"[The author] avoids aimless wandering among the topics by explicitly heading towards milestone theorems... [His] directed path through these topics should make an effective course on the mathematics of surfaces. The exercises and hints are well chosen to clarify the central threads rather than diverting into byways." - Computing Reviews "Many examples and illustrations as well as exercises and hints to solutions are providing great support... By well-placed appendices the reader is relieved of the strain to immediately understand some extensive proofs or to learn adjoining mathematical factsa ] The book is suitable for students of mathematics, physics and of the teaching profession as well as university teachers who might be interested in using certain chapters...to present the topic in a seminar or in not too advanced special lectures about the topic...It is the great clarity of thought in this book, the simplicity and concreteness of the representation with respect to the capacity for teaching of students, and some other aspects that make this work stand out from comparable efforts." - ZAA "The exposition is clear, nicely organized, and generally easy to read." ---Zentralblatt Math