How Groups Grow

Growth of groups is an innovative new branch of group theory. This is the first book to introduce the subject from scratch. It begins with basic definitions and culminates in the seminal results of Gromov and Grigorchuk and more. The proof of Gromov's theorem on groups of polynomial growth is given in full, with the theory of asymptotic cones developed on the way. Grigorchuk's first and general groups are described, as well as the proof that they have intermediate growth, with explicit boun...