The periodic table: a very short introduction

Although entitled A very short introduction, this book of 140 or so pages still manages to pack in a substantial amount of information. Usefully proportioned, so as to fit neatly in my raincoat pocket, I found that during spells waiting to catch a train, I could learn an awful lot from it. 

Much of the book is concerned with the history of how the periodic table has developed, including the characters who have contributed to its development. This history is not of much practical use in an undergraduate chemistry course. Even so, it’s probable that unless you’ve studied this area specially, even postgraduates will learn quite a bit from this slim volume.