The best linear algebra books
July 24, 2016
It is a painful thing to say to oneself: by choosing one road I am turning my back on a thousand others. Everything is interesting; everything might be useful; everything attracts and charms a noble mind; but death is before us; mind and matter make their demands; willy-nilly we must submit and rest content as to things that time and wisdom deny us, with a glance of sympathy which is another act of our homage to the truth.
— Antonin Sertillanges, The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods
If you would follow the road to linear algebra here are some trustworthy signposts.
Generalist
These books develop the subject with minimal prerequisites. They cover a broad range of theory and selected applications.
- Axler, S. J. (2014). Linear algebra done right. New York: Springer-Verlag.
- Curtis, C. W. (1984). Linear algebra: An introductory approach. New York: Springer-Verlag.
- Greub, W. H. (1975). Linear algebra. New York: Springer-Verlag.
- Halmos, P. R. (1958). Finite-dimensional vector spaces. Princeton, N.J: Van Nostrand.
- Herstein, I. N., & Winter, D. J. (1988). A primer on linear algebra. New York: Macmillan.
- Hoffman, K., & Kunze, R. A. (1971). Linear algebra. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall.
- Katznelson, Y., & Katznelson, Y. R. (2008). A (terse) introduction to linear algebra.Providence, R.I: American Mathematical Society.
- Lax, P. D., & Lax, P. D. (2007). Linear algebra and its applications. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley-Interscience.
Theoretical
These books develop the subject rigorously, often on generalized assumptions.
- Aluffi, P. (2009). Algebra: Chapter 0. Providence, R.I: American Mathematical Society.
- Blyth, T. S. (1990). Module theory: An approach to linear algebra. Oxford [England: Clarendon Press.
- Bourbaki, N. (1989). Algebra I. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
- Brown, W. C. (1988). A second course in linear algebra. New York: Wiley.
- Curtis, M. L., & Place, P. (1990). Abstract linear algebra. New York: Springer-Verlag.
- Golan, J. S. (2012). The linear algebra a beginning graduate student ought to know.Dordrecht: Springer.
- Jacobson, N. (1951). Lectures in abstract algebra: Linear algebra. 2 eks. New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold.
- Jänich, K. (1994). Linear algebra. New York: Springer-Verlag.
- Lang, S. (1987). Linear algebra. New York: Springer-Verlag.
- Roman, S. (2008). Advanced linear algebra. New York: Springer.
- Shakarchi, R., & Lang, S. (1996). Solutions manual for Lang’s Linear algebra. New York: Springer.
- Valenza, R. J. (1993). Linear algebra: An introduction to abstract mathematics. New York: Springer-Verlag.
- Weintraub, S. H., & Mathematical Association of America. (2011). A guide to advanced linear algebra. Washington, DC: Mathematical Association of America.
Numerical
These describe matrix forms and efficient algorithms for getting numerical answers.
- Golub, G. H., & Van, L. C. F. (2013). Matrix computations.
- Herstein, I. N., & Winter, D. J. (1988). Matrix theory and linear algebra. New York: Macmillan.
- Horn, R. A., & Johnson, C. R. (2013). Matrix analysis, second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Trefethen, L. N., & Bau, D. (1997). Numerical linear algebra. Philadelphia, PA: Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.
Practice, practice
While all math books provide exercises, these books are comprised entirely of them, along with hints and solutions.
- Blyth, T. S., & Robertson, E. F. (1984). Algebra through practice: A collection of problems in algebra, with solutions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Halmos, P. R. (1995). Linear algebra problem book. Washington, DC: Mathematical Association of America.
- Lipschutz, S. (1988). Three thousand solved problems in linear algebra. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Prasolov, V. V., & Ivanov, S. (1994). Problems and theorems in linear algebra.Providence, R.I: American Mathematical Society.
- Zhang, F. (1996). Linear algebra: Challenging problems for students. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Extended
Directions for further study.
- Greub, W. H. (1978). Multilinear algebra. New York: Springer-Verlag.
- Rudin, W. (1991). Functional analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Schaefer, H. H., & Wolff, M. P. (1999). Topological vector spaces. S.l.: Springer.
Weird Russian
Supposedly using outdated notation but packed with wisdom.
- Akivis, M. A., Golʹdberg, V. V., & Silverman, R. A. (1977). An introduction to linear algebra and tensors. New York: Dover Publications.
- Gelʹfand, I. M. (1989). Lectures on linear algebra. New York: Dover Publications.
- Shilov, G. E. (1977). Linear algebra. New York: Dover Publications.