About the Author
    Atkins is a physical chemistry professor at the Oxford University.  Along with being an educator, he is a leading chemist and science writer.  He has published Physical Chemistry, Quanta and Inorganic Chemistry. 
    Atkins has held visiting professorships in France, China, Japan, and Israel.  He also travels around the world lecturing on chemistry education.

    Molecules by P. W. Atkins is a fascinating book for those who have an interest in how a molecule is defined.  In the introduction he explains our understanding of defining what a molecule is and the various types of molecules. 
    After explaining what a molecule is, Atkins expands to Elements And Atoms (the first section of the Introduction), where he defines what elements and atoms are.   Building on these topics he then discusses what compounds are.  It is in this section of the Introduction where Atkins explains to the reader the specific colored spheres which are used to represent atoms of hydrogen (H), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), fluorine (F), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and chlorine (Cl).  Having set these fundamental understandings, bonds between atoms are explained.  In this section the reader is informed about the number of bonds certain atoms are capable of forming.  For example, an H atom usually forms one bond, a C atom usually forms four bonds, a N atom usually forms three bonds, an O atom usually forms two bonds, and a Cl atom usually forms one bond.  Double bonds and triple bonds are also explained using appropriate atoms.  To begin the main discussion of the book, Atkins explains that organic compounds are those that contain C and (usually) H.  He also goes on to explain what inorganic compounds are so the reader understands the differences between the two types of compounds.  A section within the introduction entitled Structures And Formulas introduces the reader to line formulas and molecular formulas. 
    After the Introduction, the book is divided into six chapters, each progressively advancing in content. 

Assessment of Chapters
    Chapter one (Simple Substances), introduces the reader to molecular structures and line models of the common organic substances such as ozone, water, nitrogen, argon, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen peroxide and other gases in the air we breathe.  When possible a line formula is given of the organic structure. 
    Chapter two (Fuels, Fats, and Soaps) introduces the n-alkanes.  Atkins introduces the alkanes beginning with methane and building up the carbon chain to octane.   Then he introduces alcohols and acids (in a very similar to that of an organic chemistry text).  He explains that methanol is known as wood alcohol because of the process used in obtaining it.  
    Synthetic and Natural Polymers are discussed in chapter three.  Atkins explains monomers, polymers, and copolymers and how they are used in everyday life.  He indicates how PVC is used and the fact that it is very durable.  Going back and reading this chapter after having studied polymers in class made me appreciate the book as leisure reading.
    Chapter 4, Taste, Smell, and Pain, was very interesting to read because I could make a direct connection to myself.  This chapter links the external world around us to the internal universe in our heads.  Atkins does a wonderful job linking what we smell and taste to how we perceive our surroundings.  Saccharin which was discovered by a “dirty, careless chemist,” cyclamate, aspartame, another accidental discovery, piperine, menthol, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, and 3-(para-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone are some of the many interesting compounds discussed in this section.
    The final two chapters of this book are titled Sight and Color and The Light and The Dark.  Zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, pelargonidin, quercetin, tyrosine, melanin, amyl para-dimethylaminobenzoate, and dihydroxyacetone are discussed with regard to their function.  The most interesting model Atkins includes in this chapter is 11-cis-retinal (C²⁰H²⁸O), a molecule responsible for absorbing incident light in the rods and cones of the eye.  In the final chapter, the most interesting of all molecules was tetrahydrocannabinol, an active component of cannabis.  The dried leaves and followers of the Cannabis sativa plant is marijuana. 
    Molecules require an individual reading it to have prior organic chemistry knowledge to fully understand what is introduced in the book.  Atkins writes the book in a very easy to read format, discusses everyday molecules that we use.  Although Barnes & Nobles has rated this specific book at a 6th grade reading level, this book would be the perfect book for an honors chemistry student.  Molecular structures and pictures of molecules are provided for the reader to see and understand.  This book opens the reader to the notion of how organic chemistry is incorporated into their life, not something we think about everyday.   It is an informative book with general chemistry and organic chemistry content.  One thing I found to be helpful throughout the reading were the colorful images, and line diagrams models are provided for each organic compound discussed in the book.  A weakness I noticed was that some chapter titles could have used a title other than the one used because the title leads the reader to be deceived after reading the chapter.  The context in which this book is written would be excellent for a student who has the knowledge of organic chemistry and who is seeking “enduring understanding,” of the course content.

References:
http://www.lincoln.ox.ac.uk/fellows/atkins/
http://www.veniceconference2005.org/speakers/atkins_p.htm