bility, ion exchange, evaporation, porosity, crystallization, hydrolysis, adsorption, pre- cipitation, chelation, and so on, are all interlinked and interdependent? One answer is to recognize the growing interest in and potential of equilibrium modelling and to invite experts from many disciplines to present their latest work at a symposium on ‘chemical equilibrium and reaction models’ and to publish the proceedings in the form of the present book.

This book represents a great stride for- ward in the modelling of equilibria in soil systems. There are 19 chapters, many deal- ing with the applications of special com- puter programs. A large number of tables and figures are included and each chapter is well referenced, thus providing an informa- tive source for wider reading.

This book is essential reading for soil scientists. Teachers and lecturers wishing to introduce chemical equilibrium models into their courses will also find it interesting and they will discover many examples from which to choose.

Modelling of equilibria in soil systems undoubtedly has a bright future and this book makes a significant and valuable con- tribution to the field.

A. K. Davies

The Extraordinary Chemistry of Ordinary Things. By Car/ H. Snyder. Pp. 700. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1995. Paperback f28.50. ISBN 0 471 11157 0.

This is an American chemistry textbook with a difference and is quite the best of its kind that I have encountered. It is designed as a course book for a two- semester course in which the principles of chemistry are explained from the start- ing point of examining the substances which we use in daily life and which affect our environment (it thus has much in common with the approach of the UK Salters A-level chemistry course). At the same time, chemistry is emphasized as being an experimental science so most chapters start with a simple experiment which can be performed at home (though not at the start of the excellent chapters on nuclear chemistry and drugs - both legal and illicit!). The chemical principles are then explained with really excellent illustrations and photographs. Questions at the end of each chapter are of several types but I particularly liked those entitled ‘think, speculate, reflect and ponder’. At the back, there is much useful infor-mation including a comprehensive glossary. The course con- tains very little inorganic chemistry and trivial names are used for most organic compounds (though the IUPAC system is explained).

I much enjoyed reading this book and picked up many useful ideas for my own chemistry teaching. Although not suitable as

Though felicitously written from beginning to end, and despite the author’s own con- fession that he is pleased with himself for having penned these 24 essays over a quarter of a century, this is not a wholly satisfying piece of work. Totally absorbing are the five chapters on the development of the contra- ceptive pill - an episode in which Djerassi played a central role - and six chapters exploring prospects such as male contracep- tion and reversible fertility control. There is much wisdom, too, in a central section devoted to international co-operation and the problems of scientific research in devel- oping nations. But this still leaves a theme- less rag-bag of nine chapters ranging from a rather slight piece, barely one page long and first published 23 years ago. on research impact statements, to a final essay celebrat- ing art collecting, Djerassi’s own collection of works by Paul Klee and his patronage of art through the Djerassi Resident Artists’ Program. So, while this book is essential for anyone who wants their shelves to carry the full story of the development of modem fer- tility control, and while it can also be dipped into enjoyable a chapter at a time, it does not really make sense as a coherent whole.

Bernard Dixon

Phospholipids: Characterization, Metabolism, and Novel Biological Applications. Edited by G. Cevc and F: Paltauf. Pp. 400. AOCS Press, 7995. Hardback US$95.00. ISBN 0 935315 62 4.

This book is a compilation of the papers presented at the 6th International Colloquium on Phospholipids held in Hamburg in October 1993. Unusually for a conference compendium, they have (according to the editor) been subjected to peer review and certainly there is a more uniform feel to the book than is usual for such a publication. This is helped by the use of conventional typesetting rather than pho- tographic reproduction of manuscripts, but more editorial control over figures would have been helpful as their standard varies from very professional to some which most supervisors would have pronounced unsuit- able for an undergraduate research project dissertation. As the title suggests, the topics of the 35 contributions range from analyti- cal and physical chemistry, through biologi-

a conventional A-level text, every school science library should obtain a copy of this splendid book.

Charles Kinsey

From the Lab into the World: A Pill for People, Pets & Bugs. By Carl Djerassi. Pp. 230. American Chemical Society, 1994. f 19.95. ISBN 0 84 12 2808 6.

The latest addition to this series provides an efficient means of getting up to date in topi- cal areas including bacterial DD-transpepti- dases: sphingolipid activator proteins: oxygen toxicity; free radicals and antioxi- dants; reconstructed human skin; opsin genes; molecular chaperones (two chap- ters); affinity precipitation in protein purifi- cation; prion diseases; ribozymes: and pro- tein stability at high temperatures. The strength of this series lies in the clarity of. for instance. the discussions of ribozymes, molecular chaperones and opsin genes, and the value of these essays is further enhanced when provided with a summary of the most important aspects covered. Additional read- ing lists and references add further value, and the editors should perhaps be more insistent that all their authors provide titles for their references, since these were miss- ing for the essay on ribozymes. The choice of essay topics is generally admirable but in some cases the definition of biochemistry appears a little loose. The essay on human skin seems to be essentially cell biology. while that on free radicals might have put more emphasis on clarifying the mecha- nisms of biochemical damage induced by free radicals rather than on the involvement of free radicals in atherosclerosis and dis- eases in infants. Despite these minor criti- cisms I remain enthusiastic about the qual- ity of this publication and was not surprised to find that the last five volumes of Essays in Biochemistry were out on loan from my local library.

A.G. Lowe

Taxane Anticancer Agents. Basic Science and Current Status. Edited by Gunda 1. Georg, Thomas 7: Chen, lwao Ojima and Dolatrai M. Vyas. Pp. 355. American Chemical Society, lJS$99.95. ISBN 0 8412 3073 0.

This book is a collection of chapters written by many of the major research workers

cal activity to therapeutic and technological applications but, unfortunately, they have not been located together in these groups in the text. A more serious defect, however, is the lack of an abstract in each paper, making it difficult rapidly to ascertain the papers of immediate interest to the reader. The aca- demic lipidologist would not find sufficient material of lasting interest to justify pur- chase of this book but those who regularly read the publications of the AOCS (the pub- lishers) will find something of value.

Norman Shau

Essays in Biochemistry, Vol. 29. Edited by D.K. Apps and K.F: Tipton. Pp. 230. Portland Press, 1995. f 17.50/us$30.00. ISBN 1 85578 017 8.

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