I used this book as a supplement in a 4th semester chemistry course targeted for biology and premedical students this past term. It has excellent up-to-date examples and good problems. Hammes does a nice job of presenting at an appropriate level topics from thermodynamics and kinetics needed to read and understand biochemical articles. Such things as the meaning of the biochemical (as opposed to the chemical) standard state are particularly well done -- better than in other books I have seen for this audience.But why does Wiley price [it at its cost]? Perhaps it is the nice color plates --- but at a lower price I would have had everyone in my class buy this as a suppplement to the text. At this price I am reluctant to do so.