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It is hard to deny the value in this elegantly conceived small monograph dedicated to glycerol--that behemoth of the chemical process and product industry. Embedded between the end papers is the story of "the little molecule that could," written about in six chapters across 100 pages. The first chapter decodes glycerol (glycerin) as a biofuel and a by-product of biodiesel synthesis. The following chapters feature glycerol in food, personal care, and pharmaceutical products; provide a discussion devoted to high value, non-commodity products via biotechnology, notably for textile and tanning processes and for ethanol; delve into commodities and consider renewable production, especially ethylene-based feed stocks; and examine specialty chemicals through thermochemical transformations. The final chapter considers the transformation of glycerol to specialty and commodity products at bio-refinery scale. This excellent book is by three intrepid coauthors who have a savvy sense of contemporary markets and economic currency and also offer a "tip of the hat" to historical perspective. The 253 references are current through 2016; tables, schematics, and illustrations are adequate and useful. This work is very nice! It is most appropriate for chemists and technologists alike, especially specialists.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; faculty and professionals.