O'Meara treats his subject from this point of view (of the interaction with algebraic groups). He does not attempt an encyclopedic coverage ...nor does he strive to take the reader to the frontiers of knowledge... . Instead he has given a clear account from first principles and his book is a useful introduction to the modern viewpoint and literature. In fact it presupposes only undergraduate algebra (up to Galois theory inclusive)... The book is lucidly written and can be warmly recommended.