For courses in undergraduate Analysis (an easy one) and Transition to Advanced Mathematics.
This text helps fill in the groundwork students need to succeed in real analysis―often considered the most difficult course in the undergraduate curriculum. By introducing logic and by emphasizing the structure and nature of the arguments used, Lay helps students move carefully from computationally oriented courses to abstract mathematics with its emphasis on proofs. Clear expositions and examples, helpful practice problems, numerous drawings, and selected hints/answers make this text readable and student-oriented, and teacher- friendly.
"Let me begin by saying that I really like this book, and I do not say that of very many books. What impresses me most is the level of motivation and explanation given for the basic logic, the construction of proofs, and the ways of thinking about proofs that this book provides in its first few sections. It felt that the author was talking to the reader the way I would like to talk to students. There was an air of familiarity there. All kinds of useful remarks were made, the type I would like to make in my lectures." ― Aimo Hinkkanen, University of Illinois at Urbana
"The writing style is suitable for our students. It is clear, logical, and concise. The examples are very helpful and well-developed. The topics are thoroughly covered and at the appropriate level for our students. The material is technically accurate, and the pedagogical material is effectively presented." ― John Konvalina, University of Nebraska at Omaha