I found the book to be a great asset in getting re-acquainted with Linear Algebra and vector calculus basics. Lots of example problems with solutions and some to work on your own.

I needed to brush up on my algebra after some years away doing other things, and had three evenings for that. I found this text very helpful (but I had to spend five evenings in the end). First, it emphasizes the operator view of linear algebra, as opposed to the matrix view; second, the solved problems start with several concrete numeric examples and then move on to proving theorems, so you get practice in both; and third, it is reasonably abstract and succint which saves time if you know the subject but need a quick review.

Definitely good value for the $20 or so. A keeper.

I have learned more about Linear Algebra from this single book than all my other assorted (and fairly expensive!) texbooks combined; and, for that matter, more than my college class on the subject too. I'm now studying Differential Geometry and I always have this book nearby (in addition to two other Shaum's Outlines: that of Vector Analysis and Differential Geometry). Every textbook has something to offer - at least I usually give them the benefit of the doubt ;-). But for gaining a "working knowledge" of abstract mathematical concepts, there's nothing so enlightening than studying the details of problem solving performed with delightful clarity by an expert in the field. In this book you can become the apprentice to Seymour Lipschutz as he reveals the mysteries that often form clouds in the minds of students of Linear Algebra. Frequently, when working in this text, I would suddenly understand something that seemed so complex or obscure in my other LA texts. Actually, I could then see what those other texts were attempting to convey but because of their particular styles, they were just a bit "pedagogically challenged" :-)

Anyway, for me, this book is worth more than any pricey textbook on the subject. Just buy it and use it! You'll begin to see how cool Linear Algebra really is. Beware - mathematics at this level and beyond can be very addictive!

DH

Regrettably I can only give a partial review of this book. From some of the other reviews, it looks like this may in fact be a decent text, but the number of errors I encountered in the answers to the first set of problems was so annoying that I decided not to continue using this book. By the third addition I would expect most errors to have been corrected, but that is not the case here. The errors I ran across appear to be mostly typos, and I can understand a book having some typos, but to have so many in the first set of problems was enough to make me look for another text. Another reviewer mentioned that the errors were obvious. True, they were, but it was still annoying and a waste of time to have to deal with. Also, the errors were obvious in the first chapter because it was all review material, but what about later chapters when the material would not be a review? It just wasn't something I was willing to risk. I've given the book a neutral three star rating since I can't thoroughly review it, but I'll let you decide if it's worth it to give the book a chance.