The only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote?

OK, the title is opinionated and contentious, but I have a definite question. I know that the title refers to the Bourbaki volume Groupes et Algèbres de Lie (Chapters 4-6), published in 1968, but

who said that it is the only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote?

The only reference I can find is the 2009 Prize Booklet for the AMS-MAA Joint Meetings, where no source is given, but I'm sure I've seen the claim somewhere else.

Edit. I have rolled back the title of this question to almost its original form, because putting the title in quotes misled some people into thinking I sought a source for the exact phrase "the only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote." Rather, I wanted a source (not necessarily unique) for the idea that Chapters 4-6 of Groupes et Algèbres de Lie is Bourbaki's one great book. Gerald's answer and Jim's comment together are exactly what I wanted.

The only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote

OK, the title is opinionated and contentious, but I have a definite question. I know that the title refers to the Bourbaki volume Groupes et Algèbres de Lie (Chapters 4-6), published in 1968, but

who said that it is the only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote?

The only reference I can find is the 2009 Prize Booklet for the AMS-MAA Joint Meetings, where no source is given, but I'm sure I've seen the claim somewhere else.

Edit. I have rolled back the title of this question to its original form, because putting the title in quotes misled some people into thinking I sought a source for the exact phrase "the only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote." Rather, I wanted a source (not necessarily unique) for the idea that Chapters 4-6 of Groupes et Algèbres de Lie is Bourbaki's one great book. Gerald's answer and Jim's comment together are exactly what I wanted.

The only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote?

OK, the title is opinionated and contentious, but I have a definite question. I know that the title refers to the Bourbaki volume Groupes et Algèbres de Lie (Chapters 4-6), published in 1968, but

who said that it is the only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote?

The only reference I can find is the 2009 Prize Booklet for the AMS-MAA Joint Meetings, where no source is given, but I'm sure I've seen the claim somewhere else.

Edit. I have rolled back the title of this question to almost its original form, because putting the title in quotes misled some people into thinking I sought a source for the exact phrase "the only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote." Rather, I wanted a source (not necessarily unique) for the idea that Chapters 4-6 of Groupes et Algèbres de Lie is Bourbaki's one great book. Gerald's answer and Jim's comment together are exactly what I wanted.

edited tags

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edited Aug 3, 2010 at 23:22

Greg Kuperberg

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added 461 characters in body; edited title

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edited Aug 3, 2010 at 23:20

John Stillwell

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Where was the phrase, "The The only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote" first written?wrote

OK, the title is opinionated and contentious, but I have a definite question. I know that the title refers to the Bourbaki volume Groupes et Algèbres de Lie (Chapters 4-6), published in 1968, but

who said that it is the only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote?

The only reference I can find is the 2009 Prize Booklet for the AMS-MAA Joint Meetings, where no source is given, but I'm sure I've seen the claim somewhere else.

Edit. I have rolled back the title of this question to its original form, because putting the title in quotes misled some people into thinking I sought a source for the exact phrase "the only great book that Bourbaki ever wrote." Rather, I wanted a source (not necessarily unique) for the idea that Chapters 4-6 of Groupes et Algèbres de Lie is Bourbaki's one great book. Gerald's answer and Jim's comment together are exactly what I wanted.