The meaning of life -- The early years -- "Grandfather glucose" -- Heidi und Heinz -- The shape of things to come -- Synthesis and protecting groups -- The reactions of monosaccharides -- The formation of the glycosidic linkage -- Oligosaccharide synthesis -- Disaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides -- Glycoconjugates and glycobiology -- Carbohydrate-based vaccines.