Undergraduate Algebra

Like all Lang books on algebra, everything is very clear. The book goes through group, ring, modules, field, vector spaces, Galois theory andsome set theory including the Axiom of Choice. It does take some work and time to get everything, especially if you are getting acquainted with the topics for the first time. However, a motivated reader can certainly work through the book by himself. The only complaint I have is that the book often does not explain the motivation much.

The title is quite misleading. It sounds innocuous but conceals some pretty neat stuff. This book is an introduction into modern algebra that starts with group theory and continues into Galois theory. It is terse at times but contains all the essentials.This text should be required reading for all Computer Science majors who have an interest in cryptography or cryptanalysis.