How many of us have been asked by young students of organic chemistry, "What can I do with a degree in chemistry?" We often respond, "Drug research!" Students then are prompted to ask, "What would I do as a drug researcher?" and "What training and degree do I need?"

This book is an excellent and complete answer to all of these questions. Friary gives information on why one should consider the drug industry as a career, what the job might entail, and how to find and win a job. He reminds us that students who express an interest in the pharmaceutical industry often tend not to understand the most fundamental aspects of the industry. For that matter, those of us in academia who advise these students may not have a good understanding either. This book will fill the information divide. It covers all the important details and offers advice and useful tips throughout. This book should be mandatory reading for anyone involved in career counseling of young chemists and kept as a resource in every chemistry library. Because of the complete and straightforward presentation, it would also be interesting to a larger audience that is curious about the drug industry.

The book covers four broad areas: the why, what, how, and where of the drug industry. The first few chapters present a thumbnail sketch of why to consider a job in this industry. Friary writes, "organic chemists in the drug industry create drugs that preserve, prolong, and improve lives", noting that altruism is a unique appeal of the industry. Before addressing the enticements offered, he outlines the success and stability of the industry, pointing out that the industry has sustained a work-force growth of 30% since 1980. Friary concludes this first section by discussing salaries and benefits. The presentation is well illustrated with tables and figures. For example, it includes tables of median salaries, broken down by degree and type of employer (industry, government, or academia). The median salary for the pharmaceutical industry is also compared to that in other industrial divisions, again broken down by degree. Doctoral chemists employed by pharmaceutical companies rank fifth among the chemical industries, whereas B.S. and M.S. chemists rank 17th in the same comparison. The author uses this opportunity to encourage students to earn advanced degrees because of the significant increase in lifetime salary that accompany them. He concludes that chemists with doctorates will earn $262,000 more in their lifetime per year of education beyond the bachelor's degree.

The next chapters address the what of the business. The breakdown of the industry's organization, economics, and classifications is very helpful. This section is a well-organized summary of the kinds of jobs that organic chemists hold in the drug industry. Friary describes, for example, how employees of pharmaceutical companies are engaged in six basic operations: discovering, developing, registering, manufacturing, marketing, and monitoring drugs. Most entry-level hires are in the areas of discovery and development, and therefore an applicant must have a good understanding of what these activities entail.

In the how of the business, Friary expands on the basic operations introduced above. He begins by addressing common features of chemical research: performance and productivity, setting performance goals, communicating results, and patenting work, to name a few. The progress of the reader through the sections on drug discovery, chemical development, and manufacturing is facilitated by definitions of key concepts such as lead compounds, target compounds, biological testing, process development, and manufacturing synthesis. This factual material is presented with an interesting mix of stories and specific examples, including a fictional account titled "One Day in the Work of a Medicinal Chemist".

The final part of the book focuses on where to find the jobs for which the applicant is qualified. An appendix lists the complete addresses of more than 500 pharmaceutical companies in North America. The information is presented alphabetically by company name and by location. The author outlines resources to assist the applicant in locating job openings. This is followed with helpful advice on preparing an application and what to expect in the interview. The last chapter addresses how to evaluate the company and the contract if a job offer is made. The author speaks to other forms of compensation, advancement opportunities, and benefits beyond salary. After all, do young chemists really think to investigate retirement plans? After reading this account, they will.

Richard Friary has created an invaluable resource for chemists seeking employment in the drug industry. The book is not only filled with insightful advice offered by a veteran researcher, but also written in a manner that makes it enjoyable to read.