The coverage in this book is up-to-date, reflecting important advances of the past decade. For example, 13C NMR is introduced as a routine spectroscopic tool, equal in importance to 1H NMR. Similarly, the chemistry of nucleic acids is covered, including a section on DNA sequencing by the Maxam---Gilbert method. Brief interludes are included at the end of each chapter. Meant to serve as short breathers between chapters, these interludes show interesting applications of organic chemistry to industrial and biological systems. They can be covered by the instructor or left for student reading.