Hey, /sci/, I know that this is more likely to devolve into a pissing match than generate helpful advice, but is differential topology hard (book is Pollack and Guillemin)? I'm taking it along with five other (not too frightening but not easy) courses this semester, and I'd like to get a gauge on whether or not I'll be allowed to sleep at all for the next three months.
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Anonymous2009-09-03 18:59
That depends on your background. According to the reviews on amazon the book is analytic, not very rigourous and doesn't deal with the categorical side of the subject. Therefore I'm very glad I don't have to use it, but it may still be the perfect for you. If you have a solid background in topology and analysis I'm sure you'll be fine, but you should probably check the definitions in some other book.