Book excerpt: Written by an experienced university teacher, this textbook is based on the author's lectures, and is designed to answer students' questions rather than delving into obscure details. The well-balanced approach gives precedence to a visual, intuitive understanding, with only as much math as is necessary. The author covers the topic of symmetry in crystals from basic elements to physical properties, backed by numerous clear-cut illustrations and easy-to-read crystallographic tables. The result is a compact and self-contained treatment suitable for crystallography courses in physics, chemistry, materials science and biology - irrespective of the academic background.