Master expositor Paul Halmos presents Linear Algebra in the pure axiomatic spirit. He writes "My purpose in this book is to treat linear transformations on finite dimensional vector spaces by the methods of more general theories. The idea is to emphasize the simple geometric notions common to many parts of mathematics and its applications, and to do so in a language that gives away the trade secrets ...". This text is an ideal supplement to modern treatments of Linear Algebra. "The theory is systematically developed by the axiomatic method that has, since von Neumann, dominated the general approach to linear functional analysis and that achieves here a high degree of lucidity and clarity....The book contains about 350 well placed and instructive problems, which cover a considerable part of the subject. All in all this is an excellent work, of equally high value for both student and teacher." --Zentralblatt für Mathematik.

This excellent book provides an elegant introduction to functional analysis ... carefully selected problems ... This is a nicely written book of great value for stimulating active work by students. It can be strongly recommended as an undergraduate or graduate text, or as a comprehensive book for self-study. --European Mathematical Society Newsletter Functional analysis plays a crucial role in the applied sciences as well as in mathematics. It is a beautiful subject that can be motivated and studied for its own sake. In keeping with this basic philosophy, the author has made this introductory text accessible to a wide spectrum of students, including beginning-level graduates and advanced undergraduates. The exposition is inviting, following threads of ideas, describing each as fully as possible, before moving on to a new topic. Supporting material is introduced as appropriate, and only to the degree needed. Some topics are treated more than once, according to the different contexts in which they arise. The prerequisites are minimal, requiring little more than advanced calculus and no measure theory. The text focuses on normed vector spaces and their important examples, Banach spaces and Hilbert spaces. The author also includes topics not usually found in texts on the subject. This Second Edition incorporates many new developments while not overshadowing the book's original flavor. Areas in the book that demonstrate its unique character have been strengthened. In particular, new material concerning Fredholm and semi-Fredholm operators is introduced, requiring minimal effort as the necessary machinery was already in place. Several new topics are presented, but relate to only those concepts and methods emanating from other parts of the book. These topics include perturbation classes, measures of noncompactness, strictly singular operators, and operator constants. Overall, the presentation has been refined, clarified, and simplified, and many new problems have been added. The book is recommended to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and pure and applied research mathematicians interested in functional analysis and operator theory.

From a review of the first edition: Beautifully written and well organized ... indispensable for those interested in certain areas of mathematical physics ... for the expert and beginner alike. The author deserves to be congratulated both for his work in unifying a subject and for showing workers in the field new directions for future development. --Zentralblatt MATH This is a second edition of a well-known book on the theory of trace ideals in the algebra of operators in a Hilbert space. Because of the theory's many different applications, the book was widely used and much in demand. For this second edition, the author has added four chapters on the closely related theory of rank one perturbations of self-adjoint operators. He has also included a comprehensive index and an addendum describing some developments since the original notes were published. This book continues to be a vital source of information for those interested in the theory of trace ideals and in its applications to various areas of mathematical physics.

This book provides an in depth discussion of Loewner’s theorem on the characterization of matrix monotone functions. The author refers to the book as a ‘love poem,’ one that highlights a unique mix of algebra and analysis and touches on numerous methods and results. The book details many different topics from analysis, operator theory and algebra, such as divided differences, convexity, positive definiteness, integral representations of function classes, Pick interpolation, rational approximation, orthogonal polynomials, continued fractions, and more. Most applications of Loewner’s theorem involve the easy half of the theorem. A great number of interesting techniques in analysis are the bases for a proof of the hard half. Centered on one theorem, eleven proofs are discussed, both for the study of their own approach to the proof and as a starting point for discussing a variety of tools in analysis. Historical background and inclusion of pictures of some of the main figures who have developed the subject, adds another depth of perspective. The presentation is suitable for detailed study, for quick review or reference to the various methods that are presented. The book is also suitable for independent study. The volume will be of interest to research mathematicians, physicists, and graduate students working in matrix theory and approximation, as well as to analysts and mathematical physicists.