Organic Chemistry I as a Second Language: Translating the Basic Concepts,   ISBN:9780470129296

Customer Rating: 

I love the book definitely helps a lot to get through the course. However, I ended up spending $40 for the book and I just can't believe it I could have actually gotten the book for $25 or something. Other than that I have no complaint about it. I really got ripped off and It never happens to me with amazon!

Customer Rating: 

This book is like the Wonderful Wizard of Oz; it makes sense of all the madness that happens in Organic Chemistry. I just got the book and I find that I understand things better that I THOUGHT I already understood, not to mention the things that I didn't understand. I have studied more for Organic Chemistry than I have for ANY other class I've taken in my academic career and still couldn't seem to master the subject. I made note cards, took class notes, and book notes, went to office hours, hired an ORGANIC CHEMIST tutor, watched online and YouTube videos about Organic Chemistry, I studied, practiced, and DREAMED about mechanisms. I did EVERYTHING I was supposed to do with limited results...then...along came this heaven sent book and BAM! I understand. What I would give if I could've only discovered the book at the beginning of the semester. Klein simply has a way of explaining things in a way that I can't explain..probably because I'm not him, lol. But one important thing is that he cuts through the BS, he get to the point of what you NEED to know..the fundamentals. Let's face it, most of the people taking Organic Chemistry could care less (or more) about Organic Chemistry...we simply need to get into Medical/Dental/Pharmacy school. I think Klein knows and understands that, thus he doesn't waste time the history behind the chemist that discovered this reagent or other mundane details like your textbook does. Some things need to be memorized and some things simply need to be understood in order to be successful; Klein breaks down the difference. I trust his method..everytime I doubted it (thinking to myself: "That doesn't sound right doing it that way."), I was proven wrong. Long story short...BUY THE BOOK!

Customer Rating: 

This organic book is excellent. My text book does a poor job in explaining concepts and Klein has a remedy for such problems. His books starts with one concept and builds up to the major concept, helping you to understand what is exactly going on. Although I am dropping the class this semester. The drill tests that I did use this book on went quite well. I truly wish I would have had this book earlier. May be I would not be dropping the class now. Premed students like myself who are afraid to go into Organic Chemistry should not go without this book. GET THIS BOOK!

Customer Rating: 

Dude, distills info down to its most simple parts. Very easy to understand. It will be a boon to your orgo semester.

Customer Rating: 

No, it's not written in the bible but you'll be harming yourself if you don't get this book. You'll be cheating yourself.Seriously. If i had to write the #1 law of orgo, it'll be get this book, period. [...]l. If you can't afford a new copy get a used one without writing. This will be worth your every penny you spend on it. I spent time during the first part of the semester working through the first 3 chapters in the book. This book is little but it has sooo many practice exercies i'm suprised at how it packs it into such a little book. I did ALL the exercises, and worked through everything. Trust me, the material is cemented in my brain. I read 70% of the required text for the exam but then everything in the textbook i knew so i kinda skimmed the top of it. It's been years since i did acid-base chemistry but this book lets you get the meat and potatoes without having having to g back and review. My teacher kept explaining something over and over and over again and i got fed up and gave my copy of this book to the girl who just didn't seem to get it and said read this. She turned to me and said "it makes sense." I aced my first test so easily and everyone in class is lost. Now orgo is my easiest subject. I'm taking 3 sciences with labs this semester so this book has made orgo the one class i don't have to sweat for.
I could go on and on and on about this book but the only way to really know it is to get it. either get it used from someone like i did, but try to get a copy without writing or buy it. I was going to buy it from amazon but then the dude put it up for sale on SDN. I bought this book along with the nuts and bolts of organic chem and while both are good, if i had to only get one, i'll get this. hands down.