"As you begin this course, I invite you to think about your reasons for enrolling in it. Why are you taking general chemistry? More generally, why are you pursuing a college education? If you are like most college students taking general chemistry, part of your answer is probably that this course is required for your major and that you are pursuing a college education so you can get a good job some day. Although these are good reasons, I would like to suggest a better one. I think the primary reason for your education is to prepare you to live a good life. You should understand chemistry-not for what it can get you-but for what it can do to you. Understanding chemistry, I believe, is an important source of happiness and fulfillment. Let me explain. Understanding chemistry helps you to live life to its fullest for two basic reasons. The first is intrinsic: through an understanding of chemistry, you gain a powerful appreciation for just how rich and extraordinary the world really is. The second reason is extrinsic: understanding chemistry makes you a more informed citizen-it allows you to engage with many of the issues of our day. In other words, understanding chemistry makes you a deeper and richer person and makes your country and the world a better place to live. These reasons have been the foundation of education from the very beginnings of civilization"--