Talk:Categories for the Working Mathematician

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I've heard that this book is not an introduction, but rather a reference guide, which should not be read, but only used to look up half-forgotten stuff. --MarSch 15:17, 30 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I disagree; the book is based on lectures given by Mac Lane when he was teaching the subject. The Introduction begins "Category theory starts with the observation that many properties of mathematical systems can be unified and simplified by a presentation with diagrams of arrows. Chapter I begins with the axioms, and the sections include exercises. It is hardly encyclopedic, so it would be somewhat poor as a reference guide. It was meant as a textbook, and functions quite well as a textbook. --Magidin 11:15, 30 August 2005 (CDT)

Thanks. I'll be sure to read to it sometime then :) --MarSch 13:30, 1 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]