[.ca] Organic Chemistry I as a Second Language: Translating ... (ISBN 0470129298)

If you are Pre-Med, an engineer, or just taking Orgo, then..:
GET THIS BOOK! I'm a current pre-med student at Columbia University and i wanted a book to help me prep for my upcoming Orgo class. Though I haven't finished this book, I can honestly say it is fabulous! I had to stop reading to come and write this review. Klein def. knows his stuff. He breaks it down into PLAIN ENGLISH! And for a student like me who hates the terminology of expensive text books, this is much needed relief. Its like he's talking to directly to you. You almost expect him to call, when you're done with the book, to congratulate and wish you luck in the future. There are many examples, some simple, others tricky and a bit advanced. I truly believe that you (and I) will go into any Organic Chem class and feel very secure about the material. Do yourself a favor and get this book. It concise, compact, and an easy read...A recommended book for you to take while your on that summer vacation!

I love you, Prof Klein:
I'm a JHU student who took orgo two years ago. I got a D and I had no idea what was going on. Now I am taking orgo again with Prof Klein and its an entirely different class for me. Klein has this subject broken down into basic concepts, and it makes total sense now. We aren't even required to have the $120 text book (with its additional $80 solutions manual), just this short, simple, well-outlined book which I got for a mere $20. I still use Wade and my old Carey texts for additional problems, but I can't see how you can learn orgo effectively with those texts. Buy this book, do the problems and you will have a much easier time. And Klein, you are a great teacher, by the way.

Enthusiastic professor, great writer!:
Dr. Klein is a professor (and former student) at Johns Hopkins who really inspired me to (gasp!) go way beyond the general requirements of organic chemistry to go on to take upper level and graduate courses on the subject, even while I am not a chemistry major! He takes the anxiety out of organic chemistry and teaches it as a friend, even when my lecture class had over 450 students. I highly recommend his book as not only a way to learn organic chemistry but to welcome learning organic chemistry.

AWESOME:
This is by far and away the best book I have ever seen for ORGO. I read and did the book before starting class and I have the highest average in the class! Eveything is in language that is understandable (even to a dyslexic like me!) and actually fun to read. My Prof. wanted to see it after I told him about it and he's recommending it as an optional text for the fall classes .. He also borrowed my copy to take to the departmental meeting and show to the other Profs. If you have to take ORGO and do well, this it THE BOOK to help you do it!

very helpful supplement:
explained in plain words, it was a breeze to read unlike those written-in-code textbooks. it helped me understand organic chemistry better, but it's not a replacement for your lecture or textbook. i found the contents up to nomenclature and stereochemistry were quite thorough, but the part about mechanisms and reactions were not. instead of having readers fill out the mechanisms, the author should have given all the essential ones with easy-to-understand explanations.