Basic concepts and opportunities that define the field of organic electronics and organic electronic materials are presented. This is followed by a brief history of the field that is marked by major advances over the last 70 years in our understanding of carbon-rich, disordered, soft organic semiconductors, and their widespread application to devices. A discussion is provided of common language and the introduction of important classes of both polymeric and small molecular weight organic materials to be used throughout the book. Finally, a list of common myths that have surrounded the field of organic electronics is provided, along with a brief discussion of the differences between these myths and the reality that is the subject of the text.