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Organic Chemistry
This new and innovative text helps students develop a deeper understanding of organic chemistry. It treats the subject as a coherent whole, complete with numerous logical connections, consequences, and an underlying structure and "language." Employing an approach based on mechanism and reaction type, the book empasizes understanding ideas rather than merely memorizing facts. It shows students how to realistically draw molecules and mechanisms to reveal the fundamental chemistry.
Using a fresh, accessible writing style as well as examples from everyday life, the authors explain the basics of organic chemistry carefully and thoroughly. A special focus on mechanism, orbitals, and stereochemistry helps students gain a solid comprehension of important factors common to all reactions. The book's innovative design enhances clarity and instruction with boxes that separate summary information and other material from the main text; a variety of colors that draw attention to items such as atoms, molecules, and orbitals; and figures that are drawn in red with significant parts emphasized in black. Early chapters feature carbonyl group reactions, and later chapters systematically develop the chemistry through discussions of spectroscopy, stereochemistry, and chemical reactions.
Each chapter opens with a "Connections" box, divided into three
· Building Details material from previous chapters that relate to the current chapter
· Arriving Provides a guide to the content of the chapter
· Looking forward Previews later chapters, which develop and expand the current material
Using a fresh, accessible writing style as well as examples from everyday life, the authors explain the basics of organic chemistry carefully and thoroughly. A special focus on mechanism, orbitals, and stereochemistry helps students gain a solid comprehension of important factors common to all reactions. The book's innovative design enhances clarity and instruction with boxes that separate summary information and other material from the main text; a variety of colors that draw attention to items such as atoms, molecules, and orbitals; and figures that are drawn in red with significant parts emphasized in black. Early chapters feature carbonyl group reactions, and later chapters systematically develop the chemistry through discussions of spectroscopy, stereochemistry, and chemical reactions.
Each chapter opens with a "Connections" box, divided into three
· Building Details material from previous chapters that relate to the current chapter
· Arriving Provides a guide to the content of the chapter
· Looking forward Previews later chapters, which develop and expand the current material
1536 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2000
271 people are currently reading
3437 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 12, 2012
This is the book to get, if you don't like organic chemistry. It makes it actually interesting--it's an engaging read, there is plenty of related background information, and it goes quite a bit further in content and complexity than other books that teach basic organic chemistry. It's not as conservative in layout as most other books I have worked with (or tried to work with) and I usually found the things I was looking for, if they were to be found in the book. It's also just very pretty to look at inside and made me chuckle once in a while.
The authors start with their foray into the world of carbon, hydrogen, and the gang from zero knowledge. If you know that there are atoms and that they can bind to each other in different ways you are good to go. Although starting from such a basic level, the introductory chapters did not feel as agonizingly slow as they did for me in other books. The didactics are also maybe a bit different than in other textbooks. Things are actually explained. You will understand, why these reactions occur and not just memorize that they occur. This might not make this book a good reference for named reactions and your prof. might still force you to learn them, but you will actually have useful knowledge about organic reactions. Which will help later on, you know, with doing the actual science thing.
The book does not cover everything, but I don't think a textbook has to do that. There are plenty of options to choose from for the really in depth stuff. There is a reason that people manage to write whole book collections about, lets say, sugar chemistry and there is good reason not to include all that information into a beginners' book.
This book only doesn't get a fifth star, because that is reserved for the book that gets me to pick it up and just read through. Which is a hard task with scientific textbooks and especially so, when looking at my difficult relationship with organic chemistry.
The authors start with their foray into the world of carbon, hydrogen, and the gang from zero knowledge. If you know that there are atoms and that they can bind to each other in different ways you are good to go. Although starting from such a basic level, the introductory chapters did not feel as agonizingly slow as they did for me in other books. The didactics are also maybe a bit different than in other textbooks. Things are actually explained. You will understand, why these reactions occur and not just memorize that they occur. This might not make this book a good reference for named reactions and your prof. might still force you to learn them, but you will actually have useful knowledge about organic reactions. Which will help later on, you know, with doing the actual science thing.
The book does not cover everything, but I don't think a textbook has to do that. There are plenty of options to choose from for the really in depth stuff. There is a reason that people manage to write whole book collections about, lets say, sugar chemistry and there is good reason not to include all that information into a beginners' book.
This book only doesn't get a fifth star, because that is reserved for the book that gets me to pick it up and just read through. Which is a hard task with scientific textbooks and especially so, when looking at my difficult relationship with organic chemistry.
February 17, 2025
Didn’t traumatize me. CLEARLY Mr. Clayden should’ve tried harder.
Currently reading
March 1, 2015Few joys in life are greater than owning a beautiful, well-done textbook.
I had felt so happy holding this book in my hands and flipping through it leisurely while at a second hand store that I bought it immediately for 50$. Not a bad way to spend my lunch money, I suppose.
I think good textbooks represent two things -- the promise of the joy of learning, and the feeling that one is being tutored straight from the hearts and minds of the authors, whether this comes through in the conceptual clarity or the heuristics or simply the effort spent in making the book visually beautiful and making the text lively and readable.
I suppose that there is nothing like the feeling of delving into another world where one feels that with the right effort, beautiful things, framed with clarity and precision, can be learnt, things that one can eventually apply to one's projects or interests, or simply excercise the imagination with.
I had felt so happy holding this book in my hands and flipping through it leisurely while at a second hand store that I bought it immediately for 50$. Not a bad way to spend my lunch money, I suppose.
I think good textbooks represent two things -- the promise of the joy of learning, and the feeling that one is being tutored straight from the hearts and minds of the authors, whether this comes through in the conceptual clarity or the heuristics or simply the effort spent in making the book visually beautiful and making the text lively and readable.
I suppose that there is nothing like the feeling of delving into another world where one feels that with the right effort, beautiful things, framed with clarity and precision, can be learnt, things that one can eventually apply to one's projects or interests, or simply excercise the imagination with.
January 28, 2014
It's so funny to read the silly things people write on this site as "reviews" for the legendary Clayden's book. A definitely unhesitating 5-star.
September 28, 2018
The Bible of organic chemistry.
July 8, 2024
Tää kirja on bängeri, en kyllä oo lukenu tätä kokonaan💀voiko joku ostaa tän mulle omaks pliis, lupaan sit olla academic weapon
March 5, 2024
Erklärt gut ne
January 6, 2025
huilen
October 8, 2013
Personally did not enjoy this book a lot and that was not due to the fact I had to learn from it! ;) This books covers a lot on organic chemistry and basic knowledge about (organic) chemistry is required.
What threw me off was the fact that in most chapters a lot of different reactions are covered to explain the basics. Though learning different reactions is quite useful, it didn't quite work for me to explain the basics of reactions. It sometimes made it dreadful to read.
What threw me off was the fact that in most chapters a lot of different reactions are covered to explain the basics. Though learning different reactions is quite useful, it didn't quite work for me to explain the basics of reactions. It sometimes made it dreadful to read.
August 13, 2013
I tried to use this thorough book as a personal "reader" but instead it has had to end up on my reference shelf due to its sheer depth (and mass!)
It has very useful side notes throughout and the several authors write in an accessible language. 5 stars for its sheer depth and detail.
It has very useful side notes throughout and the several authors write in an accessible language. 5 stars for its sheer depth and detail.
August 28, 2011
Basically I'm still reading this book one day before my exams. Excellent introduction to organic chemistry - I'm keeping the book despite leaving chemistry for the moment.
April 17, 2023
pains me to admit that I actually read this whole textbook. i wish it went into more detail on mechanisms and some of the chapters could have better too.
July 7, 2022
This book can surely make you fall in love with organic chemistry if you like it. If you are already in love then you will fall harder. If you hate organic chemistry then it will surely make you like it. And if you don't care then it will make organic chemistry interesting to you. Truly worth many reads, not one. As I myself have read it many times but still can't get enough of it. Don't wait just go for it...
August 3, 2017
This has become a go to for anything to do with general organic chemistry and was the top book on all the organic course reading lists at uni. The clarity of the explanations is brilliant and is wonderfully colour coded.
December 28, 2012
It'a extraordinary textbook for both a green hand or a senior chemist with a systematic and illustrated content.
June 1, 2016
Best organic Chemistry book for beginners
July 26, 2018
This is so good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2021
Instead of listing all the organic chemistry reactions, the book explains in detail why and how reactions happen. There are a lot of good examples to illustrate the concepts in chemistry. First edition is definitely better.
January 18, 2025
I remember being absolutely confused in class during organic chemistry and then picking up this book. The language is so simple and the examples make it really easy to understand what's going on. I wish I could give this more that 5 stars lol
August 22, 2025
I have been studying this book on and off for two years and each time I am completely shocked at how simple and detailed it is. I love that it is better than any youtube video I watched and any chemistry teacher I have ever had
August 8, 2018
Nothing
January 3, 2019
The best handbook I have ever put my hands on. “Organic chemistry made simple “ would have also been a fitting title.
October 11, 2019
This book is only complete materials to provide organic chemistry
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2021
for the stats - college textbook Organic Chemistry
February 11, 2022
The perfect book.
July 6, 2022
Very good book! A real page turner
January 3, 2023
😍 10/10 would read again
March 17, 2023
Got this book as an undergraduate and still refer to it regularly while tutoring/leading SI drills as a PhD Candidate. I especially like the conversational style the book has.
June 10, 2023
Holy Grail of Organic Chemistry
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews