The second edition of this successful text has been updated and expanded to incorporate more clarified coverage of the material. Beginning with discussions of the general properties of nuclei and nuclear forces, the book describes the shell and collective models of the nucleus and uses them where appropriate to explain the various decays of nuclei by the emission of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-radiation. The author uses the optical model and the concept of the compound nucleus to explain nuclear reactions and concludes with a discussion of nuclear fission and fusion reactions, adding four new appendices to further explore more advanced topics. On the first edition: "The difficulties of treating these subjects at this level are overcome very successfully by judicious use of simplified calculations, illuminated by penetrating comments revealing a deep understanding of the subject. Indeed there are few professional physicists who would not find it a rewarding experience to read this book."--Nature