Schaum's Outline of Differential Geometry (Schaum's)

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After so many years, this book continues to be a valuable introduction to the differential geometry (DG) of curves and surfaces in euclidean 3 dimensional space, quite clear and efficient for self study, since it combines theory and problems. It reviews the necessary calculus needed. Then it goes into curves and the Frenet equations (little attention is given to plane curves) and continues with surfaces. There one finds an excellent introductory exposition of curvature and assymptotic lines, (including Meusnier, Euler, Rodrigues and Beltrami-Enneper theorems) as well as geodesic curvature, geodesics and Gauss curvature. No mention of parallel transport though (this you can find in Stoker Differential Geometry (Wiley Classics Library), in Goetz Introduction to Differential Geometry (Addison-Wesley Series in Mathematics), Millman-Parker Elements of Differential Geometry's, do Carmo Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces or Klingenberg's A Course in Differential Geometry (Graduate Texts in Mathematics), all of them introductory books on DG too. No global properties of curves are given, but we find a clean proof of Liebmann's theorem characterising compact connected surfaces of constant curvature as spheres (without assuming its orientabilty) and a rather sketchy proof of Gauss-Bonnet theorem. Many proofs of theoretical properties appear as problems. Practical questions are easy or not too hard to solve. If you really don't know the subject, this is a perfect start, alone or combined with those previously cited works or with Struik's classicalLectures on Classical Differential Geometry: Second Edition, or Oprea Curves and Surfaces (Graduate Studies in Mathematics) (Applied DG) or Montiel-Ros' recent book Differential Geometry and its Applications (Classroom Resource Materials) (Mathematical Association of America Textbooks). Other problem books on DG are rare. I will mention Fedenko's (Mir-Moscow) (similar to M. Lipschutz's) and Mishchenko-Solovyev-Fomenko (Problems in DG and Topology, Mir- Moscow).

I have found this to be an excellent addition to my library.

This book is intended to assist upper level undergraduate and graduate students in their understanding of differential geometry, which is the study of geometry using calculus. Usually students study differential geometry in reference to its use in relativity. I personally have a rather oddball application for the subject - modeling of curved geometry for computer graphics applications. The fundamental concepts are presented for curves and surfaces in three-dimensional Euclidean space to add to the intuitive nature of the material. The book presumes very little in the way of background and thus starts out with the basic theory of vectors and vector calculus of a single variable in the first two chapters. The following three chapters discuss the concept and theory of curves in three dimensions including selected topics in the theory of contact. Great care is given to the definition of a surface so that the reader has a firm foundation in preparation for further study in modern differential geometry. Thus, there is some background material in analysis and in point set topology in Euclidean spaces presented in chapters 6 and 7. The definition of a surface is detailed in chapter eight. Chapters 9 and 10 are devoted to the theory of the non-intrinsic geometry of a surface. This includes an introduction to tensor methods and selected topics in the global geometry of surfaces. The last chapter of the outline presents the basic theory of the intrinsic geometry of surfaces in three-dimensional Euclidean space. Exercises are primarily in the form of proofs, and there are plenty of worked examples. Since the examples are kept to no more than three dimensions, the outline contains plenty of good instructive diagrams that illustrate key concepts. This Schaum's outline has quite a bit of instruction in it past the bare required minimum, but you might still want a good primary textbook. My personal favorite is Pressley's "Elementary Differential Geometry". Overall I find this to be a very good outline and source of solved problems on the subject and I highly recommend it.

As with all of the Schaum's Outline Series, this book is particularly useful if the readers intent is to gain a working knowledge of the subject. The subject of Differential Geometry is no exception. Dr. Lipschultz has done an excellent job of communicating the essential aspects of differential geometry to the reader. The book assumes a fairly low level of mathematical ability having calculus as the primary prerequisite. From this humble beginning, Dr. Lipschultz takes the reader through the necessary discussions of vector functions, curvature, fundamental forms, and tensor analysis. Given the theoretical nature of the subject, Dr. Lipschultz has included most of the theorems and associated proofs necessary for a general understanding of the subject. However, this book is not a substitute for a serious study of differential geometry. In addition most of the problems are limited to two dimensional surfaces and this reader would have enjoyed a more adventurous investigation of higher dimensional spaces. Like all Schaum's series, the text is chock full of problems and their solution. I recommend this book for anyone interested in quickly gaining a working knowledge of the subject.