Anslyn (chemistry, U. of Texas, Austin) and Dougherty (chemistry, California Institute of Technology) have written a textbook that will provide students with a thorough knowledge of current research and issues, as well as a grounding in the fundamentals of the field. The chapters contain a number of inset boxes that note the chapter topic's connection to relevant fields, its use in research, and other related information. Each chapter concludes with 25 or more exercises and a bibliography. There are 17 chapters in all, with topics that include stereochemistry, energy surfaces and kinetic analyses, advanced concepts in electronic structure theory, and photochemistry. This is a substantial, well thought-out text, suitable for a one-year course. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR