I've found a Dover edition copy of Pauling's General Chemistry in the bookstore near me. I'd like to know if it's still readable today, I mean, is it still up-to-date? I have no background in chemistry, but the book was cheap and it seems to be a nice read.
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I currently have the Dover copy of Pauling's book on my shelf. It indeed is a nice read but it is in no way 'up-to-date' as it was written many years ago. That being said, a lot of conceptual information presented in the book still apply just as much today as they did 6 decades ago (I would stray away from using the book as a source for benchmark measurements and such). It is a book that should find its way onto any chemist's bookshelf, and it makes for a fascinating read into many areas of general chemistry.