Fat Manifolds and Linear Connections

In this unique book, written in a reasonably self-contained manner, the theory of linear connections is systematically presented as a natural part of differential calculus over commutative algebras. This not only makes easy and natural numerous generalizations of the classical theory and reveals various new aspects of it, but also shows in a clear and transparent manner the intrinsic structure of the associated differential calculus. The notion of a OC fat manifoldOCO introduced here then allows the reader to build a well-working analogy of this OC connection calculusOCO with the usual one."