Concepts before computation is what this Hewitt text is all about. The text brings physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy together in a manner that captivates students' interest. This is serious science in a very readable and student-friendly format. With an emphasis on qualitative analysis, students get a gut feel for the science they're studying. Students will learn to appreciate and differentiate among major scientific ideas rather than reduce them to algebraic problem solving. This sets the foundation for more serious study of the life sciences in subsequent courses.