The single most difficult thing one faces when one begins to learn a new branch
of mathematics is to get a feel for the mathematical sense of the subject. The
purpose of this book is to help the aspiring reader acquire this essential
common sense about algebraic topology in a short period of time. To this end,
Sato leads the reader through simple but meaningful examples in concrete
terms. Moreover, results are not discussed in their greatest possible
generality, but in terms of the simplest and most essential cases.
In response to suggestions from readers of the original edition of this book,
Sato has added an appendix of useful definitions and results on sets, general
topology, groups and such. He has also provided references.
Topics covered include fundamental notions such as homeomorphisms, homotopy
equivalence, fundamental groups and higher homotopy groups, homology and
cohomology, fiber bundles, spectral sequences and characteristic
classes. Objects and examples considered in the text include the torus, the
Möbius strip, the Klein bottle, closed surfaces, cell complexes and vector
bundles.
Readership
Graduate students and research mathematicians in algebraic
topology.