Organic Chemistry

Rating:
Summary: A good intro book.
Review: Definitely. It's a great book for first-year organic, I think, regardless of what major you're in, because McMurry seeks to present the foundations of organic knowledge. While it's not as complex as some other books, I think it certainly allows the reader to get a good grasp on what's going on. The fact that it tends to be a light read is a good one -- especially on those nights before the exam when you have to skim through several chapters before morning arrives. :)

So yes. The book itself is very well-presented, with well-diagrammed reactions, colors, and figures that help supplement the text. The textual portions themselves can be a little on the weak side, meaning you actually have to listen to your professor in class. However, if you want a more rigorous and advanced approach to organic chemistry... look up Jerry March.

Rating:
Summary: Great book with a good teacher
Review: I think that this text is very helpful if read while being taught by a capable teacher. Learning organic chemistry using this book alone could end up being very confusing for students.

Rating:
Summary: Not so bad, really...
Review: I used this book abroad while studying chemistry for four years in Scotland. As I remember it now, it was the only required organic chemistry text, (for reaction mechanisms - i.e. aside from the various supplementary spectroscopic texts). There were color diagrams in our version, and I still refer to it. I highly recommend this text. The notion that one could completely digest its contents in an undergraduate chemistry course beggars belief.

Rating:
Summary: Ok for Introductory OChem
Review: Like many have mentioned, the book is good for beginners and intro classes. The problems and material are relatively "simple." If that is all you require, "easy," not very indepth and just the simple basics, the book does it's job.

Rating:
Summary: Organic Chemistry:4th Edition by John McMurry
Review: Organic Chemistry:4th Edition by John McMurry is a great book. I've read almost all the chapters in this book. Everything is easy to read and understand. Although there are a few mistakes in this book I believe this is a great book. Anyone who wants to purchase this book must buy the Solutions Manual for McMurry's Organic Chemistry (by Susan McMurry) because the book itself doesn't have all the answers to the questions and has no solutions. I haven't read any other organic chemistry books yet and this is the one I've used to learn organic chemistry. Therefore, I can't compare this one to the other organic chemistry books. I was able to learn organic chemistry on my own using this book before I took my organic chemistry courses a couple of yrs ago and I got A's in all of my organic chemistry classes. Of course, one must not forget that it takes time to learn organic chemistry. I think it's a great book if purchased with its solutions manual.

Rating:
Summary: GOOD BOOK - BUT STAY AWAY FROM CHM247 AT U of T
Review: This textbook was good - I just hate organic chemistry! I would advise you to buy this book if you need it - just don't go past CHM138 at the University of Toronto, because CHM247 is a pain in the ass.