The first chapter is an introduction outlining the basic principles and terms commonly used in organic chemistry, such as functional group, types of reactions and bond polarity.

From there the text is divided into the three types of reactions, with a chapter dealing with each of the reaction-reagent types, such as nucleophilic substitution, radical addition, electrophilic elimination and so on.

Within each chapter each reaction is dealt with carefully giving a clear explanation why a specific reaction occurs via the pathway it does, providing the supporting experimental evidence wherever possible. To ensure that each of these explanations is as straightforward as possible there is no discussion of bonding involving orbital theory or chemical energetics.

Each chapter is, on the whole, clearly illustrated with comprehensive cross-referencing between each of the chapters. The key points are re-stated in the summaries at the end of each chapter.

However, I feel that the text would be improved by careful analysis of each of the figures. The prime example being [5.17], p.75, which is clearly incorrect; but other inaccuracies also exist. The text would also benefit from a further reading section, especially as it is stated to be a less sophisticated guide to organic mechanisms.

On the whole, A Primer to Mechanism in Organic Chemistry provides a fresh, easy to follow and well illustrated, with diagrams and examples, account of mechanistic organic chemistry. The text covers the majority of mechanisms necessary at the undergraduate level.