Customer Reviews

Organic Chemistry I as a Second Language: Translating the Basic Concepts

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I did not understand resonance structures at all using other textbooks. After reading this book. I feel like I am a master. I wished all college textbooks were at the caliber of this tiny little book. Klein is an excellent teacher. He gives the straight facts in a way that makes perfect sense and doesn't bore you to death. Understanding resonance is, I think, one of the most important aspects of organic, and you're doomed if you don't. Beware, this book does not replace your textbook or instructor. All of the important equations such as alcohol, alkyne, and ketone synthesis are no where to be found in this book. This book really gives you the fundamentals that you need to understand orgo. That reason alone is enough to get it.

GET THIS BOOK! I'm a current pre-med student at Columbia University and i wanted a book to help me prep for my upcoming Orgo class. Though I haven't finished this book, I can honestly say it is fabulous! I had to stop reading to come and write this review. Klein def. knows his stuff. He breaks it down into PLAIN ENGLISH! And for a student like me who hates the terminology of expensive text books, this is much needed relief. Its like he's talking to directly to you. You almost expect him to call, when you're done with the book, to congratulate and wish you luck in the future. There are many examples, some simple, others tricky and a bit advanced. I truly believe that you (and I) will go into any Organic Chem class and feel very secure about the material. Do yourself a favor and get this book. It concise, compact, and an easy read...A recommended book for you to take while your on that summer vacation!

My teacher mentioned this book after someone asked her about it at the start of the semester. I wish I had bought it then. One of my problems with text books is that they will define something once and then you're expected to have it mastered as it builds on that concept. This book seems to repeat things, not to where it's annoying but when he moves on to something else he'll review a previous part that applies to it. It really helps pull the material together. I wonder if my professor looks through it as well. Some of my class notes follow the book closely but that might be how everyone teachs it. I believe it was when she was covering SN1 and SN2 and the four steps to determine which way something will go based on the catalyst, reactants, etc... Anyway, buy this book. It's more than worth it to supplement your textbook and notes.

This book was amazing for my first semester orgo class. The book helped me truly master the material, and I got an A in the class. But, be careful, it doesn't cover the second semester of organic. If you buy it for your second semester course, it will only serve as a review for the first semester material. My freind did that, and she was kicking herself that she didn't have it during the first semester.
I heard through the grapevine that Klein is writing a supplement to cover second semester as well. I hope it comes out real soon. Professor Klein, if you are reading this, please hurry up with the second semester book. The first book saved my semester!

I'm a JHU student who took orgo two years ago. I got a D and I had no idea what was going on. Now I am taking orgo again with Prof Klein and its an entirely different class for me. Klein has this subject broken down into basic concepts, and it makes total sense now. We aren't even required to have the $120 text book (with its additional $80 solutions manual), just this short, simple, well-outlined book which I got for a mere $20. I still use Wade and my old Carey texts for additional problems, but I can't see how you can learn orgo effectively with those texts. Buy this book, do the problems and you will have a much easier time. And Klein, you are a great teacher, by the way.

This is by far and away the best book I have ever seen for ORGO. I read and did the book before starting class and I have the highest average in the class! Eveything is in language that is understandable (even to a dyslexic like me!) and actually fun to read. My Prof. wanted to see it after I told him about it and he's recommending it as an optional text for the fall classes .. He also borrowed my copy to take to the departmental meeting and show to the other Profs. If you have to take ORGO and do well, this it THE BOOK to help you do it!

Put simply, this book is amazing. Klein presents clear explanations of the main concepts of organic chemistry; he has a gift for reducing complicated concepts into plain language. This book offers helpful hints and patterns for things like resonance and chair conformations that you probably won't find in your textbook. For example, I found that my textbook would basically say "here's what resonance is, now draw some resonance structures" and I was left struggling to find a systematic way of drawing them. Klein's book shows patterns to look for when you're drawing resonance strucures so it takes less time. This book will prevent some headaches.

I'm taking Organic Chemistry for the second time, and this book is invaluable to me. The sequence of the book closely matches that of the course, and the information provided in the book supplements and enhances the material I get in lecture.

The book breaks organic chemistry down into simple rules and gives a great frame of reference for really learning the material. My grades on quizzes and exams are better, and reading the book and doing the many practice questions saves time for me later--it doesn't seem like more work, but instead, it helps me work and learn more efficiently.

I bought this book from reading amazon.com reviews. I highly recommend this book to anyone taking organic chemistry.

Our Organic Prof suggested that we look at this book, he said it communicated his way of thinking about Organic Chemistry, and that he highly recommended it.

Many of our class slipped out of the lecture to ensure that we could get one of the 37 copies available locally, I was one of them.

David R Klein is a genius at making Organic Chemistry easy to learn. What are those other authors thinking? Klein, in less than 100 pages - covered all the material we did in our first semester - and I finally understood what is going on. Finally, an Organic Text that gives you what you need!

He very quickly develops the skills you need to do well on your exams. Mark my word- there is NO OTHER text even remotely as usefull as this one - it's saving the life of half of my classmates - they're begging each other to borrow the text when the owner is not using it - even for 1 hour at a time.

Love this book! Thank you David Klein for saving my semester. Thank you again!

I started reading this book at the beginning of 2nd semester. It brought a lot of things together that are crucial 1st sem. concepts that tend to get lost or overcomplicated in the density of textbooks! Only way this book would be better is with a little color, but that's just a personal preference that's always helped me learn.
Essentially, it lays out really important concepts of orgo in an easy to understand manner with simple practice problems that make applying the concepts to harder problems seem managable. Won't keep you from making silly mistakes on exams (you know what I mean), but WILL help you understand the actual chemistry of what's going on in conceptual and mechanistic probs. your prof. might throw at you, so you can get them correct.