描述线性算子的结构是线性代数的中心任务之一，传统的方法多以行列式为工具，但是行列式既难懂又不直观，其定义的引入也往往缺乏动因。本书作者独辟蹊径，抛弃了这种曲折的思路，把重点放在抽象的向量空间和线性映射上，给出的证明不使用行列式，更显得简单而直观。本书把行列式的内容放在了最后讲解，开辟了一条理解线性算子结构的新途径。书中还对一些术语、结论、证明思路、提及的数学家做了注释，增加了行文的趣味性，便于读者掌握核心概念和思想方法。

　　本书起点较低，不需要太多预备知识，而特色鲜明，是公认的阐述线性代数的经典佳作。原书自出版以来，迅速风靡世界，在30多个国家为200多所高校所采用，其中包括斯坦福大学和加州大学伯克利分校等著名学府-The audacious title of this book deserves an explanation. Almost all linear algebra books use determinants to prove that every linear operator on a finite-dimensional complex vector space has an eigenvalue. Determinants are difficult, nonintuitive, and often defined without motivation. To prove the theorem about existence of eigenvalues on complex vector spaces, most books must.define determinants, prove that a linear map is not invertible ff and only if its determinant equals O, and then define the characteristic polynomial. This tortuous (torturous?) path gives students little feeling for why eigenvalues must exist. In contrast, the simple determinant-free proofs presented here offer more insight. Once determinants have been banished to the end of the book, a new route opens to the main goal of linear algebra-- understanding the structure of linear operators.