taking a red pencil and edit as much as 50% of the text. Then there would have been a contribution to the literature, and more importantly, to the application of the facilitation of group process to the operation of systems in society.

Perhaps the 10th Edition is one too far.

4-0 out of 5 stars joining together:group theory and group skills 10/e
The book is everything I expected. It serves the purpose and I am satisfied with this product. I spent $25.00 instead of $100.00.

5-0 out of 5 stars Join together
This is a great book.I received it in a timely manner just as it was posted.It was also in great condition. ... Read more


3. Student Manual for Corey's Theory and Practice of Group Counseling, 7th
by Gerald Corey
Paperback: 250 Pages (2007-01-26)
list price: US$55.95 -- used & new: US$43.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0495115231
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description
The Student Manual helps you experience group process techniques and gain maximum benefit from Corey's textbook. The manual includes many activities, ideas for supervised training groups, summary charts, self-inventories, study guides, comprehension checks and quizzes, group techniques, and examples of cases with open-ended alternatives for group counseling practice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

1-0 out of 5 stars Poor Customer Service
I purchased this product in July 2010. I also returned the item in August because I purchased an incorrect book. It is now mid September and the return has not been credited back to my account.

1-0 out of 5 stars Beware - this is the workbook, not the textbook!!
I purchased the Student Manual for Corey's Theory and Practice of Group Counseling and even read some of the reviews. It reads just like it is the textbook, so I had no worries. When I received it though, I realized that it is a workbook companion to the actual textbook. I went back and read Amazon's description and below all the information, there's a small, short paragraph that indicates what is in the Student Manaual -- which I apparently missed. However, the info before that little blurb still reads like it is the text that is being ordered! I was really disappointed because the workbook is useless and I'm already halfway through the course. Needless to say, I'm going to try and return my workbook.

5-0 out of 5 stars 6th edition Corey's Theory & Practice for Group Work
This edition saved me a lot of cash!I checked with my professor first of course but information in the text is right on target with my class. Text is very much in the "Corey" style and I found it informative.

5-0 out of 5 stars Group Dynamics
This book is easy to understand. It arrived in excellent condition and the seller shipped the book quickly!

5-0 out of 5 stars Excellent buy, I feel great. So economical
This was a great buy, the book is what it promised to be and I got a great bargin, it beat paying full price at the university book store. Recommend this site to all students. ... Read more


4. Symmetry: An Introduction to Group Theory and Its Applications
by Roy McWeeny
Paperback: 248 Pages (2002-06-12)
list price: US$14.95 -- used & new: US$9.43
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0486421821
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description
This well-organized volume develops the elementary ideas of both group theory and representation theory in a progressive and thorough fashion, leading students to a point at which they can proceed easily to more elaborate applications. The finite groups describing the symmetry of regular polyhedra and of repeating patterns are emphasized, and geometric illustrations of all the main processes appear here--including more than 100 fully worked examples. Designed to be read at a variety of levels and to allow students to focus on any of the main fields of application, this text is geared toward advanced undergraduate and graduate physics and chemistry students. 1963 edition. Appendices.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

5-0 out of 5 stars Best intro to group theory I've seen
This is one of the finest examples of didactic mathematics I have ever seen.Good teaching is rare in mathematics...sorry, I wish it weren't so, but mathematicians often suffer from profound cluelessness about what is obvious and what is a stumbling block to understanding.Not so McWeeney, who understands the didactic principle of a continuing example that is developed and built upon along with the theory (here a simple rotation group of the triangular lamina, i.e. turning and flipping a triangle cutout).And no super-challenging problem sets and unfinished proofs that just make the math mortal feel stupid and want to give up.

This presentation could take any avid high school Algebra II student well into group theory and matrix representations.

That said, one would be better off with a background of basic matrix theory such as identity matrix, inverse matrix, etc., and some comfort with row/column language and the dual subscripts of matrices.But even that would not be necessary for anyone who comprehends sigma notation of sums and the basic principles of subscripting/indexing.

The first chapter is harder by far than the second.Readers should just remember that fraction groups are like riding a bike; once seen for what they are it will all come into place.

If you need a companion to this you might consider Byron and Fuller's Dover classic text, which develops vectors even more rigorously and from a more numeric perspective.
... Read more


5. Group Theory and Quantum Mechanics
by Michael Tinkham
Paperback: 352 Pages (2003-12-17)
list price: US$24.95 -- used & new: US$14.02
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0486432475
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description

This graduate-level text develops aspects of group theory most relevant to physics and chemistry and illustrates their applications to quantum mechanics: abstract group theory, theory of group representations, physical applications of group theory, full rotation group and angular momentum, quantum mechanics of atoms, molecular quantum mechanics, and solid-state theory. 1964 edition.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

4-0 out of 5 stars Heavy on the Math . . .
This book is an excellent reference for group theory. It gives you the detailed math behind group theory (which is great for me). It also gives you a brief introduction so you can work with molecular group theory. This was the recommended text in my chemical group theory class. It serves as a good mathematical reference. Also, see Cotton's group theory book, and Carters group theory book.

4-0 out of 5 stars Good for the Undergrad Students.
This book has the advantage of applying group theory directly to solvable physical problems. In most areas of applied physics it is
very important to know the basics concepts of group theory, but
there is no need to have a deep knowledge as well as to know how to
proof all the main theorems. As an introductory course for undergrad
students this book is well recommended.

4-0 out of 5 stars Most accessible of the useful physics texts
My background is that of theoretically inclined inorganic chemist and this review is intended for those with interests in inorganic and physical chemistry or solid-state chemistry/physics.

Tinkham's text is the first textbook one should go to for a reasonably rigorous introduction to the theory and use of group representations in physics and theoretical chemistry.Modern theoretical chemists should become familiar with all of this book, with the possible exception of the some of the material in Chapter 5 that will be applicable only to physicists (and not a lot of that, actually).The pervasiveness of band theory, even in general inorganic chemistry journals now, should convince chemists who teach this subject to include a lot of Chapter 8 (Solid-State Theory) and chemical theorists will even have to go beyond the symmorphic groups treated here.

The purely mathematical aspects of the subject are treated briefly, but much more completely, than "chemical group theory books" like Cotton's, for example.Naturally, this comes at a price of more mathematical abstractness, but that is unavoidable.These sections, like the rest of the book, are very well written.

Chapter 7, on applications to molecular quantum mechanics, is now quite dated.It was quite incomplete even when written, since it did not include any discussion of ligand-field theory.The effects of antisymmetric wavefunctions for electrons are touched on briefly in Chapter 5 (atoms), but are not adequately accounted for in discussion of molecules.(Incidentally, the failure to use Mulliken notation in molecular QM is an unfortunate annoyance.)

These objections aside, this book is an excellent buy for the price of a Dover edition.Indeed, if I'd included price in my rating, it would be 5 stars - easily!

5-0 out of 5 stars A must for every grad student
I began reading this book having just finished a course on Abstract Algebra through my school's math department, and the semester before I took a graduate course on the exact subject.

After taking the math course, I was presented with group theory as if it were some muddled mix of facts, and the course came across as a poorly taught class on number theory. After reading just the first chapter of Tinkham's book, I developed a new, deeper understanding of group theory as a whole. For example, the way that Tinkham presents normal subgroups makes vastly more intuitive sense than the presentation I received in my math course.

The first two chapters alone are probably worth 80% of the book's sale price. The rest is made up entirely of the fact that the book does not piddle around with trivial examples, but genuinely frames quantum mechanics in the language of group theory, and the most important part is that Tinkham does it well.

This book, along with his book on superconductivity, are must-haves for any serious condensed matter person, and this book should be at least read (if not owned) by any physics grad student.

5-0 out of 5 stars Group Theory and Quantum Mechanics
Both the content of the book and service of amazon are wonderful ... Read more


6. Schaum's Outline of Group Theory
by B. Baumslag, B. Chandler
Paperback: 288 Pages (1968-06-01)
list price: US$19.95 -- used & new: US$9.55
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0070041245
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description
The theory of abstract groups comes into play in an astounding number of seemingly unconnected areas like crystallography and quantum mechanics, geometry and topology, analysis and algebra, physics, chemistry and even biology. Readers need only know high school mathematics, much of which is reviewed here, to grasp this important subject. Hundreds of problems with detailed solutions illustrate the text, making important points easy to understand and remember. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

4-0 out of 5 stars Good for self-study
I first started to look at J.S. Milne's class notes:
[...]

However, I wasn't able to truly understand them. The book by Baumslag and Chandler is a good introduction. The writing is clear, the examples showed me how to use the theorems. According to the authors, the required level is high-school math. That may be true, but I guess having a little backgroud in group, rings, field, etc... helped me.

I am going back to Milne now, but this book is good if you are learning group theory on your own, and just for fun.

5-0 out of 5 stars An excellent way to learn group theory
This is another of the Schaum's outline books that helped me launch my career. I was taking a master's level course in abstract algebra and was loaded down with homework problems. After struggling to get one assignment done, I went to the local bookstore and purchased this book. My performance immediately improved. I found a few of the homework problems in this book, but the main advantage was that there were similar problems that I could work through and understand. From this, it was a relatively simple matter to execute a similar proof to solve the problem I was given. My final grade was an A and it wasn't even close.

5-0 out of 5 stars A Classic Text
I had been studying group theory on my own independently using this book for the last seven months when I misplaced it while at work - along with the notebook which I had painstakingly and carefully created from my hundreds of hours of study in this book. To say the least, I've been absolutely devastated at losing my notes; but the Schaum Outline I can easily replace.

I had thought, after the book was lost, of trying another text. But most of the introductory textbooks on abstract algebra cover a lot of other things besides group theory. And as a result, they do not go very deeply into any one algebraic structure, but just scratch the surface. I wanted to focus on groups because, as stated in the Introduction of this book, this will bring me into the advanced areas of more quickly as a result of the narrowness of focus.

The notation in this book is initially peculiar. I was not used to seeing the notation xf for a function instead of f(x). The lack of parentheses was confusing, so when making my notes I simply added them, creating the notation (x)f. In fact this backward notation does seem to work better for abstract algebra, and after a while it becomes natural, and the standard notation f(x) becomes odd. So expect to see such things as this for automorphisms: (a*b)f = (a)f*(b)f.

Initially I did not want to use a Schaum outline to study groups. I wanted a hard-cover textbook. But I found this book irresistible in both its scope and its detailed discussion of group concepts. In summary, I would say that if you are truly serious about abstract algebra, you cannot afford to be without this fascinating, thorough, and inexpensive text.

3-0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive but Dated
This is a reprint of a book that's been around since the sixties. It needs an update, especially the exercises, which are somewhat disorganized. The authors, like many mathematicians, have difficulty with the spoken language and do not adequately motivate the material, on an historical or intellectual basis. That said, this is still one of the best introductions to the subject available, at less than 20% the going cost of a textbook.

3-0 out of 5 stars Outdated notation and very dull
I know maths books aren't meant to be fun to read, but this book is *extremely* boring. It's got, in my opinion, too much content, and its content could've been explained more efficiently.

Most of the notation used in this book (it was published 36 years ago) is out of date, which can be annoying as it makes the confusion subject of group theory even more confusing.

The good thing about this book is that it's great value for money. However, as said above, it might contain too much if you're an undergraduate student like myself who just wants to understand the basic stuff. ... Read more


7. Problems in Group Theory (Dover Books on Mathematics)
by John D. Dixon
Paperback: 192 Pages (2007-01-15)
list price: US$12.95 -- used & new: US$7.55
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0486459160
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description

This wide-ranging text features 431 problems in group theory, with complete solutions. Topics include subgroups, permutation groups, automorphisms and finitely generated Abelian groups, normal series, commutators and derived series, solvable and nilpotent groups, the group ring and monomial representations, Frattini subgroup, factorization, and linear groups. 1967 edition.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

4-0 out of 5 stars A good collection of standard and non-standard problems
This is a good compilation of problems in Group Theory. Most of the problems are non-trivial and come from a variety of published research articles. The problems cover all aspects of the elementary theory, starting from subgroups, commutators up to representations and linear groups. While I think that the book is useful, it is by no means an exhaustive collection of all possible problems that one may ever encounter. By systematically working this book, one will however, definitely be able to grasp and appreciate the nuances of how to go about working with finite groups. Given that this book is quite old, it perhaps does not cover things such as semidirect products, group actions etc. to the level that the average graduate course covers nowadays. In conclusion, it is a necessary but not entirely sufficient coverage of problems in group theory.

4-0 out of 5 stars Topics in Group Theory
This is a problem source book for topics in group theory. It can be a great companion for students who are sweating trying to find solutions to homework problems in a group theory course. But perhaps, the topics inside the book may not be what you're looking for. However, it was a great idea for the author to create this book.

3-0 out of 5 stars A very good companion to other books on groups
If you are teaching a course in groups, this would make a good source of problems that haveanswers. I can't swear that you'll get praise for using the problems: some are pretty difficult,
but they should keep an advanced class busy for three units and a quarter of work. For me I would like more a complete explanation of notation. One can't bridge to Physics and Chemistry point groups used in spectroscopy very easy from this book,or to Cartan groups and Dynkin diagrams. It needs an introduction to Lie Algebras as well. As a result for graduate students it is dated somewhat, but the basic never change. A goods solid problems book
to go with a more modern group theory text.

4-0 out of 5 stars Just Buy It !!
Don't waste too much time deciding whether or not to purchase this little gem, JUST BUY IT!!.Considering the retail price (thanks Dover) you will definitly get much more than your moneys worth out of this book.So why four stars?I chose to rate Dixon's text at the level of fours stars because of my selfish desire of wishing Dixon had included more problems.It actually deserves five stars.Dixon has done an excellent job of compiling a relatively wide assortment of problems (from subgroups to representations), some problems are routine, some clever, some subtle and some difficult.But all together, the provided assortment of problems in this book have been a complete joy to work through and I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in group theory, to those who enjoy straining their brains while working through mathematical problems and to those graduate students who are studying for qualifying exams. ... Read more


8. Groups: Theory and Experience
by Rodney W. Napier, Matti K. Gershenfeld
Paperback: 608 Pages (2003-07-01)
list price: US$100.95 -- used & new: US$54.94
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0618270442
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description

The new edition of Groups reflects the author's unique combination of academic expertise and group consultant experience by including the latest research on group dynamics and the most current views on ways to make working in groups more effective. Napier and Gershenfeld present complex concepts in a way that makes them more understandable, recognizing that students are more familiar with the dynamics of individual behavior and building on that knowledge to teach group theory.

Throughout the text students are presented with tools that help them apply concepts and theories. Case studies provide real-life context and Reader Activities (reflective exercises) and Individual Experiments—creation and observation of group situations—engage students in the learning process by asking them to apply what they learn to their own lives. At the end of every chapter, For Further Information sections list book and web resources to provide an expanded perspective of concepts discussed in the text.

  • New! Chapter 10, From Groups to Teams: The Changing Landscape of Organizational Life, summarizes the latest research on the dynamics of teams and applying it to business and mental health settings.
  • New! Updated exercises have been moved from the end of each chapter to the Instructor's Resource Manual.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

5-0 out of 5 stars Groups
The book was necessary for a course I am taking but it was interesting none the less.It's interesting to try to understand group dynamics as we are associated with groups in most of our everyday situations.Even in a line waiting at the DMV we are a part of a group that wishes to get a license or get an accident report etc.I was satisfied with the purchase and the delivery time and will continue to shop Amazon.

5-0 out of 5 stars Great quality
Seller shipped on time and book was the exact same quality as described.Great doing business with you!

3-0 out of 5 stars Questionable Reference Causes Doubt
On page 19, under the heading of Selective Perception and Communication, the authors indicate that "research" has shown that grades received by teachers reveal bias of the teacher as opposed to the actual level of knowledge of the child.Two specific examples are provided but WITHOUT citation to the supposed research.Since the research material is so well documented in the rest of the book, I question why they did not make the citation available here.I would like to read this research but am left without the option to find it myself.Ironically, my view of everything that I read in this book from this point on will be tarnished by this experience.

5-0 out of 5 stars A classic book about groups- EXCELLENT resource
The authors have been around fora long time, but they still have fresh ideas. Anyone interested in the complexity of groups, should read this book. It is wonderful. ... Read more


9. An Introduction to the Theory of Groups
by Joseph J. Rotman
Hardcover: 536 Pages (1994-11-04)
list price: US$79.95 -- used & new: US$55.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0387942858
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description
Anyone who has studied "abstract algebra" and linear algebra as an undergraduate can understand this book. This edition has been completely revised and reorganized, without however losing any of the clarity of presentation that was the hallmark of the previous editions. The first six chapters provide ample material for a first course: beginning with the basic properties of groups and homomorphisms, topics covered include Lagrange's theorem, the Noether isomorphism theorems, symmetric groups, G-sets, the Sylow theorems, finite Abelian groups, the Krull-Schmidt theorem, solvable and nilpotent groups, and the Jordan-Holder theorem. The middle portion of the book uses the Jordan-Holder theorem to organize the discussion of extensions (automorphism groups, semidirect products, the Schur-Zassenhaus lemma, Schur multipliers) and simple groups (simplicity of projective unimodular groups and, after a return to G-sets, a construction of the sporadic Mathieu groups). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

5-0 out of 5 stars Nice, readable book to study with
My second abstract algebra class had no lecture notes, and the textbook was Robinson's A Course in the Theory of Groups. I couldn't get through even the first chapter of this book, so my professor recommended that I read this book by Rotman instead. The structure of things in algebra started making much more sense to me. I was able to understand much better what was going on in class and the motivation for what we studied. Though it's self-contained, I'd recommend this as a book for self-study once you've already got a handle on the basics of algebra. The exercises are tricky but doable, and the way the book is structured, it is essential to read them to understand the arguments. Some proofs depend on solutions to exercises.

5-0 out of 5 stars a very pleasant book
Starting slowly, this book is very good for everyone who want to self study seriously group theory. This is by far the best book I have on this subject. The difficulty is very gradual and there is a real dedication of the author to make understand the concepts to the reader. A very good book, easy to read in the first chapters, less in the last.

However some minor bugs are still present in the fourth edition, but nothing serious.

3-0 out of 5 stars Good book but many errors
This is a good book, well-organized and contains many useful materials. However I do not recommend it as an independent study textbook (which is what I did). There are many errors, most of them are typographical but some of them are wrong numbers which are very difficult to correct, especially in the exercises given. And the exercises are very important -- the following discussions and proofs depend on some of them. Springer published a "corrected second printing" in 1999 but obviously they didn't do a good job (I purchased the new one and I got the old one in the library).

5-0 out of 5 stars Fun but not easy
I am not sure I would take this specific book to a desert island but I would highly recommend it to anyone who is in possession of patience, self-motivation and willingness to spend time working through both the problems and any gaps that may occur within the proofs.This book can be used both by Graduate students or as a topics/independent study course for well prepared and motivated undergraduates.
In general, you can be guaranteed that the exposition present within any book by Rotman is par-excellence and this book is no exception.The material is presented in a sound and definite logical manner, which results in gently directing the reader through an 'introduction' to group theory by presenting the material in well thought out and bite sized portions.The only negative aspect of this book, which is minimal as best, is the authors choice of notation, for example the notation used to define G-sets in chapter 3 does not necessarily do the topic justice since G-sets in their own right are an important concept.But, as stated, this is the only complaint and is easily remedied.Enjoy!

3-0 out of 5 stars Solid, but occasionally frustrating
I used this book as a means of writing my senior thesis on the clasification of the projective unimodular groups and the Mathieu groups as being simple. Most of the proofs were well constructed and easy to follow.What this books lacks is a proof reading. Several of the proofs make nosense in the form in which they are written. Also, his notation at timesbecomes cluttered and not easy to follow. One can imagine how difficultnotation can be in general, but when it is full of typographical errors, itcan be almost impossible to wade through without the help of someone whoknows the material. This book is certainly not a waste of time to read andis very good as a reference for theorems concerning finite groups, howeverdo not put all your eggs in one basket and base your education on this onebook. ... Read more


10. Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory
by Robert L. Carter
Paperback: 320 Pages (1997-12-03)
-- used & new: US$55.56
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0471149551
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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Product Description
A Thorough But Understandable Introduction To Molecular Symmetry And Group Theory As Applied To Chemical Problems! In a friendly, easy-to-understand style, this new book invites the reader to discover by example the power of symmetry arguments for understanding theoretical problems in chemistry. The author shows the evolution of ideas and demonstrates the centrality of symmetry and group theory to a complete understanding of the theory of structure and bonding. Plus, the book offers explicit demonstrations of the most effective techniques for applying group theory to chemical problems, including the tabular method of reducing representations and the use of group-subgroup relationships for dealing with infinite-order groups. Also Available From Wiley:
* Concepts and Models of Inorganic Chemistry, 3/E, by Bodie E. Douglas, Darl H. McDaniel, and John J. Alexander 0-471-62978-2
* Basic Inorganic Chemistry, 3/E, by F. Albert Cotton, Paul Gaus, and Geoffrey Wilkinson 0-471-50532-3 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

4-0 out of 5 stars Good Introductory Text
This book sets out to teach the beginner (junior/senior level undergrad or first year grad student) about the basics of group theory, symmetry, and bonding. It does so very well and also provides many references to more advanced texts, so that the chemist continuing on in inorganic chemistry will have the tools to be successful. There are definitely better books out there for a reference text for more serious chemists.

5-0 out of 5 stars clear, concise book
this small book on symmetry and group theory is easy to understand and packed with examples. it is a small book (only about 300 pages) but everything in it is relevant and to the point. the writing is easy to grasp and the back includes character tables for all the common symmetry groups. buy it!

5-0 out of 5 stars A Group Theory book that allows students to learn
The strength of this book is its many examples.Carter takes the concepts and applies them to simple inorganic or organic compounds.Very helpful to students.The end of chapter problems are nice as well.A great text and one that I would recommend to students as well as faculty.

5-0 out of 5 stars A much needed breath of fresh air!
This is a text set apart from the pack.It clearly states what other books attempt to describe.There need to be more texts on the market like this.Dr. Carter has taken a subject that has historically been elusive, and presented it in a comprehensive, READABLE volume. This text is helping me through my thesis in chemistry.It is highly practical, easily read, and heavily referenced, all of the qualities, I believe, that make up an excellent text!Excellent work! ... Read more


11. Group Theory in the Bedroom, and Other Mathematical Diversions
by Brian Hayes
Paperback: 288 Pages (2009-04-14)
list price: US$15.00 -- used & new: US$1.75
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0809052172
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
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Brian Hayes is one of the most accomplished essayists active today—a claim supported not only by his prolific and continuing high-quality output but also by such honors as the National Magazine Award for his commemorative Y2K essay titled “Clock of Ages,” published in the November/December 1999 issue of The Sciences magazine. (The also-rans that year included Tom Wolfe, Verlyn Klinkenborg, and Oliver Sacks.) Hayes’s work in this genre has also appeared in such anthologies as The Best American Magazine Writing, The Best American Science and Nature Writing, and The Norton Reader. Here he offers us a selection of his most memorable and accessible pieces—including “Clock of Ages”—embellishing them with an overall, scene-setting preface, reconfigured illustrations, and a refreshingly self-critical “Afterthoughts” section appended to each essay.
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Customer Reviews (8)

1-0 out of 5 stars Cheap Printing
If you are buying the Hardcopy version, be aware that the printer is unable to to ship books with the same quality of paper through out.
When looking at the top or bottom of the book, it is obvious from the different colors (orange and semi-white) that the publisher "Hill and Wang", are too cheap to even attempt to implement any quality control.

This is not a comment on the content of the book, but a the quality of the publishing house.At a list price of $25.00, one would think they could get enough of same paper to print an entire book.At the pricing of Hardcopy books, I expect better quality."Hill and Wang" is NOT a quality publisher.

2-0 out of 5 stars Little about group theory; lots about mattresses
I was disappointed in this book. Its title suggests that it will contain recreational mathematics, but it contains almost no mathematics at all - not a single equation. Group theory is a subject that has been covered extensively in recreational mathematics, and the author chooses to illustrate it using the symmetries of rotating a mattress. On the way, he ruminates extensively on the subject of mattresses. If you don't know what a "group" is now, after reading this book you will be none the wiser, if you do know, you will wonder why he says so little about the subject. You will learn a lot about how different manufacturers recommend you turn their matresses, but I didn't care before and still don't.

I have similar problems with the other chapters; he interweaves the theory of gear ratios in clocks with that of rational approximations (a natutal fit) but never really explains the mathematics, and instead its more of a story about how he tracked down the original historical sources of where gear ratios were first calculated ...

The chatty and informal style would have worked better in a magazine column, which is where these came from.

If you want a book about mathematics which itself contains virtually no mathematics, and you want something light and easily read, which covers a wide range of topics, sure.

If you know what a "group" is (or a continued fraction) and want to see if he brings a new twist to these old subjects, I think you will be diappointed.




5-0 out of 5 stars A little gem, shame about the title
As a mathematician I am frequently given popular books about mathematics as gifts, but most of these aren't interesting to me. Usually they cover topics that are already very familiar to me, and frequently they aim to "blind the reader with science" about topics in pure mathematics that are difficult to connect to the real world in a very convincing way. And frankly, as an applied mathematician, it's disappointing that so many mathematics popularizers fixate so much on prime numbers, Fermat's last theorem and other frippery.

This book has none of these flaws, and it is one I would have happily received as a gift. It's a fascinating collection of essays about applied and computational mathematics. Brian Hayes has chosen topics that haven't been beaten to death by other authors, and written thoughtful pieces about all of them. Stand-out chapters for me included the chapter on coming up with an algorithm for computing the location of the watershed in a terrain, and an essay tracing the succession of failed attempts to solve the genetic code. The watershed chapter is great, because the author describes how he tried to solve the problem over the course of a vacation without access to a library to see what the "right answer" is, and he records his missteps and failed attempts to come up with an algorithm. It's a great glimpse at how problem-solving works: so few mathematicians are prepared to let you in on the process including the failed attempts that allowed them to build their elegant structure, be it a proof, algorithm, or solution.

The level assumed of the reader is such that a college student or eager high school student would probably get a lot from the book. There are very few equations and no program code snippets, which is generally the right choice. The book is very well written: it doesn't shy from the technical details where relevant, but you never feel like you're reading a dry textbook.

All of the essays have appeared in magazines before this book came out. This means that the author has already received feedback from readers about each essay, and he includes a postscript after each chapter with interesting points that arose in correspondence from readers. This means that the essays have already been checked for glaring omissions and oversights, which is great, and the additional commentary adds a lot to each chapter.

But I don't like the book's title: it looks like a publisher's idea of something that will grab people's attention to make them pick the book up, but when I saw it at the bookstore I just thought "definitely trying too hard -- skip that one". (Similarly, I really wish science book publishers would stop including Einstein's name in the title of their books with the barest thread of justification: it's an excellent sign that the book is terrible.) The relevant chapter is about mattress-flipping, by the way.

But in spite of that, great book. When's Brian Hayes' next collection of essays coming out?

5-0 out of 5 stars Mathematics with a dry wit...
A most informative book. Hayes is one of those unusual people who are constantly wondering why things work, and why things are the way they are.The book is composed of 12 different essays, which were originally published in "American Scientist" magazine, each with its own epilogue (afterthoughts), which is often the response he receives from readers, but also includes reflections on his own developments since the piece was first published. The essays are written for people with a scientific background, yet despite the profusion of equations on the top half of the cover, the reader is exposed to them in "bite size" pieces, and the author is adept at explaining the concepts in ordinary English. The range of topics is broad, thus there are likely to be two or three that push the "hot button" of the inquisitive mind.

He starts in Strasbourg, where there is a "clock of ages," in the cathedral, that is not only Y2K (remember that!) compliant, but Y10K compliant.Yes, a clock accurate for 10,000 years, including calculations for the date of Easter - and there is not a bit of electronics in the clock; it is all done with gears. His droll insights into the difficulties of predicting the future are aptly stated by: "For all I know, some future generation will thank us for burning up all that noxious petroleum and curse us for exterminating the smallpox virus." His next chapter is on the difficulties of obtaining truly random numbers.The third chapter attempts to examine the old axiom that "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer" in analytically terms, and as he admits in the afterthoughts, it is actually the disparity between the rich and poor that seems to grow. I'll admit that the chapter on the genetic code was "beyond me," and I eventually lost interest, however the next chapter on the statistics of deadly quarrels (war) is most illuminating. Likewise, living near the Continental Divide, I found his chapter on the mathematical determination of same to be most informative. There was a chapter on determining the number of teeth in gears that did not particularly "click," but was redeemed by the next one entitled "The Easiest Hard Problem," which resonated with many a childhood: how do you fairly determine teams in "pick-up.""Naming Names" was also fascinating, examining the available names left under existing schematics for Internet country codes, chemical elements, stock ticker symbols, radio call signs and airport codes. Numbers that are defined by the base three sounds like a soporific topic but Hayes wit and insights revive it with such sub-headings as "Martha Stewart's File Cabinet."The penultimate chapter deals with the philosophical implications of the "equals" sign. The final chapter supplies the basis for the title; Hayes manages to maintain his books "G" rating though.The sexual allusion remains only that; the subject is the best mathematical way of flipping one's mattress, and I'd settle for the proposed mnemonic: "Spin in the spring, flip in the fall."

Overall, a wonderful, slightly eccentric book for the curious, and if one is looking for an off-beat topic for the next cocktail party chatter, you'd be able to find it here. Hayes' book is highly recommended.

5-0 out of 5 stars Math Applied To Some Everyday Things
This delightful book takes a playful look at some interesting and unusual ways that math can be applied. Much more than puzzles, each of the 12 chapters examine a particular everyday object or action in ways that are easy to understand and give more depth to some of the discoveries made along the way. An easy and enjoyable read for the curious of all ages. Complemented by an extensive section for those who want to do a deeper dive on the magic and mystery of how math can explain how some everyday things work. ... Read more


12. Group Theory
by W. R. Scott
Paperback: 512 Pages (2010-07-21)
list price: US$21.95 -- used & new: US$11.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0486653773
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
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Here is a clear, well-organized coverage of the most standard theorems, including isomorphism theorems, transformations and subgroups, direct sums, abelian groups, and more. This undergraduate-level text features more than 500 exercises.
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Customer Reviews (3)

5-0 out of 5 stars An all-business bargain book.
This book is fantastic in my opinion.The ball gets rolling right away, and proceeds in a concise, rigorous fashion all the way to the end."Pedantic" would be precisely the wrong word to describe the book."Rigorous" is more like it.It doesn't bother for one second with the "hold my hands..." approach and certainly wastes no time on extraneous motivational stuff.For that, perhaps one should try Tony Robbins.

As a physicist, I first learned group theory from Tinkham's excellent "Group Theory and Quantum Mechanics," also a Dover, which is geared on all cylinders toward physical applications.There are times however, I want nothing but mathematics in all its stirling beauty.Definitions -> logic -> theorems.No namby-pamby stuff.

I had such a great time reading this book.If you have a soft spot for the prestineness of mathematics, I suspect you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

5-0 out of 5 stars An excellent textbook
"Group Theory" (W.R.Scott) is an excellent textbook, with an axiomatic, temperate style which avoid useless gossiping; thanks to such concision, this book contains numerous results generally missing in other courses on the same subject, and often emphasizes interesting variations of some theories.
A great deal of investigation exercises complete this reference work. To my opinion, this book should be recommended to anyone who wants to begin studies on group theory.

2-0 out of 5 stars No want of better books on the subject
This is probably the worst book on Group Theory a beginner could buy. If you're not a beginner, the book is dated and quite pedantic. The book lacks historic motivation, it lacks algebraic and geometric motivation, it lacks combinatorialand number-theoretic motivation -- so what then is it's motivation? Good question.It even lacks a comprehensive bibliography. If E. Galois was alive, I'm sure he'd ask for a duel with W.R. Scott for the pedantic way he's treated the subject. But don't expect to even find one paragraph about E. Galois in this book, It's utterly devoid of historic comment.

I give this book two stars because it's a cheap Dover edition, and as such doesn't hurt the pocket book much. But trust me, there is no want of better books on the subject. Try the classics on Group Theory by Hall, Kurosh or Zassenhaus before you try this one. ... Read more


13. Chemical Applications of Group Theory, 3rd Edition
by F. Albert Cotton
 Hardcover: 480 Pages (1990-03-02)
list price: US$169.00 -- used & new: US$72.51
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0471510947
Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars
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Product Description
Retains the easy-to-read format and informal flavor of the previous editions, and includes new material on the symmetric properties of extended arrays (crystals), projection operators, LCAO molecular orbitals, and electron counting rules. Also contains many new exercises and illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

5-0 out of 5 stars Great Price for this Book
The book is usually being sold for about 160 but this seller was able to sell it for 90. Just a great price for this book.

4-0 out of 5 stars Good buy
Took a little long to get here but it's in great condition and was at a low price.

2-0 out of 5 stars this review is for struggling undergrads
I used an earlier edition of this book for symmetry/group theory and couldn't figure out what the heck was going on! Fortunately, there are lots of good alternatives:

1. "Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory: A Programmed Introduction to Chemical Applications" by Alan Vincent. This one is Excellent. It takes you by the hand and gives you a tutorial!

2. "Group Theory for Chemists" by George Davidson. Out-of-print now but look for it used.

3. "Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory" by Robert L. Carter, ISBN 0471149551

4. "Group Theory and Chemistry" by David M. Bishop. inexpensive.

5. "Introduction to Molecular Symmetry" (Oxford Chemistry Primers) by J. S. Ogden. inexpensive

Also look at chapter 1 of "Symmetry and Spectroscopy: An Introduction to Vibrational and Electronic Spectroscopy" by Daniel C. Harris & Michael D. Bertolucci

For a very nice overview try "Symmetry through the Eyes of a Chemist" by István Hargittai & Magdolna Hargittai

P.S. For a similar book to Vincent's try "Beginning Group Theory for Chemistry" by Paul H. Walton. It's meant to be written in (pencil!).

Look at my other reviews for other chemistry books.

3-0 out of 5 stars Review nearly 40 years later
I read this book in 1965 as a freshman in Chemistry
at UCLA. I had no background in group theory or representation
of groups by characters. It started me on a life long study of groups,
but the wrong way. For someone without the necessary mathematics background
this book is actually harmful.
I think a course in modern algebra should be necessary
to reading this book. In 1965 an understanding of Calculus
wasn't enough even with a little Boolean algebra mixed in.
It came down to us using the book like a recipe book
for the mathematics, following many of the operating blindly.
But I have to say that over the years I have learned more about groups
and that the approach here has grown in my respect with that study.
So I have to say it is an excellent book
for those prepared
and a very poor book for those who aren't.

3-0 out of 5 stars Good Reference, Poor Textbook
This book is a double edged sword. As a reference textbook for a person who has already had a significant introduction to group theory and chemical applications of it, this book can't be beat. It provides some very detailed mathematical derivations of the theoretical formulas used within group theory which one may not find in an elementary inorganic text which skims over group theory. Additionally, Cotton covers organic, organometallic and inorganic examples which allows the reader to have a broad spectrum of systems to learn from. The blurbs about molecular vibrations and crystallography were nice too. Finally, Cotton does not lack in providing journal references to the original research that he covers in the text.

In lieu of all that, this book is a bain to use in order to learn the principles of group theory. Cotton, in his typical fashion, assumes that the reader is well-versed in linear/matrix algebra (and has a very condescending comment for anyone who MIGHT have to read the matrix algebra appendix he has in the back of the text) and that the reader can visualize symmetry operations readily in their head. There are places in the text where he should go into more detail and provide further examples, but he does not. Lastly, anyone who knows anything about group theory knows that it is a pretty dry subject matter. Cotton doesn't enhance the excitement of learning group theory with his dry, humor-less approach to writing the text (not to mention that this3rd edition is already overdue for another overhauling being over a decade old!). In case you have insomnia while taking your group theory course, attempt to read a full chapter in one sitting, you'll be out cold by the second paragraph!

My final verdict, if you are a graduate student in chemistry who already knows something about group theory and its application, but needs a text to jog your memory now and again, this book is worth your money, but if you have to learn the basics of group theory from this book, RUN! Run as fast as you can! Or if you can't do that, buy this book, but buy another book and learn from that one rather than this one. ... Read more


14. Finite Group Theory (Graduate Studies in Mathematics)
by I. Martin Isaacs
Hardcover: 350 Pages (2008-08-06)
list price: US$59.00 -- used & new: US$39.82
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0821843443
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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The text begins with a review of group actions and Sylow theory. It includes semidirect products, the Schur-Zassenhaus theorem, the theory of commutators, coprime actions on groups, transfer theory, Frobenius groups, primitive and multiply transitive permutation groups, the simplicity of the PSL groups, the generalized Fitting subgroup and also Thompson's J-subgroup and his normal $p$-complement theorem. Topics that seldom (or never) appear in books are also covered. These include subnormality theory, a group-theoretic proof of Burnside's theorem about groups with order divisible by just two primes, the Wielandt automorphism tower theorem, Yoshida's transfer theorem, the ``principal ideal theorem'' of transfer theory and many smaller results that are not very well known. Proofs often contain original ideas, and they are given in complete detail. In many cases they are simpler than can be found elsewhere. The book is largely based on the author's lectures, and consequently, the style is friendly and somewhat informal. Finally, the book includes a large collection of problems at disparate levels of difficulty. These should enable students to practice group theory and not just read about it. Martin Isaacs is professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Over the years, he has received many teaching awards and is well known for his inspiring teaching and lecturing. He received the University of Wisconsin Distinguished Teaching Award in 1985, the Benjamin Smith Reynolds Teaching Award in 1989, and the Wisconsin Section MAA Teaching Award in 1993, to name only a few. He was also honored by being the selected MAA Polya Lecturer in 2003-2005. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

5-0 out of 5 stars Finite Group Theory (Graduate Studies in Mathematics)
Excellent intermediate text on finite groups excluding representation theory.The proofs are succinct and insightful but better still, the motivation for the development of the subject is clear and engaging.Covers similar material to The Theory of Finite Groups: An Introduction (Universitext) by Hans Kurzweil and Bernd Stellmacher but it is well worth having both. ... Read more


15. Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice
by Gloria Galanes, Katherine Adams
Paperback: 448 Pages (2009-02-23)
-- used & new: US$61.58
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 007338514X
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Combining the most recent research findings with the practical tools students need to become productive group members, this leading text covers secondary groups of all kinds: work groups, committees, task forces, self-directed work teams, and other small groups whose objectives include finding solutions to problems, producing goods, and creating policies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

3-0 out of 5 stars Isn't the same as newest edition
newer editions have chapters changed in order and have added on new different ones. i bougth this instead of new and still am able to keep up in class

5-0 out of 5 stars Great Buy
I bought this book on a steal. It's in good condition and it arrived quickly. I saved about thirty bucks buying it online. Thanks

5-0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Excellent response from Amazon!We received this product quickly and saved a bundle off list price at the college bookstore.

5-0 out of 5 stars good communication book
I bought this at Amazon.com from an Awesome Deal I found on DailyTool.com. This is a great book on communication theories. Also with the book you will have access to online learning center where you may find the chapter outlines and quizes over there. ... Read more


16. Group Theory and Its Application to Physical Problems (Dover Books on Physics and Chemistry)
by Morton Hamermesh
Paperback: 528 Pages (1989-12-01)
list price: US$24.95 -- used & new: US$13.20
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0486661814
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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Product Description
One of the best-written, most skillful expositions of group theory and its physical applications, directed primarily to advanced undergraduate and graduate students in physics, especially quantum physics. With problems. "Well-organized, well-written and very clear throughout" — MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS. 71 illustrations.
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Customer Reviews (6)

3-0 out of 5 stars First impression.
My first impression is disappointment. While discussing permutation groups the author states that there are odd and even permutations essentialy leaving the proof to the reader. I think the proof that decomposition of a permutation into transpositions always has an odd or even number of factors (i.e. is unique) is not very trivial and I never encountered a math textbook which left the proof of this important statement to reader. If I had to derive importnt results by myself, breaking into the open door sometimes, I can do it without this book, I think.

3-0 out of 5 stars Not the very best choice.
It's a fine text, but Tinkham is probably the best route for the (particularly solid state) physicist.

3-0 out of 5 stars the language of theoretical physics
When I first encountered this book I was an undergrad, a junior.I flipped through the pages and could barely read the English portions, not to mention the proofs and examples.I must say that it's a tough book for a beginner; MH quickly runs through group theory in the beginning (pay attention:there are some important sentences in there that pop up later when you least expect them to) and then goes into rather a lengthy description of symmetry (point) groups, fit for a chemist or crystallographer more than a theoretical physicist.

After those two chapters come perhaps the most important chapters in the book:the ones on group representation theory.There is a long chapter on theory, and then a great short one on applications of GR that's extremely helpful in understanding what you've just read.After that MH gets into Kronecker products and Clebsch-Gordon coefficients as well as other operations with GR, and has another neat chapter afterwards on physical applications.He speak about the symmetric group in great length, and then about continuous groups, another extremely important chapter.The rest of the book uses the core of what you've just learned to help you understand linear groups in Hilbert space, and applications to sub-atomic physics.

Here's what you need to do to consume this book successfully:

1) Don't wait for MH to give you an example.Make them up as you go along!And make sure you fully understand each and every little statement he makes:there's no extravagant sentences here, all are vitally important and he will make use of every statement at least once to prove another point.

2) If you haven't had quantum mechanics yet, hold off on the last half of the book until you have!MH assumes this knowledge, but you can get away with your ignorance for the first part of the book, up until chapter six (and then you can skip around a little bit).

3) Know the fundamentals of group theory before you begin.It's true that MH doesn't assume this knowledge, but I assure it's vital for ease of reading.There are enough new concepts to absorb with out making your brain less permeable by not having group theory under your belt.

Overall, this book is good for physicists who want to become more adept in the language of theoretical physics (especially quantum mechanics and quantum field theory).I recommend it; but I also recommend you keep at least three other texts on hand that have their own way of explaining the things MH tries to explain.It is a good idea to do that in any independent learning venture, anyway.

4-0 out of 5 stars great book for beginners
At the time I ran into this book I was doing research on martensitic transformations in metals. For that, as an engineer, I needed lots of information on point groups. The first chapter of the book contains the basics of group theory and teaches the totally ignorant all he has to know about the subject. The second chapter immediately deals with the point groups as one encounters them in crystallography. Very comprehensive and usefull information. Then the formal theory on groups is treated and general theorems are derived. For an average engineer without too much mathematical background this may be a bit too much, but the chapter is well written and provides usefull information that is used in chapter 4 to derive the irreducible representations and character tables for the point groups discussed in chapter 2. After that, I did not need the book anymore besides the short treatement of translation groups at the end of the book. I definately recommend te book for anyone who has to deal with point groups and wants to know more than just the basics.

5-0 out of 5 stars Good book
A great book for a beginner. I recomend i ... Read more


17. Naive Lie Theory (Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics)
by John Stillwell
Paperback: 218 Pages (2010-11-02)
list price: US$54.95 -- used & new: US$44.37
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 144192681X
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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In this new textbook, acclaimed author John Stillwell presents a lucid introduction to Lie theory suitable for junior and senior level undergraduates. In order to achieve this, he focuses on the so-called "classical groups'' that capture the symmetries of real, complex, and quaternion spaces. These symmetry groups may be represented by matrices, which allows them to be studied by elementary methods from calculus and linear algebra.

This naive approach to Lie theory is originally due to von Neumann, and it is now possible to streamline it by using standard results of undergraduate mathematics. To compensate for the limitations of the naive approach, end of chapter discussions introduce important results beyond those proved in the book, as part of an informal sketch of Lie theory and its history.

John Stillwell is Professor of Mathematics at the University of San Francisco. He is the author of several highly regarded books published by Springer, including The Four Pillars of Geometry (2005), Elements of Number Theory (2003), Mathematics and Its History (Second Edition, 2002), Numbers and Geometry (1998) and Elements of Algebra (1994).

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Customer Reviews (6)

5-0 out of 5 stars Review of Naive Lie Theory
This review is on the textbook Naive Lie Theory by John Stillwell. Recently I purchased this book with hopes of having a study reference to the more elementary parts in preparation for more advanced study of Lie Theory and other theoretical math that involves these ideas. I have not yet finished the book. This book is well written with clear and accurate developments and good examples. There are well placed exercises. One is tempted to try various things, to explore variations based on the readings. I find this exciting the way the book let's me explore ideas. The Author lets you know about the more advanced parts of Lie Theory he is not going to cover so you have an idea what to study later to complete the picture. He decides to use simpler concepts of matrix processes and linear algebra with the understanding that this will allow you to do quite a bit. It is a nice start using the unit circle on the complex plane as an elementary first example. A clear context is given why certain inventions and discoveries were made. I am a mathematician, computer scientist, mathematical physicist, and Formal Languages.

5-0 out of 5 stars Spectacular introduction to Lie groups and algebras
Let me start by stating my point of view: I'm a math grad student, so I'm not really the nominal audience for the book (the book is targeted toward undergraduates).Having said that, I found this book to be wonderfully conversational in tone, amusing, very honest (if there is slogging to be done in a proof, the author says so, and if the author leaves something out he tells you why), and very useful in gaining an intuitive feel for the material.The prerequisites for this book are very modest: if you've seen linear algebra and calculus, then you could give it a go.Some sort of exposure to abstract algebra of some sort would be useful, but may not be required.Some intuition for manifolds is is similarly useful, but certainly not required.

Even with these modest prerequisites, the author manages to do much with Lie Theory.This is a jewel of a book, much like its spiritual predecessor, Halmos's Naive Set Theory (Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics).

So, this book is accessible, well written and useful.What more could you ask for in an introduction?

5-0 out of 5 stars At my level
This book is clear and neither what I already knew nor over my head.I wish the answers to the exercises were available.

5-0 out of 5 stars a modern introduction to quantum field theory
A very good text for graduate students with a little or no knowledge of Quantum Field Theory.

5-0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
An excellent read.In just 200 pages the author explains what Lie groups and algebras actually are.Most books on Lie theory are aimed at professional mathematicians, so begin with lots of topological and algebraic preliminaries and finally define a Lie group as a group that is also a manifold, or something similar.Stillwell begins with an example of the simplest Lie group, SO(2), as a group of rotations in the circle, then proceeds methodically to the next example SU(2), the first non-commutative Lie group.In short order all the other classical groups are discussed and, in chapter 5, the concepts of tangent space and Lie algebra are made clear through more examples.An undergraduate who has taken the calculus series, had a course in linear algebra that discusses matrices, has some knowledge of complex variables and some understanding of group theory should easily follow the material to this point.Topology, usually a graduate topic, is introduced later while showing which Lie groups are simply-connected, and how this is used to distinguish between similar Lie groups.

The material was clearly discussed and I found only a couple of typos.But I also found the use of the word vector and matrix for the same object in the same paragraph somewhat dis-quieting.Lastly, I would have liked to have seen some mention of Lie theory connections with modern physics.

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18. Group Theory and Physics
by S. Sternberg
Paperback: 444 Pages (1995-09-29)
list price: US$75.00 -- used & new: US$69.56
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0521558859
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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Product Description
This book is an introduction to group theory and its application to physics. The author considers the physical applications and develops mathematical theory in a presentation that is unusually cohesive and well-motivated. The book discusses many modern topics including molecular vibrations, homogeneous vector bundles, compact groups and Lie groups, and there is much discussion of the group SU(n) and its representations, which is of great significance in elementary particle physics. The author also considers applications to solid-state physics. This is an essential resource for senior undergraduates and researchers in physics and applied mathematics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

5-0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction.
This book is an excellent introduction to the use of group theory in physics, especially in crystallography, special relativity and particle physics. Perhaps most importantly, Sternberg includes a highly accessible introduction to representation theory near the beginning of the book. All together, this book is an excellent place to get started in learning to use groups and representations in physics. ... Read more


19. Group Theory and Chemistry
by David M. Bishop
 Paperback: 294 Pages (1993-01-14)
list price: US$16.95 -- used & new: US$10.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0486673553
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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Concise, self-contained introduction to group theory and its application to chemical problems. Symmetry, symmetry operations, point groups, matrices, matrix representations, equivalent and reducible representations, irreducible representations and character tables, representations and quantum mechanics, molecular vibrations, molecular orbital theory, hybrid orbitals, and transition metal chemistry. Relevant math after each chapter. Advanced-undergraduate/graduate level. 1973 edition. Problems.
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Customer Reviews (5)

5-0 out of 5 stars Great book to learn group theory.
Graduate level physical organic chemistry required a knowledge of group theory that I didn't have until I got this book.Within the first 20 pages, you'll understand symmetry elements and symmetry operations and their notations.

4-0 out of 5 stars A very good book
I really wish I had this book when it first came out!
The table on page 46 is of great use.
The coverage in the books goes well with my own experience and Cottom's book on Inorganic Chemistry.
My one very basic bone to pick is from my long ( 40 or more years) work involvinggroup theory. Neither Cartan groups or Coxeter are mentioned or their relationship to these point groups. The Federov space groups used in crystallography are also ignored. The result is to make western Chemistry students second class in world education( ignorant of basics in the Mathematics of groups). I can't blame this on Bishop as he is only following Dr. Cotton's lead. I read a recent cosmology book in which a very well educated American physics Ph.D. shows a basic ignorance of Federov space groups. None of the editors caught it and it is in print ...
Russians everywhere must be laughing.
I think that we have to integrate the mathematical approach to group theory
with the Chemical-Physical approach, so that instead of rote use of
formulas, understanding is involved.

5-0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book on Group Theory for Chemistry
This book presents the theory in a straightforward way. Nevertheless, it is far from being superficial. It covers the basics about symmetry operations, point groups, matrices, matrix representations, equivalent and reducible representations, irreducible representations and character tables. Then, it connects the theory with quantum mechanics and molecular vibrations. For me, the ratio satisfaction/price of this book is very high.

5-0 out of 5 stars Eminently readable introduction to point groups
Bishop's book is intended for students in the fields of physical chemistry and chemical physics, and limits its scope to subjects of interest to these people. Hard core physicists may want to turn to some other text for thisreason, but the ease of presentation should still make the book attractiveto them. It more or less only covers finite point groups, but the full rotation group is also discussed (superficially, not to scare away themathematically disinclined). The book is eminently readable, and explainsthe uses of group theory within chemistry in a lucid and actually enjoyableway. The text is self-contained, and is suitable for private study.Vibrational spectroscopy, hybridization and symmetrization of wavefunctions in quantum chemistry are among the applications covered.

5-0 out of 5 stars Looks hard as a rock, tastes smooth and easy going down!
Ever wonder how to simplify those hard to solve quatum mechanics chemistry problems, well I just don't have the anwer. I can, however, say that this fantastic book does a great job of explaining such a hard subject and,as an added bonus as the end, give you a fresh new hope of being able to solve such problems using group theory. First chemistry book I couldn't put down ... Read more


20. Group Theory in Chemistry and Spectroscopy: A Simple Guide to Advanced Usage
by Boris S. Tsukerblat
Paperback: 464 Pages (2006-08-18)
list price: US$24.95 -- used & new: US$9.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 048645035X
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Geared toward chemists and experimental physicists, this handbook is accessible to undergraduate students. It introduces fundamental concepts with simple examples, relating them to specific chemical and physical problems. The main results of group theory are presented in all sections as procedures, which assists in their systematic and step-by-step application. 1994 edition.
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