TITLE: Supplementary Linear Algebra textbook
QUESTION [8 upvotes]: We are using Elementary Linear Algebra by Howard Anton in the class and I’m not happy with it. At times there is many pages of writing, yet, there is very little information contained. I really like vector spaces but to find appreciation of them I have to scavenge online sources. What would be a good supplement, maybe substitution? I don’t have knowledge beyond Calculus 3, and I really want to learn how to understand and write proofs. At the same time, I’d like to be able to follow at least half of the time what the author is trying to convey.

REPLY [3 votes]: If you are a math major or studying to be a mathematician, and have already taken a course on matrix algebra, I recommend "The Linear Algebra a Beginning Graduate Student Ought to Know" by John Golan. Don't let the name fool you; while this book is aimed at a beginning graduate student, it's very accessible to undergraduates with a semester of basic vector-matrix algebra. This text will introduce you to some interesting ideas and notations that would supplement a theoretical linear algebra class well. It's not a tough read, and it will help you bridge the gap later when you move on to modern/abstract algebra courses.