Algebra

"This book is about algebra. This is a very old science and its gems have lost their charm for us through everyday use. We have tried in this book to refresh them for you.
"The main part of the book is made up of problems. The best way to deal with them is: Solve the problem by yourself - compare your solution with the solution in the book (if it exists) - go to the next problem. However, if you have difficulties solving a problem (and some of them are quite difficult), you may read the hint or start to read the solution. If there is no solution in the book for some problem, you may skip it (it is not heavily used in the sequel) and return to it later.
"The book is divided into sections devoted to different topics. Some of them are very short, others are rather long."
As organized and directed by I. M. Gelfand for a Mathematical School by Correspondence, the books are intended to cover the basics in mathe­matics. ...
As Gelfand himself has stated:
"It was not our intention that all of the students who study from these books or even completed the School by Correspondence should choose mathematics as their future career. Nevertheless. no matter what they would later choose, the results of this mathematical training remain with them. For many. this is a first experience in being able to do something completely independently of a teacher."