An ideal primer for those who wish to improve their scientific literacy, this book is beautifully written and especially recommended for high school and undergraduate nonmajor science courses. Amply illustrated chapters on chemical bonding, biochemistry, cancer, and the atmosphere are interspersed with such chapters as "The Alchemist’s Dream, " "Newsworthy Molecules" and "Wall Street Chemistry." To facilitate this book’s use in the classroom, a complete set of problems and sample exams are available from the publisher.