Organic Chemistry [With Infotrac]

It is a very good book for those who want to start to learn O. chem, the content is very detail and there are always problems right after each section so that you can practice to master your new knowledge. I really like this book.

I used an earlier edition of this book in an Organic Chemistry course in high school, and I LOVED it. The arrangement of the topics in each chapter made everything feel so organized and neat while studying. Chapters are devoted completely to either reactions, nomenclature, or spectroscopy (except the very early and the very late chapters). This isn't like Carey's book (the one I used in college) in which the functional group is the basis for a chapter's organization, and a chapter can jump from physical properties, to reactivity, to spectroscopy, making the reading of the chapter feel like a mental rollercoaster. The information felt a bit too scattered and artificially gathered, which made it hard for me to be grasp and organize the material in my mind easily. I relied a lot more on rote memorization to do well in the course with Carey's book. With Hornback's book, however, the information is a lot more manageable to me, since the theme of a chapter is intuitive and focused. For example, when I learn nomenclature, I know I'm just focusing on nomenclature, and I won't float to a completely different aspect of the subject, like spectroscopy or reactions, a couple of paragraphs down. I know that after I'm done with the nomenclature chapter, I will've learned enough nomenclature to be able to become competent and secure with naming organic compounds with any of the basic functional groups, and will be ready to move on to another aspect of this subject, like reactivity. It's hard to get that feeling of focus or thoroughness with Carey's book, where the author moves from one subtopic to another intuitively-unrelated subtopic in a chapter, leaving me struggling to organize this information clearly in my mind. I really hope this book gets into more Organic chem classrooms. It's a neater, less stressful, and more exciting way to learn Organic chemistry. I highly recommend Hornback for self-study as well. 5+Stars.

Hornback's organic chemistry text is by far the most concise and clear textbook I have ever used for any chemistry course in college. After introducing new concepts, ample practice problems are provided throughout the discussion to help the student stay on track and test her knowledge. The illustrations are also excellent and Hornback encourages the student to use models, which is extremely helpful in the beginning of organic chemistry. Unlike many science textbooks that drown the reader in confusing detail, Hornback offers the perfect amount of detail in his discussions. The problems at the end of the chapters, ranging from easy-difficult are also extremely helpful to master the material. Hornback makes an allegedly difficult subject easy to master, presenting the information in a logical manner.

I used Hornback's 2nd edition for my introductory organic chemistry courses and found the text to be excellent, and often surpassing the in-class instruction I recieved from my professor. If you are an undergraduate student taking organic chemistry I would recommend this text above all others. I often refer to it as a reference now that I am taking advanced organic chemistry. If you read the this text, you will do well in your course regardless of the calibre of instruction you are recieving.

This is by far one of the best texts for undergraduate organic chemistry! The explanations are clear and concise, and ideas and concepts are well-organized. The book is easy to follow and the problems, both within and at the ends of the chapters, make the concepts crystal clear. I used an earlier edition of this textbook and solutions manual when I took organic chemistry (2000-2001), and it (and some great professors) made the class easier and enjoyable. Having encountered other textbooks at other schools, I am grateful that the chemistry department at my alma mater uses this text. I am an organic chemistry TA now, and wish my students were using this book! Bottom line, I sing the book's praises every chance I get! It's a bit expensive brand-new, but worth every penny!