I am looking for a concise gen chem book to learn the basics of the subject for fun.

I am trying to avoid overly verbose 1400 page hardcover doorstops with 1000 exercises and lots of glossy pictures.

Are there any especially concise and readable gen chem textbooks?

I have identified two potential options.

Linus Pauling Gen Chem - a classic, cheap, relatively concise language. But concerned it is out of date. E.g. no MO theory.

“Why Chemical Reactions Happen” Wothers and Keeler - short broad overview. Seems ideal but concerned it might be too advanced for me because it assumes fundamental chem knowledge.

Are those assumptions accurate?

Any suggestions on other books? Something like Susskind’s Theoretical Minimum (“popular sci” book but technical) might be good, but not sure if that even exists for Chem.

Thanks!

bloviate88 said:

I am looking for a concise gen chem book to learn the basics of the subject for fun.

I recommend the following, you can go through the contents and decide which one will suit your endeavor:

1. Brown and Holme - Chemistry for Engineering Students (about 650 pages)
2. Richard Dickerson - Chemistry, Matter, and the Universe (about 700 pages)
3. Nivaldo Tro - Introductory Chemistry

All three are fun to read through, especially the Dickerson's text.

I would call the Tro book concise.

Althought the opposite what the author requires, I found Oxotoby General Chemistry Book to be enjoyable. Althougj it is massive.

@bloviate88
Try checking what you can find at used-book sales at public libraries, community college libraries, university libraries. Chances are good enough that you would find more than just one General Chemistry textbook worth your time. As possible example authors which might be great, although likely very old now, Petrucci; and Mortimer