Book excerpt: Advanced school students and beginning undergraduates will find this book a readable and stimulating summary of the fundamentals of organic chemistry. The first three chapters introduce some basic physical chemistry, and lay the groundwork for the mechanistic organic chemistry covered later in the book. The importance of bonding and mechanism are stressed throughout, and students are encouraged to apply their chemical knowledge in new and unfamiliar situations in order to develop and sustain their interest. A wide range of examples including natural products and pharmaceuticals is included, with the final chapter exploring some new developments and providing an introduction to current research.