Book excerpt: This 15-chapter book is divided into four sections that discuss wood's structure and basic chemistry, its properties and reactivity, and its surface and degradation chemistry. The very basis of how wood is formed and the structure it assumes during this growth are given in the first section. Various wood science terms are defined and discussed thoroughly to give a clear and adequate foundation for the rest of the book. Wood water relationship important in almost any wood applications- are also discussed in this section. The subsequent three sections discuss relations and chemistry important for the beginning wood chemist to understand. These topics include wood's cell wall components, strength, interaction with preservatives, and adhesion. Wood polymer materials, wood surface activation, weathering and protection, and pyrolysis and fire retardancy are topics also embraced.