---
product_id: 47239602
title: "Category Theory in Context (Aurora: Dover Modern Math Originals)"
price: "€ 57.54"
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# Category Theory in Context (Aurora: Dover Modern Math Originals)

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Review: Excellent but very challenging for the beginner - I returned to this book after some time passed and I appreciate it more. First of all, it wasn't all that hard to eventually fill in the gaps and be able to use the book. Second, ChatGPT and other LLMs are now available for interactively filling in gaps, and self-contained introductions seem less important now than they did a few years ago. After getting past my initial difficulties, I can also appreciate that the author's contextualization of the material with quotations, hints, and footnotes and the choice of references is very well considered and useful. This is how I felt initially (original review, 4 stars): I'm using this book for self-study and started out reading and working problems as I went along. It didn't work: the book is too difficult as a first text for this purpose. I do think this is a good book, but it's too advanced for a first introduction. There are some statements in the introduction to the effect that few prerequisites are required if you also have some "mathematical maturity". Don't be fooled: this is code for already knowing category theory, and some essential definitions are missing. I recommend that if you are acquiring category theory by self-study you should start with "Category Theory for the Working Mathematician," because that book does define everything with complete clarity. And don't let the title of that book scare you: it is perfectly sufficient for the beginner. Steve Awodey's book "Category Theory" is another good starting point or second reference. Essentially this is the problem: to understand basic category theory you need an unambiguous interpretations of commutative and non-commutative diagrams, abstract categories ("metacategories"), and concrete categories. Then as each auxiliary definition and tool is built up you need to understand its construction unambiguously and in its full generality. These things are all fairly simple. I'm observing that once people understand all of these things together as a "language" they enjoy the experience so much that they immediately forget how to explain the basic definitions to their readers and want to just write category theory at you. And to some extent that is a positive and promising thing. I'm hoping that once I get my basic grounding in category theory and come back to finish reading this book that the more advanced material is presented well enough that I can understand it. I expect that that will be true based on reviews by more advanced readers.
Review: Hard Work and Worth It - I had planned to write this review when I finished chapter 2. By that standard, this review is premature. This is the perfect book for rejuvenating a long dormant interest in advanced mathematics. My math is decades old, and long past its best by date, but I am slowly regaining strength. If you want a good grounding in category theory, this text offers incredible value -- if and only if you read carefully and work the exercises. Let me repeat that: to garner the text's incredible value, you must read carefully, take notes, and do the problems -- all of them. I've read 37 pages, and taken 60 double sided pages of notes. This is definitely a book for grown ups. Ms. Riehl treats her readers as peers and extends every possible courtesy. Explanations are clear and complete and peppered with examples. There is an extensive bibliography (which I look forward to exploring when I recover mathematical fitness), and a complete subject index, accompanied by a notation index and an index of categories. I have never before seen an index of notation, and I find it extremely valuable. I wish that all mathematics texts had them. If you decide to take the plunge, I suggest that you include the following in your order: 1. A good mechanical pencil 2. Lots of lead (I find that BB is easy on the hand) 3. A good, sewn in signature notebook. I like this one: https://www.desertcart.com/Grid-Paper-Notebook-Hardcover-Dividers/dp/B072MVXYKS/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_rp_c_2_0_5/140-5454927-8501868 4: A good eraser. Seriously, you will need it. I like these: https://www.desertcart.com/STAEDTLER-Plastic-Latex-free-Age-resistant-Crumbling/dp/B00006IFAN/ref=sr_1_2 Happy Mathing.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #69,475 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #2 in Topology (Books) #3 in Abstract Algebra (Books) #17 in Mathematical Logic |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (158) |
| Dimensions  | 5.91 x 0.59 x 9.06 inches |
| ISBN-10  | 048680903X |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0486809038 |
| Item Weight  | 13.5 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Part of series  | Aurora: Dover Modern Math Originals |
| Print length  | 272 pages |
| Publication date  | November 16, 2016 |
| Publisher  | Dover Publications |

## Images

![Category Theory in Context (Aurora: Dover Modern Math Originals) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/013d2nsPQZL.jpg)
![Category Theory in Context (Aurora: Dover Modern Math Originals) - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31E8rhEsrML.jpg)
![Category Theory in Context (Aurora: Dover Modern Math Originals) - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31SmL0ulylL.jpg)
![Category Theory in Context (Aurora: Dover Modern Math Originals) - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31ZVe42o3hL.jpg)
![Category Theory in Context (Aurora: Dover Modern Math Originals) - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41IAX5lPMAL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent but very challenging for the beginner
*by K***H on August 31, 2020*

I returned to this book after some time passed and I appreciate it more. First of all, it wasn't all that hard to eventually fill in the gaps and be able to use the book. Second, ChatGPT and other LLMs are now available for interactively filling in gaps, and self-contained introductions seem less important now than they did a few years ago. After getting past my initial difficulties, I can also appreciate that the author's contextualization of the material with quotations, hints, and footnotes and the choice of references is very well considered and useful. This is how I felt initially (original review, 4 stars): I'm using this book for self-study and started out reading and working problems as I went along. It didn't work: the book is too difficult as a first text for this purpose. I do think this is a good book, but it's too advanced for a first introduction. There are some statements in the introduction to the effect that few prerequisites are required if you also have some "mathematical maturity". Don't be fooled: this is code for already knowing category theory, and some essential definitions are missing. I recommend that if you are acquiring category theory by self-study you should start with "Category Theory for the Working Mathematician," because that book does define everything with complete clarity. And don't let the title of that book scare you: it is perfectly sufficient for the beginner. Steve Awodey's book "Category Theory" is another good starting point or second reference. Essentially this is the problem: to understand basic category theory you need an unambiguous interpretations of commutative and non-commutative diagrams, abstract categories ("metacategories"), and concrete categories. Then as each auxiliary definition and tool is built up you need to understand its construction unambiguously and in its full generality. These things are all fairly simple. I'm observing that once people understand all of these things together as a "language" they enjoy the experience so much that they immediately forget how to explain the basic definitions to their readers and want to just write category theory at you. And to some extent that is a positive and promising thing. I'm hoping that once I get my basic grounding in category theory and come back to finish reading this book that the more advanced material is presented well enough that I can understand it. I expect that that will be true based on reviews by more advanced readers.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hard Work and Worth It
*by E***Z on November 23, 2020*

I had planned to write this review when I finished chapter 2. By that standard, this review is premature. This is the perfect book for rejuvenating a long dormant interest in advanced mathematics. My math is decades old, and long past its best by date, but I am slowly regaining strength. If you want a good grounding in category theory, this text offers incredible value -- if and only if you read carefully and work the exercises. Let me repeat that: to garner the text's incredible value, you must read carefully, take notes, and do the problems -- all of them. I've read 37 pages, and taken 60 double sided pages of notes. This is definitely a book for grown ups. Ms. Riehl treats her readers as peers and extends every possible courtesy. Explanations are clear and complete and peppered with examples. There is an extensive bibliography (which I look forward to exploring when I recover mathematical fitness), and a complete subject index, accompanied by a notation index and an index of categories. I have never before seen an index of notation, and I find it extremely valuable. I wish that all mathematics texts had them. If you decide to take the plunge, I suggest that you include the following in your order: 1. A good mechanical pencil 2. Lots of lead (I find that BB is easy on the hand) 3. A good, sewn in signature notebook. I like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Grid-Paper-Notebook-Hardcover-Dividers/dp/B072MVXYKS/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_rp_c_2_0_5/140-5454927-8501868 4: A good eraser. Seriously, you will need it. I like these: https://www.amazon.com/STAEDTLER-Plastic-Latex-free-Age-resistant-Crumbling/dp/B00006IFAN/ref=sr_1_2 Happy Mathing.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authoritative and enjoyable
*by N***M on May 4, 2025*

Emily Riehl’s “Category Theory in Context” is meticulously structured, systematically and effectively advancing through elementary category theory with a style that is both concise and enjoyable. Historical anecdotes provide color and context, making CTiC a delight to read and work through.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Category Theory in Context (Aurora: Dover Modern Math Originals)
- Topoi: The Categorial Analysis of Logic (Dover Books on Mathematics)
- An Invitation to Applied Category Theory: Seven Sketches in Compositionality

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*Store origin: SK*
*Last updated: 2026-02-08*