1 comments about Crystal Structure Analysis: Principles and Practice (International Union of Crystallography Monographs on Crystallography).

1. This book should be one of the best introduction in crystal structure analysis for the beginners! Everybody wanting to start with x-ray structure analysis should read this book at the very beginning, since it's, in fact, a International Union of Crystallography Text on Crystallography. It covers the most important topics of x-ray structure analysis in an easy understandable language without boring the reader with mathematical details. You can get a good impression about what the basic principles and problems of x-crystallography are, and how they can be solved.

No comments about The Science of Crystallization: Macroscopic Phenomena and Defect Generation.

No comments about Romance of the Golconda Diamonds.

1 comments about Aquatic Environmental Chemistry (Oxford Chemistry Primers, 57).

1. This book is nice for a fast overview over aquatic environmetal chemistry. I couldn't find any obvious errors. (Minor pedagogical simplifications or omissions shouldn't be regarded as errors.) - Since it's written as an introduction book, I wouldn't protest if somebody gives it 5 stars.
   (I wrote the text over years ago, and I soon forgot what the book had taught me. That is not a good sign, and I soon felt that I would only have given it three stars at a later date.)

No comments about Crystallization of Polymers Volume 1: Equilibrium Concepts.

No comments about Modern Mass Spectrometry (Topics in Current Chemistry).

2 comments about Crystal Properties via Group Theory.

1. I, recently, borrowed this book from the library and read it. It reminds me the book by Banvangataman (I hope I spelled the name right, I am sorry if I didn't) which also introduces the reader to the application of group theory to crystal physics. The scope of the book is adequate to familiarize the reader with all the main aspects of Crystal Physics and, therefore, the author warrants proper credit for having done a good job. I shall not go into detail of the chapters covered in the book since the treatment is, in my opinion, standard. The explanations and comments throughout the text are to the point. The presentation is clear and easy to comprehend. My only concern about this book is that it lacks numerical examples and solved problems. Group theory and even its applications are very abstract to fully grasp. As a result, the uninitiated reader can find it very difficult to study this subject without reviewing a lot of examples and without working on problems. Regrettably, the book lacks to fulfill the task of presenting the topics to the reader with solid "real life" examples. Hence, this book would not be a very useful textbook. If you are particularily interested in Crystal Physics it might be a good idea to add Dr. Nowotny's book to your collection. On the other hand, if you are planning on learning Crystal Physics via Group Theory, I would suggest you borrow the book from a library, thoroughly inspect it and, then decide on the purchase.



2. This is a book I would recommend to anybody who wants to comprehend the complex and colorful crystal properties. It takes a stack of books to describe and explain the physical phenomena of crystals and after that you may still wonder why they are so. This book introduces readers to the group representations of symmetry and the derivative properties, making it almost immediately transparent why things appear what they are. Certainly, understanding group theory is not a easy task, you cannot grasp it overnight. The book is organized such that even a person without extensive theoretical physics background will not feel intimidated on what is followed after reading the first couple of chapters. With the right to the point explanations, I found the book not too hard to read, unlike I initially suspected. To my view, this is a book one would have for graduate study in crystal physics or professionals who want serious comprehension of crystal properties. The weak area of this book, as indicated by another reviewer, is probably the lack of extensive numerical examples. However, giving the fact that this is a topics for graduate students and trained professions in science and engineering fields, I would give this book a two thumbs up.

No comments about Phosphorus Chemistry: Developments in American Science (Acs Symposium Series).

1 comments about The Genus Iris.

1. The Genus Iris is an important resource for growers of irises, whether home garden or commercial. Dykes is recognized world wide as an authority for classification and naming purposes, even though there have been changes since this book was first published in 1913. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of this classic volume is that so little has changed since it was compiled (I. Kaempferi, the original Japanese Iris, has been reclassified as I. ensata, for example). The 48 outstanding watercolor plates cover a range of species available at that time. This of course cuts out modern developments such as Louisianas, Pacific Coast, etc.However, as a comprehensive record of the structure and distribution of wild and cultivated irises, including the scientific nomenclature used throughout the world, Dykes is outstanding. Although it is a scientific tome it is easily navigated, with clear and concise descriptions. A true classic.

No comments about Physical Properties of Liquid Crystals.