scientific article; zbMATH DE number 108180

Authors Ryszard Engelking, Karol Sieklucki

Publication date 23 January 1993

Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to general topology (54-01) Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to manifolds and cell complexes (57-01)

Review text

This book could be used to give a rather complete beginning course in topology, especially in situations where there is a desire to quickly get on with the subject of geometric topology. Opening with an introductory chapter which (very briefly) lists the basics of set theory, algebra, analysis and geometry which will be needed, the authors immediately plunge the reader into a study of metric spaces. Unlike some books, where the concept of a metric space is introduced early and used to motivate the definition of a topological space, the main emphasis of this work is on the topology of metric spaces. Only in the very last chapter is the notion of a topological space introduced and studied as a concept in itself. Given the aim of this volume, that is, to provide the basics of geometric topology in a first course, the authors' approach is very efficient. The first chapter, dealing with metric spaces and some topological aspects of these spaces, is kept rather brief. Later, in Chapter 6, this study of metric spaces is enhanced. There such important ideas as continua, theory of retracts, and theory of dimension are introduced. The chapters 2-5 are designed to give a student the foundational elements needed in the study of the subject indicated in the title. Chapter 2 introduces metric polyhedra in the form of simplicial complexes. Notions of subdivision are brought in and also cell complexes are defined in order to enhance, for example, one's ability to deal with products of polyhedra. In Chapter 3, the concept of homotopy is defined, with covering spaces, fibrations and finally fundamental group following. Chapters 4 and 5 deal respectively with the topology of Euclidean spaces and of manifolds. As an important part of Chapter 5, a significant amount of attention is paid to the classification or 1- and 2-dimensional manifolds. This book is especially rich in examples and has large numbers of illustrations. It contains historical remarks for many of the subjects encountered. There are many sets of exercises, which would truly enhance its usefulness as a textbook. Indeed, taking into account the examples, illustrations, effective presentation of the basic theory, and the historical remarks, one should also consider this work to be used as a reference book to be kept within easy reach when doing research involving applications of or contributions to geometric topology. Some philosophical word is in order. If this volume is to be used as a textbook, then one might validly state that its approach of beginning with a study of metric spaces and then ending with that of topological spaces is inefficient. Shouldn't the order of topics be the reverse? Although we often like to teach a subject by starting with the specific and finishing with the abstract (somehow to make the abstract seem more concrete by gradually producing more and more evidence that will finally convince the student of the practicality of it), there are times when it pays to make a clean start and to begin with the abstract itself. In this case, that would be with the simple axioms of a topological space and the immediate consequences thereof. If that firmly coincides with your philosophy, then you would probably not desire to use this book as a teaching tool. On the other hand, if you hold to such ideas, but not so rigidly, then it would be worth trying it. Although the authors make no such claim, I speculate that this book can be used by taking Chapter 1 first and Chapter 7 second, or even by beginning with part of Chapter 7 and then switching to Chapter 1 and possibly alternating with the two chapters in the opening phases of a course. Hence one could use this book, achieve the aims desired by the authors, and yet at the same time give a more traditional course in Topology.

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