Full disclosure: shortly after reading the first edition of this book, I began a correspondence with its author that lead to my becoming one of his graduate students at Duke. I saw and commented on most chapters of the second edition while it was being written, and my name appears in the Acknowledgments page.

While many books have influenced me, the first edition of this one played an especially key role in my career. It was the main reason I chose to become one of Vogel's graduate students at Duke, where I got my doctorate but ALSO met my wife. Later it was through my wife that I wound up a postdoc at Yale, which in turn led me to my current job. So that one book had a tremendous effect on my work and life.

Therefore I cannot be entirely objective about the second edition of this book. For the prose, the science, and the author I have tremendous admiration.