Letters to a Young Chemist (PDF)

What's it really like to be a chemist?

Leading chemists share what they do, how they do it, and why
they love it.

"Letters to a young ..." has been a much-loved
way for professionals in a field to convey their enthusiasm and the
realities of what they do to the next generation. Now, Letters
to a Young Chemist does the same for the chemical sciences.
Written with a humorous touch by some of today's leading
chemists, this book presents missives to "Angela," a
fictional undergraduate considering a career in chemistry. The
different chapters offer a mix of fundamental principles,
contemporary issues, and challenges for the future. Marye Anne Fox,
Chancellor of the University of California San Diego, talks about
learning to do research and modern physical organic chemistry.
Brothers Jonathan and Daniel Sessler explain the chemistry of
anesthetics that make modern surgery possible while Elizabeth Nolan
talks about biological imaging. Terry Collins talks about green
chemistry, a more sustainable way of doing chemistry, while several
authors including Carl Wamser, Harry Gray, John Magyar, and Penny
Brothers discuss the crucial contributions that chemists can make
in meeting global energy needs.

Letters to a Young Chemist gives students and
professionals alike a unique window into the real world of
chemistry. Entertaining, informative, and full of honest and
inspiring advice, it serves as a helpful guide throughout your
education and career.

"The different chapters describe both the wonders of
the molecular world and the practical benefits afforded by
chemistry ... and if any girl out there thinks that chemistry is a
man's world, this book should be a good antidote."
--Marye Anne Fox, Chancellor of the University of California,
San Diego, and winner of the 2009 US National Medal of Science

"Letters to a Young Chemist offers significant
ammunition for motivating young people to consider chemistry as a
career. ... This book should also be required reading for all
faculty members who teach chemistry in high schools, colleges, and
universities." --Stephen J. Lippard, Arthur Amos
Noyes Professor of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, and winner of the 2006 US National Medal of Science