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Learning Topology

I study logic and model theory, but would like to learn algebraic topology for fun. What are some good sources?

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 The Google search "Algebraic Topology Textbooks" gives you some of the most popular texts out there: google.com/… – Ryan Budney Jul 31 2010 at 3:47
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 If you're unhappy with the results of the Google search please edit your question and let us know why. Otherwise people will think you're being lazy. – Ryan Budney Jul 31 2010 at 3:54
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 I've voted to close since this duplicates the following question : mathoverflow.net/questions/8445/learning-topology – Andy Putman Jul 31 2010 at 4:03
The question has been closed: see Andy Putman's comment just above. – Pete L. Clark Jul 31 2010 at 6:50

closed as exact duplicate by Andy Putman, Victor Protsak, Ryan Budney, Akhil Mathew, Pete L. Clark Jul 31 2010 at 6:48

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Well,depends on if you like geometric intuition or not, Micheal. If so,Allen Hatcher's textbook is considered by many to be the new gold standard. And best of all,it's available online for free at Hatcher's website.

If you like more modern (i.e. abstract) approaches,the book by Joseph Rotman can't be beat. And recently,an awesome text by Tammo tom Dieck came out which is probably the state of the art right now and is very readable.

A book that's probably too difficult to use as a textbook but is so beautiful that it needs to be used as a supplement is Peter May's A Concise Course In Algebraic Topology.By May's own admission,it's probably too tough for a first course on the subject,but it is beautifully written and gives a great overview of the subject. It also has a very good bibliography for further study.

My favorite texts on algebraic topology?Probably the 2 books by V.V. Pravalov, Elements of Combinatorial And Differential Topology and Elements of Homology Theory.both available in hardcover from the AMS.Together,they probably give the single most complete presentation of topology that currently exists,with plenty of low-dimensional pictures,concrete constructions and emphasis on manifolds.

Addendum: There are also several terrific free online lecture sources you should look at,Micheal-primarily the notes of K.Wurthmuller and Gregory Naber. Both can be found at Math Online and I recommend them both highly.

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I removed the first line, which was a gratuitous insult aimed at the MO community. While I was not one of the people who downvoted the answer, I think that you would get a better response if you tried to be a little less negative towards everything. – Andy Putman Jul 31 2010 at 4:56
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 Not sure the original question needs to stay open, but Andrew L's answer seems fine in its present form. – Yemon Choi Jul 31 2010 at 5:09
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 I agree that the answer now is fine (though I also think that the question should be closed). Since you asked why your remark was insulting, I'll comment on it. You accused the community of closing questions "capriciously", which I think is insulting and totally false. At least with regards to your questions, we've tried very hard to work with you to fix your questions' flaws. In any case, I don't know what kind of leeway you want from me -- I'm not a moderator and have never complained to the moderators about you. All I want is a positive and professional atmosphere. – Andy Putman Jul 31 2010 at 5:18
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 @Andy Ok,I apologize.And that's sincere,I mean it. – Andrew L Jul 31 2010 at 5:32
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 Andrew, you are, of course, free to contribute to the list of topology resources at question 8445. It is in the common interest of all MO users to maintain a single page with answers to any given question. Therefore, exact duplicates are closed. This is done regardless of the content or level of the question. – Victor Protsak Jul 31 2010 at 7:51
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