Who should read this book?
Caveat for the Reader: The PDF versions of this text often contain scanned mathematical notation that can appear dense to modern eyes accustomed to color-coded textbooks. The lack of computational software references (MATLAB/Maple) means the student must be comfortable performing complex integrations and matrix operations by hand. This is viewed by some as a detriment, and by others as a strength in building mathematical maturity.
Assuming you legally obtain the book, here is a study plan to maximize its value:
One forgotten gem in Agnew’s work is his careful treatment of singular solutions (e.g., the envelope of a family of curves from a Clairaut equation). Most modern introductory texts omit or gloss over this topic. Agnew dedicates clear sections to it, complete with discriminants and geometric interpretations.
