With several texts on bioinorganic chemistry now available on the market, the new offering by Roat-Malone offers a distinct perspective. Following the obligatory introductory chapters on the solution chemistry of metal ions, coordination chemistry, biochemistry, and physical methods, the author develops four topical chapters that include oxygen-binding proteins and models, copper enzymes, nitrogenase, and metals in medicine. A strong structure–function perspective underlies each of these themes. Chapter 1 presents a fairly concise and adequate coverage of the structural, kinetic, and thermodynamic principles that are required for an understanding of biological coordination chemistry. Chapter 2 introduces key structural concepts in protein and nucleic acid …