Rating: 
Summary: Quite possibly the best text book written on any subject eve
Review: I would give this book 10 stars if I could!Many books, especially those in the more theoretic regions of upper level mathematics are difficult to read, let alone use as a self-study text. The truth is that there is no real need for an instructor when using this book. The only book that I think may be its equal or better is Griffith's book on Electro-Magnetics. I have studied a great deal of mathematics, and I wish all the books I have laerned from (or tried!) were written HALF as well as this one. The content includes most, if not all, regions of fundamental point-set topology. There is next to know differential or algebraic topology, but there are other texts for that. The illustrations are extremely helpful (and I am not even a visual learner!). It would be difficult to give too much praise to this book, which is as comprehensive as it is lucid.
Rating:
Summary: highly recommended
Review: If you are teaching yourself topology, this is the only book to use.
Prof. Munkres has a gift for explaining the concepts and proofs. After you pick up the basics, you should look at Counterexamples in Topology by Steen and Seebach.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Topology Book
Review: Most people have a favorite color, fewer people have a favorite baseball team, and even fewer people have a favorite topology textbook. Granted I've only had an extensive relationship with this particular textbook, but given the reviews I've read and other recommendations I've recieved, I would have to go on record and vouch for this book.
When I took topology this text was recommended and our lectures were based on a book (which was required) compiled by the teacher. Often times, we found the lectures/required text to be lacking and were glad to have this text to refer to.
I've seen this book used for both point-set and algebraic topology courses, or some combination of the two. The coverage of point-set is fairly complete while the algebraic section covers introductory material (homotopy, fixed point theorem, lifts, fundamental groups, etc.). The breakdown of the material is approximately 65% Point-set and 35% algebraic thus making it a good choice for someone taking Point-set but personally motivated to glance ahead to some of the algebraic stuff.
Two particular strengths: A thorough introduction to basic concepts of analysis, and, because you don't see many of them around, a good introductory treatment of Algebraic Topology.
Rating:
Summary: Standard Topology Text
Review: Most people have a favorite color, fewer people have a favorite baseball team, and even fewer people have a favorite topology textbook. Granted I've only had an extensive relationship with this particular textbook, but given the reviews I've read and other recommendations I've recieved, I would have to go on record and vouch for this book.
When I took topology this text was recommended and our lectures were based on a book (which was required) compiled by the teacher. Often times, we found the lectures/required text to be lacking and were glad to have this text to refer to.
I've seen this book used for both point-set and algebraic topology courses, or some combination of the two. The coverage of point-set is fairly complete while the algebraic section covers introductory material (homotopy, fixed point theorem, lifts, fundamental groups, etc.). The breakdown of the material is approximately 65% Point-set and 35% algebraic thus making it a good choice for someone taking Point-set but personally motivated to glance ahead to some of the algebraic stuff.
Two particular strengths: A thorough introduction to basic concepts of analysis, and, because you don't see many of them around, a good introductory treatment of Algebraic Topology.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Topology Book
Review: My introduction to Munkres was in an independent study of point set topology in my final semester of undergraduate work. A professor assigned me problems from the book, but my learning was largely self motivated. I found that it was an excellent book for independent study. The text was clear and readable and the exercises helped to cement the concepts that are introduced in the reading. Later at graduate school, Munkres was also used in a topology class at the beginning graduate level. Highlights were taken from the first section (point set topology), and a large focus of the class was on the algebraic topology in the second section of the book. Sometimes I had difficulty following exactly what the professor was doing at the blackboard, but I could always understand what was going on when I consulted Munkres. I would stress that this is only to be used as an introduction to algebraic topology, as there is nearly no development of homology groups and other algebraic concepts. However, it gives a very good presentation for the fundamental group. As a whole it would be a very good addition to your mathematical library.
Rating:
Summary: great!
Review: Not much to add here... there are enough easy problems that I can get the hang of something, but also some really tough ones at the end of each problem section. The proofs and examples in the text are really good guides to doing the problems also. In some sections there are counterexamples for, say, the converse of a theorem which are always really pathological. At the beginning of each section there is some discussion on what to expect, why the stuff is important, what to do with it, etc. Even though I had a really good prof for the topology course I did this book was very helpful out of the classroom.
Rating: 
Summary: great for independent studies
Review: Ordinarily, independent studies in mathematics courses are difficult. I found that Munkres' book well explained the topics of point set topology (up to chapter 8) and algebraic topology (chapter 8.) His exercises, for the most part, departed from the given examples and theorems, making them more challenging, but doable.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Work
Review: Taking a first course in topology could not be better complemented. This clear exposition of point set and algebraic topology is so well written that it could even be used for self study. Motivation from the professor is always helpful, but Munkres actually goes quite far in providing a reason for the topics in question. Furthermore, the examples clarify many of the presented concepts and even show some of the misconceptions a student may have. Having a course in analysis would certainly make the book flow since otherwise it would just to be a mental exercise rather than an extension of familiar concepts. The exercises are very well thought out and are meant to be solved by all students given that they have some diligence. They truly help in turning a fog of concepts into concrete understanding.
Rating:
Summary: PHENOMENAL!!!
Review: This book by Munkres makes the world of topology accessible to those who are either not topologists or are just beginning their careers in topology. He starts this book from the ABSOLUTE beginning with discussions on elementary logic and set theory. From there he develops basic point set topology and then takes the reader into algebraic topology. This work is lucid and very well planned. The only reason I did not rate it five stars is because I believe any text always has room for improvement. If you need a well written and clearly understandable book on the field of topology this is the one that you want.
Rating:
Summary: Awsome text, bad binding
Review: This book is extremely well written; a great place to start learning topology. Unfortunately, the publisher has not given it the binding it deserves. Look, an [expensive] hardbound book deserves a nice binding (with so-called "signatures," for instance), not a paperback glue binding that begins losing pages within weeks of gentle use. I took mine to a book repairman at my university library, who took one look at the poor thing and shook his head; there was nothing I could do: it was simply a cheap binding.
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