Lectures on the h-Cobordism Theorem

These are notes from lectures that John Milnor delivered as a seminar on differential topology in 1963 at Princeton University. These lectures give a new proof of the h-cobordism theorem that is different from the original proof presented by Stephen Smale. Milnor’s goal was to provide a fully rigorous proof in terms of Morse functions. This book remains an important resource in the application of Morse theory.

Awards and Recognition

• John Milnor, Winner of the 2011 Abel Prize from the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
• John Willard Milnor, Winner of the 2011 Leroy P. Steele Prize for Lifetime Achievement, American Mathematical Society