During the springs of 2011 and 2012, the author was invited by Peking University to give an advanced undergraduate algebra course (once a week over two months each year). This book was written during and for that course. By no way does it claim to be too exhaustive. It was originally intended as a brief introduction to algebra for an extremely pleasant and passionate audience. It certainly reflects some of the author's own tastes, and it was influenced by the feelings and the reactions of the students.

Nevertheless, the result covers some advanced undergraduate algebra (rings,...