At the heart of this short introduction to Category Theory is the idea of a universal property, important throughout mathematics.
Copious exercises are included..
At points where the leap in abstraction is particularly great (such as the Yoneda lemma), the reader will find careful and extensive explanations.
For each new categorical concept, a generous supply of examples is provided, taken from different parts of mathematics.
Assuming relatively little mathematical background, it is ideal for beginning graduate students or advanced undergraduates learning Category Theory for the first time.
The book is suitable for use in courses or for independent study.
A final chapter ties all three together.
After an introductory chapter giving the Basic definitions, separate chapters explain three ways of expressing universal properties: via adjoint functors, representable functors, and limits.
At the heart of this short introduction to Category Theory is the idea of a universal property, important throughout mathematics