Organic Chemistry as a Second Language: First Semester Topics

This book breaks problems down into really simple, easy-to-understand bits. Everything is explained! Plus there are lots of practice problems and solutions to help you learn and prepare yourself for exams. This book was recommended to me before I took Ochem, and I'm so glad I got it. I feel like I developed a solid understanding of the material, and I ended up with an A in the class. Just purchased the second volume without hesitation now that I'm taking the second semester.

First, there are 2 volumes of this book (that I know of). This is the first volume. I absolutely recommend this book for anyone in organic chemistry. This book teaches better than 85% of professors. I think this book covers functional groups and nomenclature plus a few other topics. The explanation is much more concise than a standard textbook but it's supplemented with problems that will help you grasp the meaning. Trust me. I am telling you to disregard negative reviews about this book. Some have purchased used books that have writing inside (that sucks). Some are saying positive reviews were coerced (that's a lie). Some probably really struggled to learn from this book (if that was you then STEM is NOT the way for you friend). If you want to learn organic chemistry and your professor meanders about life, or goes a mile a minute, or is fine and you just need some extra help... get this book

Let me give David Klein a big fat juicy kiss, best book ever. Got an A+ in both Orgo 1 and 2 because of his two Organic Chemistry as a Second Language books. Words can't describe how much I love this man and his incredible way of teaching orgo.

Before I took my first semester of Organic Chemistry at a Top 20 US News University (read: intro classes can be rather difficult), I picked up this book based on the insanely positive reviews it garnered (and because I was so scared from what my upperclassmen peers told me about the course). After earning an A- in the course deemed a weed-out at my school (as I witnessed firsthand at the end of the semester as the number of pre-med students dwindled), I can definitely see why this little book as received so much praise. The author really does have a talent at devolving the most difficult concepts into easy-to-understand terms. He plainly EXCELS at explaining everything up to the section on reactions. There are TONS of examples with the key in the back, making this book more of an integrated workbook than a simple explanation guide, which helps immensely. The sections on relative acidity and Sn and E reactions were wonderfully clear and helpful. My only critique of this book is that while the most basic organic reactions are covered (the ones that absolutely everyone in any Orgo course would need to know at any university), he didn't touch up on some that our professor said were basic. Obviously that's fine, because that's the purpose of going to class and buying the textbook, but just something to note! A word of advice--definitely buy this book, but also get your textbook and read it. As I just mentioned, there are going to be things that this book simply cannot, by its nature, cover. This book goes miles as a companion on the long, but manageable, road to understanding organic chemistry.

I knew I would have some trouble with Orgo from the start as I am not too science savvy, math is my strong point. I had trouble with even the most basic concepts at the beginning. This book breaks down topics for people who aren't as great at comprehending text or pictures. I feel like it's basically a "for dummies" collection without it being too simplified and speaks in a formal tone. It's very very simplistic to understand. I think one great aspect of it is that not only does it explain how to do a problem, it also offers along practice problems. I basically relied on this book heavily to save my grade and it delivered. I'm planning on ordering the second portion of it when I enter into Orgo 2. I'm very happy I listened to everyone who said to order this as it was worth it. Ps. this book is good for simple orgo but if you are taking orgo at a hard school like Rutgers, it really wont make much of a difference. This is just a good intro book

I made A's in both general chemistry classes, but I was terrified of Organic Chemistry because I was told so many times that it is a very difficult class. You must learn the material as you go because each new topic adds to the last. For me, just memorizing the material doesn't work. If I can't understand it, I can't memorize it! I am an older, non-traditional student and I have found this book to be a sanity saver! I use this book first to understand the material, then my textbook second. The information is complete and is easily understood. The pressure seems to be on authors to create a textbook that adds mystery to the subject and weighs no less than 20 pounds - full of superfluous information. This fits in my purse and I can study even a few pages at a time when I have a few minutes. The exercises are appropriate to practice what I am given as textbook assignment questions. I started in the summer before class began and worked my way through the first 5 chapters. What a relief to get to class and actually understand the material we are discussing. I love this book! It has me hooked on organic chemistry - and I understand it!! It is so worth the price!! I certainly plan on ordering the Klein second semester topics as well.

This book is an absolute lifesaver for students that are taking organic chemistry whether it’s the first or third time. I was unfortunately the latter that has taken it more than once. This book explained every topic in great detail but made it understandable so it wasn’t overwhelming. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone that is planning on or has to take organic chemistry.

I am a postbacc pre-med student with a flawless GPA (prior to Orgo that is)... I began taking the course, thinking "How bad can this be?". Well, it got really ugly. I failed my first two exams, and my average dropped to a "C-", with perfect scores on my homework assignments. Thinking that it was all over, and that I'd have to retake the course again, I figured I could kiss med school and my future goodbye. ...And that's when I browsed Amazon. I found the previous version of this book, with rave reviews... I thought, "Why not give it a shot...? I have nothing left to lose at this point." I bought this current edition, read it cover-to-cover (doing the supplied problems along the way), and looked at my course materials again... Somehow all of it made sense! I did extremely well on my third exam (received the highest grade in my class), and the ACS final (I'll update class statistics once/if I find out). I haven't received my final grade yet, but it looks like it's going to be around a "B/B+". I couldn't have done it without this book! I just wish I had found it earlier, so that I could have done well from the beginning, and finished with an "A"... Luckily, Professor Klein wrote an Orgo 2 book as well, so I know I can get an early start next semester. Professor Klein's books are like training wheels for Orgo. Sure, you can learn to ride a bike without training wheels... But at the end of the day, getting a bad grade in Orgo (which subsequently brings your entire science GPA down) is much more painful than a few scrapes and bruises. This book teaches you HOW to study for Orgo (efficiently), and I think most people will realize that they were doing it all wrong. I normally don't write reviews, and I purchase things on Amazon all the time. Take it for what it's worth, and buy this book!

Great

First used a pdf version. This book is such a revelation and unique writing style and teaching style thru this writing works so well and engaging. Had to have this as a physical copy. If you're learning Orgo. This book and other by this author is a MUST have. You'll learn with enjoyment and ease. Posted packaged well. Came with no damage with is rare these days. Perfect purchase

This is not a text book but an exercise sheets that help you to understand and write chemical structures. Filled with numerous tips and tricks.

this book is amazing, i am terrible at chemistry and am finding it so easy to learn basic topics from this book - i haven't even touched my course required textbook because this book is so much easier to understand. I highly recommend it for people like me who are anxious about chemistry and find it difficult to comprehend.

Gift for a relative in 2nd year of bio-chem degree. She loves it.