Book Description

This book provides sufficient detail without overloading the reader with details that might be unnecessary to attain basic understanding of the subject matter.A new chapter on genomics is a timely response to the mapping of the human genome that will appeal to many readers.This book will a useful resource for anyone working in the fields of nursing, physical therapy, agriculture, home economics, aquaculture—or those who simply have a desire to learn more about the basic concepts of chemistry and biochemistry. . ... Read more

Book Description

This photo of Escherichia coli being attacked by bacteriophages highlights rapidly developing technologies for using phages to treat antibiotic resistant infections without destroying normal resident bacteria, and without side effects. Phages are also being used to detect and remove pathogens from our food supplies, both plant and animal. Also exciting is the use of phages as vehicles to delivery DNA vaccines, often directly to mammalian immune system cells. Recent work also suggests possible antitumor effects of phages. We stand on the edge of a whole new world of exploration and applications of microbiology.

For over 20 years, and through five editions, Black's Microbiology: Principles and Explorations has captured students' imaginations. Her enthusiasm, passion, and knack for memorable stories and anecdotes bring the study of microbiology to life in a way few other texts can match.

Now updated to reflect the latest topics in the field (e.g., SARS, bioterrorism, GMO's, geomicrobiology) and accompanied by state-of-the-art animations of key concepts, this new edition is sure to help inspire a new generation of enthusiasts for the dynamic science of microbiology.

Critical Acclaim
"I continue to find Black's text an excellent contribution to undergraduate Microbiology education." --Karen Messley, Rock Valley College


"I like the conversational and informal style Black adopts throughout the book. This is a book, which could very well engage even the most reluctant student. It is comprehensive, nicely detailed, and incorporates many aids to teaching and learning..."--Iris Cook, Westchester CC


"[The text] is a wonderful introduction into the world of microorganisms for students from a wide variety of backgrounds."--Jeff G. Leid, Northern Arizona University



"...I have found it [the book] accurate to a fault, brilliant at getting students motivated and interested in microbiology, and a great practical training book."--Gerard O'Donovan, University of North Texas

Also available
Laboratory Exercises in Microbiology, 2nd Edition
Robert A. Pollack, et al.
ISBN: 0-471-42082-4, 264 pages, paper, (c)2005

Written specifically for allied health students, this lab manual presents a variety of highly engaging activities and experiments that convey the basic concepts of microbiology. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Get this study guide
This is an excellent study guide. It really soldifies the information of microbiology in a concise format that sticks to your brain. However, if you want to know the type of questions asked on microbiology exams, definitely get the following book:
Microbiology Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers
ISBN: 0971999635
The author of the second study guide knows the type of questions teachers ask on exams. I used these two books in my undergraduate microbiology course and got a 92 average. Get both books.

Excellent text for microbiology.
Jacqueline Black truly has a way with with words. She has a very readable textbook. I have chosen this book for my Microbiology class. my students are primarily nursing students. The "extra" information she has included in the text adds a spark of reality to the text.

scholary,lucid explanation of microlife beyond; erudite only
Whether college student or the advanced curious voyager into the Y2K this text gets you up to speed in genetics,disease control, environmental concerns presenting imponderable problems of the future. At least one can envision a thrust unifying many disciplines under one scientific roof. Ms black's text, while designed for the begining microbiology student, reads well with many appropo vignettes pertaining to the creatures around and within us. She vividly illustrates the bacterial kingdom so as to read much like a scientic novel--and here I am Sociologist. I cannot give her enough accolades for her work. ... Read more

Book Description

This accurate and up-to-date book focuses on the basic principles of Biochemistry, with carefully selected examples of each. The areas of greatest change since the second edition are lipid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and protein metabolism.Includes stereo views of many macromolecules; computer supplement; a section on molecular evolution; protein structures; molecular evolution; and developments in the area of gene expression, including the structure of RNA polymerase, the structure of the ribosome, genome organization, repair mechanisms, regulation of transcription and translation, and the structure and evolution of aminoacy1-tRNA synthetases.For readers interested in Biochemistry. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A great introductory biochemistry text!
Filled to the brim with useful, concise information, and helpful explanations. It also has very complete coverage of a broad variety of concepts and fields of study of biochemistry. While it can at times get bogged down in the details, it was extremely helpful to me during my biochemistry class, and inspired in me a desire to continue educating myself in the field. I am keeping this book rather than selling it, because I'm certain it will be of great use to me in my further studies in biology and medicine.

not a bad text
The text could have expanded on some topics. I recommend the Voet and Voet text. Had to purchase this text because few of its authors were from the university I attend. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

CONCISE; YET, WELL-DETAILED
Compiled by an experienced mind, this "Biochemistry" by Lubert Stryer may seem a little pricey, but it is worth investing on. Its everyday language is comprehensive, generously illustrated, and presents details using a concise format. The book was designed for intermediate learners; although that its aura appeals to both beginners and advanced students. The sequential organisation of each section makes self-teaching an easy task. There are also revised chapters with overviews of Developmental Physiology and Genetics. It is a very fine text.

Easy to read, but not so good to study from
This book is considered a classic in its field, and, indeed, had few serious competitors up until about eight years ago. But, with new undergraduate texts that appeared since then, the weaknesses of Stryer's text became more apparent.

1. The text is not structured well enough: its 37 chapters are divided into a number of titled topics, but it is apparent that students would find it easier to manage if each chapter were divided into 4-8 major topics,just the way it has been done in 'Student companion for Stryer's Biochemistry' by Gumport et al.

2. It seems that the book owes part of its popularity to the fact that the most difficult topics have either been left out or are covered very briefly and with serious lack of rigor. The most notorious example is incredibly poor coverage of biochemical energetics. Since most readers are life science majors or medical students with little background in thermodynamics and electrochemistry, this ought be treated in a more detailed and more serious manner. Many students find the treatment of energetic aspects of oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis so unclear tham majority of them find it necessargy to consult some other text to figure things out. The same goes for enzyme kinetics - it is just inexcusable for a text of this size to completely ignore discussion of bisubstrate kinetics and other common complex kinetic systems.

As a conclusion, Stryer's Biochemistry 4th ed. is still readable and up-to date text. However, nowadays there are several other texts of about the same size and aiming at the same audience, but with much less things to complain about. As a TA in an undergraduate biochemistry course, I found texts by Mathews and van Holde (1996), Garrett and Grisham (1995) and Lehninger, Nelson and Cox (1993) to be more adequate for the needs of most students. My students especially praise Matthews and van Holde as a book which enables them to easily grasp even the most difficult concepts.

Learn elsewhere
A disorganized muddle of clinical correlations, chemical mechanisms, and pathways, the text attempts to destroy an otherwise beautiful topic. It is difficult to extract the main pts and organize the information into a coherent fashion. But fortunately there are other texts, and a map showing how all the pathways converge and a table w/enzymes organized by mechanism w/cofactor, rxn info will be golden. With books like Lippincott's Reviews and Voet&Voet, youll be biochemistry's biggest fan in no time.

Jack of a few trades, master of none
As with any intro text, this book tries to reach the largest audience possible. The problem is that it has deficiencies in many areas. The initial sections on DNA are short, completely avoiding any detailed mechanisms about DNA replication or transcription, putting those with a background that is stronger in chemistry at a disadvantage. When it comes to proteins, the book seems to have no trouble giving detailed mechanisms but the mechanisms are often obscure and poorly labeled (notably in serine proteases and metal-ion catalysis) making the information more difficult for those stronger in regular biology. Perhaps the worst part is that this book, which was chosen for my professor based on its integrated web courseware, has a website that is often unresponsive and seems to only work on old versions of Netscape. Nonetheless, I still keep a copy on my bookshelf for reference since the sections on proteins (notwithstanding the diagrams) are actually pretty good. All in all, an okay text and decent reference but certainly not for someone looking to pursue a career in biochemistry, molecular biology, or medicine. If you have a choice, the new Lehninger 4th edition is way better.

One step forward, one step back from previous edition
OK, it seems that the new authors of the 5th edition actually took to heart soem of the amazon.com critiques of the 4th edition. The chapters are more structured, and the worst chapters of the previous editions have been completely overhauled. There is a modest increase in the amount of quantitative materrial, although its quality still cannot rival some other biochem textbooks targeting the same audience (e.g. the wonderful Mathews, van Holde and Ahern text).

The 5th edition also succumbed to a malaise common to most textbooks when they are taken over by a different set of authors: an absolute overkill of "new pedagogical features". Icons, boxes, keywords, conceptual insights, structural insights etc. belong well to a study guide, but here they just interrupt the flow of the exposition unnecesarily. The simplicity of layout and the illustrations was one of the strengths of previous editions, and it seems to be lost here.

Also, without questioning the importance of the structural data that accumulated over the past decade, I am very doubtfull of the pedagogical value of their extensive use to explain basic biochemical concepts: way too often they just add additional complexity that moots the point the authors are trying to convey. Just look at the figure 10.21 - without the accompanying animation, it is about the poorest (least illustrative) depiction of the T to R transition in hemoglobin I have ever seen.

Overall, it is an updated text that will please Stryer fans. Those using other textbooks (Mathews, Lehninger) will have no reason whatsoever to switch to this one. ... Read more

Book Description

Fast food has hastened the malling of our landscape, widened the chasm between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and propelled American cultural imperialism abroad. That's a lengthy list of charges, but here Eric Schlosser makes them stick with an artful mix of first-rate reportage, wry wit, and careful reasoning.

Schlosser's myth-shattering survey stretches from California's subdivisions where the business was born to the industrial corridor along the New Jersey Turnpike where many fast food's flavors are concocted. Along the way, he unearths a trove of fascinating, unsettling truths -- from the unholy alliance between fast food and Hollywood to the seismic changes the industry has wrought in food production, popular culture, and even real estate. He also uncovers the fast food chains' disturbing efforts to reel in the youngest, most susceptible consumers even while they hone their institutionalized exploitation of teenagers and minorities.

Reviews (1014)

McInteresting Look at Fast Food
I read this book knowing I was not going to learn any new and cheery anecdotes about how Ronald McDonald got his start..... instead I read this to solidify the notion that fast food was not a healthy choice. And boy, did this book give you reasons it is not, and I'm not just talking nutritional value here.

I found this book fascinating for the detail was great, well researched, and given to the reader straight. It was an eye opening book. Who knew that due to the meat industry being run just by a few corporations, essentially we are eating the same meat from the same feedlots and slaughter houses whether we buy it at a fast food chain or the local supermarket, and perhaps even the nicer restaurants. I also found some of the content appalling. Cattle are fed cats, dogs, other cows, even old newspaper! If this doesn't outrage you enough, just wait to you get to how these same meat conglomerates treat the low paid, low skilled employees of the slaughterhouses.

This book is insightful and unbelievable, and will make you question how the fast food giants sleep at night.

I'm Supporting What?
I've been trying to write a review for this book and end up not being able to grasp the profound effect it has had on me. I'm left will a feeling of being too small to actually do anything about the "wool" being pulled over America's eyes. From basic human rights to our nation's safety (e.coli, salmonella, etc.), the fast food industry has been able to break laws, cover up incidents and some how flourish, making billions of dollars a year.

I devoured this book, it is easy to read, accurate and eye opening. The contents in this book is something that every American should be familiar. Fast food customers need to be informed of what goes on to deliver that "happy" meal on to that plastic tray from beginning to end. I'd like to thank Eric Schlosser for writing this book, his research has caused me to take a look at what I'm supporting and risking by consuming meat. I for one will not support these arrogant corporate giants and have chosen to stay away from fast food. I have seen the light and it's not from the glowing golden arches down the street!

Appalling. Read it and weep.
Since many other reviewers cover the more repulsive details of Schlosser's book, I will stick to pointing out something I think deserves even more attention: one of the themes of the book is that the fast food industry has its tentacles in EVERY aspect of Americans' lives. Changing this goes far, far beyond bypassing a Big Mac...boycotting fast food is not the same thing as boycotting the fast food industry, when industry practices have made the USDA powerless against meatpackers, advertisers target children as consumers, and schools are taking money for corporate sponsorship.

This a fantastic book and it touches on a lot of areas that I don't normally think of relating to fast food, such as the plight of abused migrant workers in the slaughterhouses and the economics of teen labor. Everybody should read it, even if you never eat fast food, because you're affected too.

Disturbing... Will never eat fast food again!
I must warn the reader that you'll never want to eat fast food again after you read this book. I've never been a big fast food junkie, though I've eaten it if there isn't anything else around, but I won't again take a bite of the same even if I'm starving during a road trip and the only food available is a drive-thru burger joint. Eric Schlosser's book is an impressive, albeit disturbing dissection of the fast food industry in the United States, one that examines each aspect of said industry with unflinching, well-researched facts. The result is an unflattering picture of an industry that has changed US business and eating habits in an almost secretive fashion. The book is a fascinating look into the business and talks about the process of hiring, franchising, purchasing and other practices. The most fascinating and disturbing chapters concern, however, the beef served at fast food restaurants and how it gets there. I warn you that it is not a pretty picture. If you care about the food you eat, these chapters will sicken you. You must read this book (unless you never eat fast food at all). The quality of the food aside, this book is extremely critical of the fast food industry and I believe that if you are a fast food lover, this book will disturb and upset you. As I said above, the picture Schlosser paints isn't pretty, nothing is sugarcoated. This is well-researched and well-written book and I highly recommend it.

KNOW WHAT YOU EAT AND SUPPORT
SCHLOSSER SAYS THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY FAST FOOD/MEAT PACKING COMPANIES CONDUCT FRADULENT BUSINESS TACTICS IS TO "NOT EAT IT". THIS BOOK IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE CONSUMERS MUST KNOW WHAT WE ARE EATING, SUPPORTING, AND CONTRIBUTING TO. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK WITH MUCH RESEARCH. ... Read more

Book Description

Das Lehrbuch stellt die Biochemie aus streng chemischer Sicht vor, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf den Strukturen von Biomolekulen, chemischen Mechanismen und evolutionaren Beziehungen liegt. Es vermittelt ein Gefuhl der geistigen Geschichte der Biochemie, ein Verstandnis der Werkzeuge und Ansatze zur Losung biochemischer Ratsel und eine Spur jener Aufregung, die mit neuen Entdeckungen einhergeht. Behandelt werden aktuelle Themen, insbesondere im Zusammenhang mit Gesundheit und Krankheiten des Menschen sowie wichtige Zahlen und Tabellen zu Struktur, Funktion und Stoffwechsel. Die einzelnen Themenbereiche werden weniger detailliert aufbereitet als in anderen Lehrbuchern, und zwar mit dem Ziel, dem Lernenden so einen raschen Uberblick uber Kerninhalte zu vermitteln. Daruber hinaus finden sich zahlreiche sehr interessante Spezialthemen. Im dazugehorigen Arbeitsbuch werden au?erdem eine Reihe neuer Problemstellungen mit detaillierten Losungsvorschlagen diskutiert. (02/99) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Average
This book is average at best. It does not cover the fundamental aspects of many of the important parts of biochemistry. What is does give you is an excellent overview of hemoglobin and myoglobin. I would, however, recommend Stryer's book, especially for those who have lousy undergraduate professors.

Not for someone new on biochemistry
I'm taking biochemistry for the first time and the book is almost useless. It has many errors and the explanations are not clear. To study for my class I have to look for other books. I don't recomend this book to anyone who really wants to learn biochemistry, specially if they're taking the class with a bad professor. I'm not saying this because I don't like the class; I like chemistry and I thought biochemistry would be very exciting. But, the book isn't a good reference, neither the CD-ROM it includes. Thank God I bought it used.

Appropriate for the 1st Biochemistry Course of a Sequence
All 3 major biochemistry texts were being used at the univesity where I attended: Lehninger was used in a one-semester survey course for biological science students whose emphasis was not biochemistry and/or molecular biology; Voet was the chosen text for the first of a 2-semester sequence in biochemistry; and Stryer was selected for the second half of the sequence. As an undergradate student, I was grateful that the authors (joined by Pratt) produced a fine version instead of the original Voet & Voet main text. This revised, modified version is more succinct, clear, with excellent graphics and photographs. The level of content in this version of Voet is no less intense and thorough than the other 2 major texts, with a special attention on chemistry as well. One star is taken off due to the high price!

IMHO, better than Stryer for undergraduates!
Although not as comprehensive as their larger text, this book is ideal for a beginning course in biochemistry. Most undergraduates are overwhelmed by the encylcopedic nature of Voet & Voet's main text, so the author team are to be thanked for joining with Pratt to produce this fine text. The book is on the level of the other main biochemistry textbooks (Stryer & Lehninger), but has the wonderful images and diagrams for which V&V (via artist Irving Geis) are famous! The interactive CD is very informative and useful as well. I have switched my classes to this text, as have about half of the liberal arts colleges in the midwest area (noted at the last MACTLAC conference, where the text, although new, was aready tied with Stryer as the textbook of choice).

a so-so biochemistry text
The price of this text, when compared with the large version of Voet & Voet, is not reasonable. The material presented is condensed but not comprehensive. The authors tried to make their textbook shorter and maintain Voets'philosophy in writing a text (chemistry emphasis). I personally think that this text cannot be appropriately used in the upperclass or graduate course. On the other hand, the beginner of biochemistry may find this text easier, lighter, more colorful and more costly than its encyclopedic version. ... Read more

Book Description

First published in the 1950s by the late James Borror and Dwight Moore DeLong, this classic text, INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF INSECTS 7TH EDITION, combines the study of insects with clear and current insect identification. In this new edition (available in a bundle with InfoTrac College Edition), Johnson and Triplehorn supply updated information on phylogeny using systematics while adding a greater emphasis on insect biology and evolution. This greater concentration on insect systematics necessitated many content changes including an added chapter for a newly described order, the Mantophasmatodea, as well as a new chapter reclassifying Order Homoptera (Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Hoppers Psyllids) into Order Hemiptera. Nearly every order has been modified, sometimes substantially, to reflect new discoveries and scientific hypotheses. Many new families have been added throughout the book, some reflecting revised classifications, but many are the result of the discovery of new groups within the United States and Canada, particularly from the New World tropics. These include the families Platystictidae (Odonata), Mackenziellidae (Collembola), Mantoididae (Mantodea), and Fauriellidae (Thysanoptera).The results of molecular analyses are beginning to substantively contribute to the development of a robust and predictive classification. Thus, the phylogeny of insects has changed drastically from the last edition due to the incorporation of molecular data. The most conspicuous of these changes, for example, is the recognition that the order Strepsiptera is most closely related to the true flies (Diptera), rather than to the Coleoptera. Since it was first published in the 1950s, this text has played an important role in understanding and preserving the diversity of the insect world. This title's long history, coupled with the authors' passion for currency and accuracy, make it once again the classic text and reference. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

An Updated Version of a Great Classic
This is the book on insect taxonomy that most entomologists had as their text in introductory courses. The current (7th) edition is revised to fit recent changes in classification and certainly continues the standard set by Borror and DeLong many years ago. It was never intended to be a text in physiology, behavior or ecology. There are texts for these subjects available and just covering the systematic aspects of insects thoroughly is enough of a task.

My only quibbles have to do with some changes in arrangement of orders that I am not sure of (such as the union of Hemiptera and Homoptera, and Anoplura and Mallophaga - the latter was also true of the 6th ed.) and the fact that scorpion taxonomy was apparently not revised at all, despite numerous changes in the last several years.

However, that said, this edition is a continued improvement of a great classic of entomology. Among highlights are Jeremy Miller's and Darrell Ubick's excellent revision of the spider section and the new format for keys to the insects making them easier to use.

Without a doubt this will remain the best standard textbook on insect taxonomy available and I recommend it with only the minor reservations noted.

Exactly what I wanted!
I don't study Insects proffesionaly, I am simply curious about living things around me. I have several Field Guides that offer very little information about the Insect in question (which I suppose is all to be expected from a small book) and I wanted to know more. For instance how do the mouth parts work, what are the different body segments and what do they house or what is their function.Well here it is in "Black and White" litteraly... If you want pretty color pictures this is not the book for you. The figures in the book are however, very detailed, expertly drawn and all body parts are labled. So far every answer I have sought has been answered by this book.I believe that this book is well worth the high price tag. Remember this is only MY opinion, I could be wrong...

excellent book for keying families
I had to purchase this book for a class in my undergraduate work. However, as a graduate student, I use this book every semester. I am presently working in a lab and i.d many samples of insects. Some common, some not. I often reach for it to get to family so I can key to genus and species if I need to take the i.d. that far. The numbered keys are great! They reference forward and backward, which really helps if a mistake is made. Definitely a good one to have on the shelves.

A great book for pre-entomologist
It is the most appropriate book I have seen for graudate student who want to be an entomologist. It have a comprehensive knowledge on how to study the insects.

A good book for some purposes
This a good book for who seek for taxonomic keys to identify insects in the laboratory. Its large size make it difficult in the field. Some aspects are neglected, e.g. physiology and evolution. I think there are a lot of better books for these subjects. ... Read more

Book Description

This title has not appeared in Preview, but was published in July 2002. Biochemistry 3rd edition DONALD VOET, University of Pennsylvania, USA and JUDITH G. VOET, Swarthmore College, USA Biochemistry is a modern classic that has been thoroughly revised. Don and Judy Voet explain biochemical concepts while offering a unified presentation of life and its variation through evolution. Incorporates both classical and current research to illustrate the historical source of much of our biochemical knowledge.
* This edition has been updated to reflect the enormous advances in molecular and protein structure
* Integrated Biochemical Interactions CD ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A very deatail oriented text
My biochem class "officially" uses the Lehninger textbook, but my professor also uses the voet&voet as a reference. I'll say the Lehninger book is good to read as intro, but if you really want to learn the details you've to use this book instead. I think not a single biochemistry book out there is good enough for every aspects, but i'll highly recommend using the voet text along with another one so they can fill each other's holes.

The Best Biochemistry text on the market
This book covers much of the same material as Stryer with about twice the detail and vastly better illustrations. V&V's massive advantage is a detailed methods chapter that lets you understand how the advances in biology have been made, and why science is so slow and frustrating. If you're serious about understanding biological chemistry (as distinct from understanding how the cell works, in which case you'll want a book on molecular cell biology), look no further than this. The third edition will be coming out in 2002, at about the same time as the sixth edition of Stryer. Expect V&V to be more up-to-date, better illustrated and less verbose than its competition (although obviously I haven't seen either yet). If you're a medical student, try Devlin's Biochemistry with clinical correlations. If you want an integrated cell biology/biochemistry text, try Garrett and Grisham, including part 5.

Voet and Voet Biochemistry
This book is complete garbage, especially considering the price. Explanations of relatively simple ideas are often made unnecessarily complicated. A good deal of the writing is unnecessarily flowery, and sentence structure is quite often more complex than is necessary or desireable for a book of this sort. I wasted an enormous amount of time rereading sections that turned out to be extremely confusing ways of explaining relatively uncomplicated concepts. In my view, potentially confusing scientific concepts should be explained in the simplest possible way. There's enough substance in the actual material that decorative language is definitely not necessary. For the price, I would have expected better editing as well, quite a few noticeable typos (3rd edition Vol. 1). I haven't read any biochem textbooks besides this one, but I'd recommend avoiding this one at all costs.

The very best biochemistry textbook out there
I've used the 1st edition of this textbook during my undergraduate days as a B.A. in biology (but concentrating in molecular biology and biochemistry), and then I used the 2nd edition during medical school and my fellowship in biophysical chemistry. If you are in the medical sciences, biochemistry, biophysics, physical chemistry, and even organic chemistry, this is the "must-have" book for you. It contains a more detailed explanation of the topic than typical undergraduate textbooks, but it still has excellent coherence and clarity to each and every topic despite the amount of information. I feel this book satisfies even the most "physical sciences" minded of us. I'm still waiting for the 3rd edition!

THE BEST
If you're looking for a biochemistry textbook, this is it.

I have used everything from Stryer to Matthews and Van Holde, and this book tops them all.

Great illustrations, extensive topics covered, and well-written text. A+++ ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Fun, Readable, and Thorough Introduction to Soil Science
My "Science of Soils" class at Stanford University (Autumn '01) used "The Nature and Properties of Soils" as our main textbook. It is clearly written, easy to read, and has lots of helpful figures (including graphs, diagrams, drawings, and black-and-white and color photos). The chapters are well organized, so that you can find exactly what you need to know. The authors include hundreds of websites for those who want more information, and make the book more readable by starting off each chapter with a quote and a "big picture" statement.

"The Nature and Properties of Soils" has a good mix of theoretical and practical information. Wherever possible, the authors do sample calculations and describe applications for agriculture, ecology, and engineering. They thoroughly cover every major topic in soil science, as well as delving into some more specialized ones (for example, symptoms of micronutrient deficiencies in plants).

In conclusion, I've found this textbook to be both very information-rich and very readable, and highly recommend it. (The other day I caught my boyfriend, who's a materials engineer, reading it for fun... that's about the highest accolade any textbook can get!)

Excellent.. A classic introduction to soil science..
I had this text (by Buckman & Brady), for "Soil Science 200" back in 1965. This edition, now with Buckman and Weil still follows the basic design of the original work. I have come back to this book time and time again. My edition, though dated, is still a solid work. All major aspects of soil science and quite a bit of agronomy are presented extremely well. The writing is brisk but does not sacrifice content. This book will give you a solid foundation should you decide to pursue the subject further. There are numerous tables,charts, etc. An excellent resource.

Soils come Alive!
As a student, this book has picked my interest in soils and related studies. This most updated version has many informative and helpful graphs, charts, pictures, and links to websites. In my two years of college education, this has been my favorite assigned text. It has some real meat to it, but it is presented in such a way that the novice can understand. It is one of the books that I will hang onto as I am sure it will come in handy down the road.

An excellent 'get started' book and bookshelf reference book
We use Brady for teaching Intro to Soil Science - It is an excellent resource and one that I tell students they will be able to refer to with a soils question whatever their field of study.

A good book of general Soil Science
It's a good book for someone who has just started exploring Soil Science for it goes through all the aspects of soil from structure and hudraulics to fertility and pollution. ... Read more

Book Description

This newly revised and updated fifth edition of Devlin’s Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations presents the biochemistry of mammalian cells, relates events at the cellular level to physiological processes in the whole animal, and cites examples of human diseases derived from aberrant biochemical processes.
This edition significantly expands the clinical correlation that highlight the significance of biochemistry to specific clinical problems. Full-color illustrations provide clear explanations for the concepts discussed, and end-of-chapter questions and answers act as challenging study material. Reorganized into five practical sections, Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations covers these topics and much more:

• Structure of macromolecules–DNA, RNA, and protein structure
  
• Information transmission–replication, transcription, protein synthesis, and control of gene expression
  
• Functions of proteins–protein families, enzymes, membrane structure, and transport mechanisms
  
• Metabolic pathways and their control–carbohydrate, lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism
  
• Physiological processes–hormone and signal transduction, biochemistry of nervous tissue, muscle vision, coagulation and digestion, and principles of nutrition

Reviews (11)

DO not confuse the book with the software
The book is one of THE basics choice in Biochemistry for medical school. Good basic biochemistry with interesthing associated clinical cases. But please do not confuse with the software with has the figures of the book.

Take a chance to be fascinated by biochemistry
I am 4° semester medical student and ever since I was introduced to this book (about a year ago by my biochemistry class teacher), it has proved to be a very useful biochemistry information resource. I have other biochemistry texts because I like to study from different points of view, but this text is a little bit different from the basic biochemistry textbook in that the information presented here is most relevant to the clinical setting. After reading any chapter it will be clear to you that you made a good investment. The most important thing is that the book is written in a very understandable reading wiht many examples and illustrations. The chapter on metabolic interrelationships will proof of great value to understanding biochemistry as a fundamental discipline in medicine; in a sense it opened my eyes (and yours too) to what at first seems a boring subject.

If you are thinking that because the book is presented in a clinical way you'll loose basic information, don't be. I took the chance and believe me I am not dissapointed at all, otherwise I wouldn't be recommending it to you. Good luck.

Too detailed and wordy for medical school
I just finished first semester medical school, and we used this book. The chapters read like a bad and verbose novel. With the time constraints in medical school, you really need a book that gets to the point. That's why the Illustrated Review Series are much better for medical school students. I will admit that this is a great book for graduate biochem if you're interested in research. Stay away if your in medical school and rely upon the notes and a supplemental book like Lipcotts. You'll get more confused reading this text b/c it's way too detailed.

ANALYTICAL AND INTERPRETATIVE
This is a very comprehensive biochemistry textbook: well-written and well-organized. It maintained both analytical and interpretative approach in most of its chapters. Its clinical applications were evident in the way it handled nucleic acids, nucleotides, bioenergetics, immunochemistry, enzymology, and gene replications. Each metabolic pathway it discussed is well-detailed, and is supported with illustrative charts.
The only thing this book demands from its reader is good Organic Chemistry foundation. It is a very good text, although that its retail price is clearly on the high side.

vs. Stryer
Fair clinical book. The Devlin just does not read as well as the Stryer. If Stryer is poetry, Devlin is a newspaper, informative yet not very moving. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Good book for biochemistry
This book is complete and thorough in explaing every energy pathway (Kreb's cycle, electron transport system, glycolysis, etc.) The diagrams are helpful and explain the material with visual detail especially in this type of book. The only thing, the book is somewhat hard to understand for reading it the first time. I know biochemistry is a hard subject, but I thought it could be explained in a little easier fashion. However, other than that, the book is quite organized and a must buy for every chiropractic student taking biochemistry. I also highly recommend:
National Board of Chiropractic Part I Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers
Both these books I found very helpful for studying for the National boards. The text is a must for studying for the biochemistry part of the chiro boards.

Biochemistry for medical studies
An excellent book in biochemistry for a beginner in this subject. I especially like the the way the chapters are administrated. The book is best read from beginning to the end, because this will give you the whole picture in a educative fashion. It covers all the essential subjects of cellbiology needed for the medical student, as for instance metabolism and DNA. It also has advantages over other biochemistry books with its nicer apperance. With the pictures, medical notices and cellbiology material it covers all thats necessary. Good stuff and pleasant reading.

Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry is simply the best one.
The Lehninger Princicples of Biochemistry is the best book in biochemistry that has been written. I have use it in my biochemistry course in my first year in school medicine and thanks to this book I pass my class with one of the best notes in the group. Any other book exposes the biochemistry principles with clarity and coherence like the Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. I can't wait for the 4th edition.

Excellent! Can't wait for the Next Edition!
If you are a undergraduate or a graduate student who needs to learn some biochemistry from the ground up (without an instructor), this is the text for you. Lehninger really outdoes himself by creating a Biochemistry textbook that's not only colorful and pretty to look at but also wonderfully written. Of all of the science textbooks I've had to read to date, this was the best! Lehninger really does write the text so that it's like reading a novel, which allows for maximum absorption of the material he covers. Occasionally, I hit spots in my reading which were harder to understand, but that was because my own ignorance and not his. He begins the text with a review of the basics of general chemistry and organic chemistry which come into play with the biochemistry subject matter. Then he continues on, developing the student's foundations with describing protein structure and protein function, working his way up with enzymatic properties and activities. Carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids come next. The last section of the book is devoted to biochemical mechanisms, which is alot, but it is covered adequately for a beginner's textbook. The only major drawback: many of the answers to the chapter questions are wrong, hopefully, this will be addressed in the 4th Ed. If your school doesn't use Lehninger, protest, write treatises, do anything to convince your Biochemistry professor to use this text to teach you biochemisty! It's expensive, but once you have this textbook, don't ever sell it because if you're going into chemistry or biochemistry, it will be a priceless resource for your future studies!

Two thumbs way up
This book is one of the best biochemistry available. It presents an extensive amount of valuable concepts and information a highly readable manner. I used this text as an undergraduate and even as a gradduate student I find it impossible to part with it. The understanding biochemistry CD that is included with the book is also an excellent tool for revision. I found that the retention of information and ease of understanding is higher when the book is used in conjunction with the CD. It comes highly recommended for any serious students of biochemistry and as an invaluable reference. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent Resource
I found Mr. McCarthy's book to be a valuable resource. From a geologist's perspective, it was of great help in bridging the gap between engineering geology and geotechnical engineering. It gave me greater insight into not only field technique, but also into geologic considerations that are of importance in foundation design. The text was both concise and clearly written.

From a Civil/Geological Engineering student's view...
* Poor index - no detail * Good detail in text on subjects covered * Has some errors in the chapter on flownets * Disjointed in discussion of compaction * Good for students with little to no soil mechanics background

An excellent engineering tool!
Civil engineers throughout the world can use this book as either a classroom text or reference handbook. It covers a variety of soil conditions including expansive soils and provides examples of both foundation designs,and retaining earth structures. ... Read more

Book Description

A wonderful resource for goat breeders, Raising Meat Goats for Profit includes Information about the Meat Breeds, How to get started with meat production, Easy to use feed ration tables, Real advice for new breeders, Kidding and Raising Kids, How to sell your goats, Up-to-date informations about health and diseases, Recipe book, 250 pages of user friendly information! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Also exceeded my hopes and expectations!
The Arlington VA reviewer has it right - This is a great book and it is really funny in places too! I loved the telephone chats that are written of.

I am sure any one who reads English will love this book...even if you never want to raise meat goats!

Exceeded my hopes and expectations - GREAT BOOK
Gail Bowman is the sort of writer that most all authors could learn from. More important, Gail Bowman is obviously experienced in the craft she writes about and her love of the most cantankerous of farm critters shows through.

This is one of the few chatty how-to books that I have found did not waste even a page of type.

No matter the topic, it is apparent Ms Bowman has learned from experience and is unafraid to tell us her mistakes as well as her successes. But, she is not preachy and doesn't try to convince us there is only one way. She freely informs us of methods and techniques, and even other breeds, reported to her by other breeders.

I had long thought the best way to try and make a living with goats would be as a dairy, but, milking a hundred goats can be mighty tiring for a bare living. Thus, I was considering meat goats after downloading some introductory blurbs published by the Saskatchewan Ag folks.

I, however, remained skeptical of meat goats for profit. I was concerned I might be getting into a branch of agriculture for dreamers (the visionary sort, no disrespect meant) but, at age 50, I just don't feel the hankering to blaze any new trails. In other words, I want to let today's youth do the experimenting. I just want to earn money to sock away for my retirement.

Well, Ms Bowman has done a great job in showing me that meat goats are not the 21st Century equivalent of ostrich, emu, elk, deer and bison. They are a viable farm product that can produce a reasonable income without having to create a new market or without having to depend on other breeders for one's profit.

I nominate Raising Meat Goats For Profit as one of the Best How-To books for the 21st Century!

If I were still publishing farm magazines I would definitely be shouting the news to my readers. Raising Meat Goats For Profit is a masterpiece.

for the meat goat lover
this is the first book you should buy if u own, boer or other meat goats, this one you cant put down, there is tons of knowledge in this book for anything you need to know while raising your goats, great job Gail Bowman!

Meat Goat Information Galore
The book is wonderful, informative, up to date, practical, the list goes on and on. I highly recommend it to anyone with goats. Gail Bowman writes in an easy to read format. I can't say enough about the great quality of this book. Buy it, really, you won't be sorry.

Raising Meat Goats for Profit
I cannot say enough good words about this book. Every question I had was answered in laymen's terms and I would suggest anyone interested in raising goats to add this one to their library. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A vital MUST HAVE handbook for professionals!
Whether one is cooking in a restaurant or a school kitchen, this is the most valuable handbook. You'll want it at ready reference. I know, because never a week went by that I didn't consult it while running my bakery/deli in the Oregon Cascades.

I must confess that I didn't tell customers my recipe source. I preferred they think me a genius or as having come from a family steeped in cooking history. They knew I was no genius (hell, they knew I wasn't even very smart) but they did like the foods we provided. And, when I decided to produce a new, tasty meat pie, it was this book that I consulted to improve upon my concept.

Choose not to buy this book and you probably are never going to know what you don't know. Choose not to consult it while it sets on your shelf will probably endanger your relationship with your harshest critics.

A Must-Have!
I discovered this book several years ago while working as a hall director for a cooperative living residence hall. The college women who lived there cooked for their fifty housemates.

Molt's book was a godsend for us; the instructions were basic, easily understood, and useful.

The best aspect of Food for Fifty is the fact that, recipes aside, the book gives excellent tables and instructions for cooking times/weights/quantities beyond the recipes it lists. In other words, it is quite useful when adapting one's own recipes to meals for 50 or 100 people.

I have since used Food for Fifty in another food service job, where it was equally useful and well-received. I highly recommend it to anyone, whether you're doing institutional meals, church meals, or simply work with large food quantities on a regular basis. It's worth it!

Small variety and non-healty recipies make this book a pass
Unfortuately, this book has a limited number of fish and chicken recipies and the ones it does have, aren't very healthful. It does have more of a selection for meat recipies. I returned the book.

Great book that explains how to do food service excellance!
Most referance books I use in my job (I am a cook) does not go into detail how to use math to compute how much to use or how less to use according to scale. Examples and explanation makes it so much easier to understand what is required to do the proper job. I love the equilivants of which items which could be compatable to food items. My only complaint is that sections to find measurements to total needs to be more organized to make it easier to find in the tables. At my job, this book really is considered a "bible" and I'd buy it for my own personal use!

"bible" for serving 100+ young professional musicians/staff.
The tables provided are worth the price alone but the basic recipes are invaluable. They can be adapted to different requirements. Quantities, particularly vegetables, are somewhat conservative compared to what I find needed but the age of the "fifty" (or 100)and their physical activities make a difference. It is the general guides - cooking temperatures/times/specific cuts of meats/yields of purchased bulk versus usuable portion that I find myself referring to over and over. This is also what is missing or reduced in other similar books. I have used a number of the baked goods recipes and find them all to be excellent. Seasonings are very low in most recipes but that is easily remedied - especially spices in the sweet breads and desserts and herbs in most dishes. They need to update that which I hope to find reflected in the newest edition. This book would be a great resource for any type of small catering company, restaurant with changing menu, or institutional food service. ... Read more

Book Description

This guide offers methods for growers who want to maximize the yield and potency of their crop. It explains the "Screen of Green" technique that gives a higher yield using fewer plants, an important development for American growers who, if caught, are penalized according to number of plants. The Cannabis Grow Bible is an authoritative source that features almost 200 color and black-and-white photographs, charts, and tables. With an emphasis on the day-to-day aspects of maintaining a garden and European expertise, this book ensures that growers will enjoy a successful harvest. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

You will learn much here to keep you growing for years
If growers do not learn something new from every page in this book then they have slept through it. Every single section I have read has something new for me. This book really is that good. The layout is done like a growing plant. There is a list of good referrals for potent seeds in the back sections. The text is authoritative and does not go off topic. Many readers may find this too scientific but if you are a grower then you will know how important this science is. It will not teach you how to get a green thumb but it will give everything you need to know about cannabis and how to grow it. I recommend it for the attention to detail and procedure type descriptions. A very professional marijuana book to own.

A grow book from a good grower
This is a grow book from a good grower. That is really all you need to know because there is nothing else like that if you have done your research right. The Cannabis Bible reads and looks like a proper book. If you have been sick of reading books that are strung together by bad binding or look self published then do not let that put you off this one. This is a very different book to those. This book reads and looks like a proper growing manual and the bulk of the work is dedicated to growing. This book is a very big book but big on the information. Point to any page, line or passage at random and learn something new about cannabis. It is like that. This book does not beat about the bush and instead shows you how to grow great bushes. If there is any book you want to read then this is the book that you really want. Why settle for anything less than a grow book from a grower for growers who want to grow.

On closing this review I leave a link to what I produced using this book. http://buddyman.iwarp.com/buddyman.htm

Great Book
I got sick and tired of buying an oz every month, so I decided that I would roll up my sleeves and turn my thumbs green. I bought a professionally built grow cabinet with a Turbo Tank and a 400watt HPS. I searched local bookstores, but none carry any books of this nature, so I turned to Amazon. Anyway, the book is great! I was a first time grower, with little knowledge about the marihuana cultivation. The book contains very detailed information regarding the different growing processes. From seed germination all the way to cooking recipes are in this book. I would HIGHly recommend this book to a first time grower! Growing was the easiest thing I have ever done!

The best book for people who have an interest
This book is simply amazing. Green supplies all the facts a new grower needs to turn out a successful crop. I purchased this book only as a reference, and it has boosted my knowledge about the cultivation of cannabis, and about the plant itself. If you are looking for an easy to read, informative book about Cannabis, than this book is for you.

I prefer this book
This is the newest cannabis grow book with the latest information. The deep hydroponics chapter was what I really needed to read the most but beside that I also learned much more. This book also has outdoor growing, so it is not just an indoor book. It is now the most used in my marijuana book collection and I would direct anyone to try this book out before anything else. It is the most understandable one of the lot and will show you how to directly obtain potent seeds. You can't go wrong with it. ;) ... Read more

Book Description

Jeffrey Glassberg's acclaimed Butterflies through Binoculars guides have revolutionized the way we view butterflies. Now there's a field guide in the same practical format, and with the same emphasis on conservation, to identify caterpillars. Caterpillars are as varied, fascinating, and often as colorful as the adult butterflies they become. This is the most comprehensive guide to these creatures available. It contains all the information necessary to find and identify the caterpillars of North America--from Two-tailed Swallowtails, some of the largest butterfly caterpillars at just over two inches when fully grown, to tiny Western Pygmy-Blues. Caterpillar seekers will learn how to distinguish between butterfly caterpillars and moth caterpillars, where and how to find caterpillars, and the visual differences between young and older caterpillars. Each species section describes how to identify the caterpillar, complete with brilliant photos--many published here for the first time. To make for easy field use, each caterpillar's key physical features, abundance, habitat, and major hostplants are listed on the same page as its photo. The book also contains a special section on butterfly gardening, offering valuable information on how to set up a butterfly garden and raise healthy butterfly caterpillars, and provides a thorough list of the plants butterflies most like to feast on. From the concerned gardener who wishes not to kill caterpillars that may one day become beautiful butterflies to the serious butterflier wishing to take the hobby to the next level, this remarkable guide will provide all of the information necessary for an enriching caterpillar experience. ... Read more

Book Description

The new edition is completely rewritten, beginning to end.The classic "Indoor Bible" puts all the latest information on indoor cultivation at your fingertips.Learn how growers maximize yields, harvesting more than a pound of connoisseur quality bud per 1000w bulb every two months.Includes precise color drawings and photos of numerous plant problems, a troubleshooting chart, four case studies, weekly checklist, calendar, glossary and index.

The book is packed with extensive information on hydroponics, including the Sea Of Green, lighting, soils & soilless mixes, CO2, insect, spider mite, fungus & disease control, fertilizers, nutrient disorders, seeds & seedlings, seed companies, plant care, mother plants, pruning & bending, determining sex, odor control, drying, harvest, medicinal use, safety and security.

200 color photos
200 b/w drawings, charts & graphs

Step-by-Step guide to:
Setting up grow rooms
Setting up light systems
Setting up light movers
Setting up ventilation systems
Planting ideal gardens
Growing perfect clones
Flawless transplanting
Bountiful harvests
Breeding & beyond

Indoor Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor Bible is the best-selling book on indoor marijuana cultivation in the world.This is why growers christened it "The Indoor Bible". All editions of the book have been bestsellers since it was first published in 1983.The book is packed with simple how-to examples and step-by-step instructions that both novice and advanced growers use successfully. If you want to read only one book on indoor growing, this is it! ... Read more

Reviews (33)

The science of indoor growing
With the way times change, this new edition of Indoor Horticulture is as indispensable now as its predecessor was in its moment. In the multidisciplinary field of indoor growing Mr Cervantes steers enerringly betwixt the science of closet cultivation and the art of growing kind herbs. Whether you're off-and-going or up-and-coming this book has everything you need to know and then some. If you have a problem that isn't mentioned here, maybe you're growing a different plant... that's where the high-quality color photos come in handy. As the cover suggests, an "illuminating" book that leaves no stone unturned, not even the sobering memory of thousands