Customer Reviews

Chemistry the Easy Way (Barron's Easy Way)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

While this book offers clear explanations, its attempt to be succint may frustrate readers who are teaching themselves chemistry. The author assumes that the reader is taking a chemistry course and therefore does not always explain topics in enough depth to give the reader a clear understanding. This makes reading a bit more difficult. Furthermore, there are a number of errors in the problems and answers. However, considering some of the other books available, this book does a relatively good job of clarifying and summarizing essential concepts.

Okay, while this book is a wealth of information, it does not meet the two most important elements of a self-teaching book - 1) to be slow, deliberate, repetitive, and concise, and 2) no errors in the formulas or answers! As far as the second, there is nothing more frustrating when you are learning on your own than to waste time trying to figure out if it is your error or a book error. My second problem with this book is that, while it started out slowly enough, by the second chapter it seemed as if the author got impatient having to explain everything. The diagrams in Chapter 2 (which is when I tossed the book) were the most eye-aching, confusing mess of drawings that I've seen in an introductory book, not to mention they came with only limited explanation. I've started another book that was recommended, called Chemistry Concepts and Problems, by Clifford Houk and Richard Post. I'm still in the first chapter, but I think I can comfortably recommend that book for chemistry beginners. Perhaps I will use Chemistry The Easy Way sometime in the future, when I know more about chemistry and would like another backup book. But as a starter book, I do not recommend it.

This book is horrible for self-study. While it may help improve grades for those already taking chemistry, the book is NOT one that I would recommend for those wanting to take college level exams. I have worked in the education field for eight years as an instructor, curriculum developer, and as a chief of non-resident correspondence course development, and my opinion is that this book is pitiful. The chapter review exercises are especially awful. For example, the review exercises ask questions on information that was never even covered in the lessons themselves. I'm certain that this leaves a lot of poor souls wondering just where the information lies. Perhaps I'm spoiled, but as a professional technical writer, my ethics with teaching tools begin by asking questions on material that is covered in the text.

This book may be designed to help those already taking chemistry improve their grades, but nothing more. My suggestion for those who want to learn chemistry on their own, please look elsewhere. My editors would laugh if I had attempted to publish this kind of publication, especially with the misleading forward that led me to buy the book. Claims that you can use the review exercises to check your comprehension of the material are pure bunk (paragraph one, above). Additionally, don't expect this book to help you prepare for College Entrance Exam Boards or the like. The book is not a good teaching tool, but rather, may be a good book for reinforcing what you may have already learned about chemistry from some other source.

If you are looking for a good introductory chemistry book, don't get this one. It will save you time, money, and effort if you get something else like Chemistry: A self teaching guide. The diagrams are horribly explained, the text is downright confusing, and to top it all off the author introduces random bits of information in the text just when you get frustrated. Don't get this book.

I borrowed this book from the library and am barely into it, but I thought I would look at some of the Amazon reviews before buying it. One thing I see missing from the customer and editorial reviews is no mention of the fact that it has laboratory experiments. I find that valuable. It seems that most reviewers miss the idea that the book is meant to be supplemental. Perhaps the editorial reviews suggest otherwise, maybe to increase sales, but it hardly seems like one should expect a full treatment of the concepts in this book.

Returning to my laboratory comment, I think many books these days omit this aspect. That I think is unfortunate. Perhaps it's just harder to do independently because of limits imposed by 9/11 and our society's touchiness over chemical dangers. The availability of chemicals and labware are not so easily available as they once were. However, I suspect for those who might want to tackle lab exercises that such books exist, although they may be older ones.

I don't really feel that I can give the book a fair review at this point, but thought I would at least express the above thoughts. Since Amazon doesnt' really provide a non-review way to comment (Yes, I know they have some supplemental comments form, but it really misses the comment but no review idea.) I've used the review form. My rating just reflects the average review. I'll update it after I've gotten into the book.

The book title says it all. There is simply no other way to learn chemistry in less time or with less effort. You will learn basic introductory chemistry as well as many more detailed aspects of chemistry. The chemistry essentials are developed in a simplified manner with the visual reinforcement of charts, graphs, lists, and simplified drawings. I recommend it highly.

I recently needed to brush up on my Chemistry. (I had Chem 1 in college.) I could live with the boringness of this book, but I could NOT put up with the mistakes and poor editing. The chapter tests have questions on things that were never covered in the chapter, as well as wrong answers! That is not only incredibly frustrating, it also makes me wonder what else was wrong in what I was reading.

I finally decided I had to give up on this book when I was having fits of complete rage and frustration. And let me tell you what brought me back to sanity - The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chemistry. It is a fabulous book - easy to read, easy to follow, everything is thoroughly explained, and it's funny!

I took accelerated Chemistry in 10th grade and made a B 1st semester. But then I bought this book and studied it 2nd semester and got an A in Chemistry. I started to understand Chemistry and took AP Chem the following year; I got an A in AP too. I recommend the AP Chemistry guide from Barron's to study for the AP exam.

I am not sure about helping college students or using it to CLEP out of chemistry, but this book helped my son, 17, get through high school chemistry by bringing his grade from an F to a B. The book puts into easy terms what may be lacking with the instruction received in school. I would definitely recommend this to any other mother that has a child struggling with high school chemistry. It was a terrific addition to the high school book by putting things into an easy to read and understand format.

Don't be fooled by the deceptive name "The Easy Way." This is yet another book in Barron's "Easy Way" series, but this is just a name of the series. There is actually no easy or alternative method that this book employs, and it is just like any other school study guide. I did find this chemistry book helpful in many ways, but some stuff in the middle and back seemed to be too difficult for self-learning. It's not a book for everyone.

Beginning with chemical nomenclature, ions, and other concepts, "Chemistry: The Easy Way" does a good job listing new terms and important scientific concepts. However, when it gets to stoichiometry, thermochemistry, and kinetics, things start getting a little confusing. Formulas are given, some examples are given, and then you have to solve are the problems and do all the math with this meager material to teach yourself.

However, this book does have something useful - it has some practice tests at the end. This may be helpful if you are dying for a practice cemistry test.

This was a pretty good book by Joseph Mascetta. Bright students may understand this stuff quickly, but many people who resort to these types of study guides, however, are students who want to improve their understanding of chemistry and to get a better grade. This book doesn't seem to solve all that. In some cases, the testbook seemed much clearer. Preview this book at a library or bookstore and see for yourself. It could be an excellent resource for some people, but a mediocre one for others. Again, you should try it out and see for yourself.