Customer Reviews

World of Carbon

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What a great book! I failed organic chemistry because I was told to memorize things rather than understand them, and I couldn't do it. This book explains organic molecules in both an interesting and informative way. Everyday chemicals, from coal to caffeine, are described. I would recommend it to anyone who wants an introduction to organic chemistry, but especially anyone who NEEDS to understand the fundamentals of both organic- and biochemistry.

This book brings the world of organic chemistry alive. The study of SN2 reactions can sometimes get a little stale. This book gives your education a direction. Even though it is out of print this book is worth searching to find a copy. It should be required reading for anyone taking college level chemistry courses.

This is the book that started it all for me. I went on to a fulfilling 30 year career in organic chemistry [eventually becoming the Chair of the Division of Organic Chemistry of the American Chemical Society]. If you are looking for a book to open the mind of a child or grandchild to an amazing and essential field of science, this is the one. The companion book "The World of Nitrogen" [also out of print] is also very engaging. Since Dr. Asimov passed on several years ago, I post my note of thanks here in hopes they have high-speed access in the Great Beyond.

Many years ago when I was an undergraduate, I toyed with the idea of taking Organic Chemistry as an elective. On the first day of class, the professor announced that he graded on the curve, so that 40% of the class would receive a grade of F. To drive home his point, he said that, even if he had a class full of PhD's in Organic Chemistry, he'd still flunk 40% of them, on principle. With that, I announced I had learned all the Organic Chemistry I needed to know, got up, left, and dropped the course. Had I had this little book, I would have just sat quietly in the class and waited for the course to begin. It's that good.



I have no idea how many books and articles Isaac Asimov wrote, but I know it's a large number. I had the pleasure of attending a lecture of his many decades ago, and and meeting him. A charming man, wearing an interesting European style coat (it had a fur like collar)he entertained us with stories of how he became motivated to write a book or an article, and the calculations that often went into the writing. I came away with the firm impression that it's always good idea to know what you're talking about before taking a position, and that mathematics and calculations are often the first step in knowing what to say.

For students who are taking the first course in organic, this is a great little book: sort of like a Cliff Notes on steroids. There are no obvious mathematics, but as the pages turn, it becomes clear that the mathematics will be there, and more importantly, will be of a unity,and will make sense.

If nothing else, buy it as an investment: my copy, a paperback with a copyright date of 1962, has a list price in the upper right hand corner of ninety five cents. I few months ago I paid something like ten dollars to get a copy. If you just buy it and then later sell it to another student, you can make money. Can't say that about many text type books.

Although I haven't read this book since 1977, I remember it well. Its exciting, informative, and gets you thinking.