Preface to the first edition Preface to the second edition How to read this book Prologue 0. Elementary set theory and methods of proof 1. Numbers and polynomials 2. Binary relations and binary operations 3. Introduction to rings 4. Factor rings and fields 5. Basic group theory 6. Structure theorems of group theory 7. A brief excursion into Galois theory Partial solutions to the exercises Bibliography Notation Index