zbMATH — the first resource for mathematics

Finite group theory. (English) Zbl 1169.20001
Graduate Studies in Mathematics 92. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS) (ISBN 978-0-8218-4344-4/hbk). xi, 350 p. (2008).
This book reflects the contents of a graduate course, the author offered at the University of Madison at several occasions. As such, it is a gem that every connaisseur and lover of finite group theory should be aware of. The style of presenting it by the author, is at the highest level of didactical presentation and choice of subjects. The keywords in this review deal with the subjects per chapter. Subnormality and transfer are spread out over four chapters.
An unusual feature of the book is, that there are no references to existing literature at all. Hence, as when the interested reader wants to know more on not so generally known theorems or definitions that are mentioned by a name of the inventor (like for instance: Bartels’ theorem, Bochert’s theorem, Cermak-Delgado’s subgroup, and dito theorem, Dietzmann’s theorem, Hartley-Turull’s theorem, Yoshida’s theorem, Venkov’s theorem, etc.), he/she is obliged to do a Google search (or better, to consult the Zentralblatt!) as to titles of papers and year of appearance of them. It is the opinion of the reviewer that this is the only (little?) minus-point of the book. But he hastens to say that we have to do here with an absolute master piece in textbooks on finite group theory. Hence it is highly recommended.

MSC:
 20-01 Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to group theory 20B15 Primitive groups 20B20 Multiply transitive finite groups 20D06 Simple groups: alternating groups and groups of Lie type 20D10 Finite solvable groups, theory of formations, Schunck classes, Fitting classes, $$\pi$$-length, ranks 20D15 Finite nilpotent groups, $$p$$-groups 20D20 Sylow subgroups, Sylow properties, $$\pi$$-groups, $$\pi$$-structure 20D25 Special subgroups (Frattini, Fitting, etc.) 20D35 Subnormal subgroups of abstract finite groups 20D45 Automorphisms of abstract finite groups 20E22 Extensions, wreath products, and other compositions of groups 20E36 Automorphisms of infinite groups