Casual book on abstract algebra A friend of mine, who is a high school math teacher and majored in math in college, recently asked me for a good book to read on Abstract Algebra (presumably, group theory). She is looking for something to read semi-casually, so no serious textbooks which hide intuition.
My own education largely skipped the basics.  I read through Pinter in the library one afternoon, and that was pretty much it.  So, can people recommend a good book on abstract algebra/groups for the casual learner?
 A: "A Book on Abstract Algebra" by Charles Pinter is a great book for the casual reader. It's an easy read yet maintains rigour throughout all of the topics discussed.
A: She will love Fearless Symmetry by Ash / Gross. Mostly group theory but that's the best start, don't you think so?


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*http://books.google.com/books?id=h7oUr88S7JQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false
A: A gentle introductory book full of intuition on group theory is Nathan Carter's Visual Group Theory. This answer is doubtless much too late for the OP, but may help others looking for casual books on abstract algebra.
A: Pinter is an excellent book, but I'd like to also recommend Abstract Algebra and Solution by Radicals, by John and Margaret Maxfield. It's very readable, and takes a semi-casual path through group theory, ending with elementary Galois theory and impossible constructions. This book was my first introduction to abstract algebra several years ago. If your friend wants a gentle introduction to the subject, I think it could be ideal. 
A: It depends the level of the casual reader (unless by casual you meant low prereqs). If you are looking for a book that requires a little more sophistication, but pays back two-fold in intuition I believe Artin's book Algebra is a good place to look. In particular, it helps motivate abstract groups by looking at the much more managable, understandable, notion of matrix groups.
A: Field theory and its classical problems by  Hadlock is wonderful.
A: It depends on what she wants out of the book, but it sounds like "Contemporary Abstract Algebra" by Gallian would be a great fit.
The book introduces all of the major concepts in a way that is both easy to grasp and motivated. There are also interesting historical insights placed throughout the book. I had a friend lend it to me when I was starting to learn abstract algebra and it definitely helped pique my interest.
