Book Description

Reviews (29)

Best Book for Beginners
I started my backyard flock with only this book for reference. It's got really good information and is a really fun read - lots of humor mixed in with the great information. If you're thinking about starting a small flock and you're a beginner, this is the book you should buy. It's got great information including a chapter with basic poultry terminology, info on hatching chicks, chicken diseases, raising chickens for eggs or for meat, and a whole lot more. And it's all written in everyday English that even a girl from the city like me can understand. Buy this book!

It's the book that got me started
We live on a hobby farm in Minnesota, and this is the book that got me started with my flock of happy hens. It's written in plain, down-to-earth English for the rank beginner who wants to keep chickens on a small scale for eggs, meat, or just the pleasure of having them around. It's especially nice for the free-run flock, with instructions on choosing breeds, raising chicks, housing, nutrition, hatching your own chicks under broody hens or in an incubator, etc. A must-have for anybody who is thinking about keeping chickens. Lots of humor, too!

Outstanding Starter book for Chickens
I highly recommend this book to anyone starting or considering the keeping of Chickens in your yard - be it large or small, rural or not. A source of much information, as well as insight and comfort. Also helps you to gain an appreciation of your birds through understanding them.

Helped me keep chickens in MY backyard
This is THE book to get for a comprehensive guide to keeping your own chickens. I will have had my flock for two years in a few months and this book has been invaluable.

If you don't know where to start, this book IS IT!!! Fresh eggs in the morning are SOOOO much better than store bought -- and the chickens are great pets too!

So get this book, and start planning to have CHICKENS I YOUR BACKYARD!

Great introduction to keeping chickens
Very sensible and easy to read. All aspects of keeping chickens dealt with. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

This book not only covers reactions, products and processes with and from biological catalysts, but also the process of designing and improving such biocatalysts, taking into account all recent insights.
A unique feature is that the fields of organic chemistry, biology and bioengineering receive equal attention, such that practitioners and students from all three areas are addressed. ... Read more

Book Description

The Encyclopedia of Insects is a comprehensive work devoted to all aspects of insects, including their anatomy, physiology, evolution, behavior, reproduction, ecology, and disease, as well as issues of exploitation, conservation, and management. Articles provide definitive facts about all insects from aphids, beetles and butterflies to weevils and yellowjackets.

Insects are beautiful and dreadful, ravenous pests and devastating disease vectors, resilient and resistant to eradication, and the source of great benefit and great loss for civilization.Important for ecosystem health, they have influenced the evolution of other life forms on our planet including humans.Anyone interested in insects, from university professors and researchers to high school students preparing a report, will find The Encyclopedia of Insects an indispensable volume for insect information.

*An unprecedented collection in 1,276 pages covering every important aspect of insects
*Presents 270 original articles, thoroughly peer reviewed and edited for consistency
*Features 1,000 figures and tables, including 500 full-color photographs
*Includes the latest information contributed by 250 experts in 17 countries
*Designed to save research time with a full glossary, 1,700 cross-references, and 3,000 bibliographic entries ... Read more

Book Description

This updated and expanded edition offers current knowledge of nutrient metabolism and the formulation of diets from an array of available feedstuffs. Discusses animals' role in ecological balance, environmental stability and sustainable agriculture and food production. A new section on life-cycle feeding of individual animal classes features chapters contributed by authorities in their respective fields of animal nutrition. These new chapters include cattle, poultry, rabbits, sheep, swine, horses, cats, fish and exotic animals. ... Read more

Book Description

Extensively revised and updated, this authoritative biochemistry text is known worldwide for its comprehensive and up-to-date coverage. Extensively illustrated and user-friendly, the text offers examples pf how knowledge of biochemistry is essential for understanding the molecular basis of health and disease. The 26th edition also features expanded content on results of the Human Genome Project. Perfect as both text and USMLE review. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

It Is Not A Textbook ! It Is A Referance Book!
The book, at least from my point of view, is not a good book to grasp the core concepts of Biochemistry from at the beginning of your biochemistry course.Actually,it is a tool by which you can get a deep understanding of the subject by the aid of other books that can give you the full picture of Biochemistry. Its advantage is in that it covers in details many of the topics that other books usually do not cover. I remember many times finding myself opening the book looking for some details that some professors mention as extra bits which are not found in the other textbooks and present in this book. I recommend it as a reference book for medical students but not a textbook.

Top-of-the-Pop reference book
I am a medical student having studied medicine and biochemistry for the past 3 years. I found the Harper's Biochemistry by a coincidence on the university library.......it is now my favored reference on biochemical and some physiological matters being very concise with more specific details than many other biochemistry textbooks. Said that, I might have more value in your last periods of biochemistry and physiology and as a reference for the rest of your study. Thats why you should go to the library to try it for a couple of months. But then again....you will not be disappointed. S. Wiedemann - Denmark.

Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry
This edition is brilliant. The authors did a fantastic job in displaying such difficult information. The chapter summaries are key for holistic understanding, and the illustrations are very simplistic and highly memorable. Indeed, a job well done. It is perfect for any medical biochemistry course, and the added molecular biology completes the biochemical literature.

The don juan for biochem books
As a Doctor of Pharmacy student, I came across this book during the beginning of the semester while taking biochemistry. This book in my opinion should be owned by all students in the medicinal field. Getting an A in the class was made alot easier to me just because of this book. I found myself using Harper's more than the original required class text book. At a great price compartively with information given..this book is a must. Ive also used Lippincotts Illustrated Biochemistry,as good as that book is, I would say spend the extra 15$ and get one that is alot more in detail.

Detailed information presented in a succinct manner
This is the best biochemistry book for medical students on the market. Medical students need a biochemistry textbook that balances detail with brevity. Harper's biochem does this very well. The chapters are well organized, well written and quite short. The brevity of each chapter makes it easy to digest in one sitting. It also allows specificity as you do not have to scan large chapters looking for information. There is a good balance of diagrams and text and the diagrams are of good quality. The 26th edition is shorter than the 25th edition and the information is more condensed, some chapters have been removed and the information incorporated into existing chapters. Many of the excellent diagrams are retained from the 25th edition. I recommend this text to all medical students. ... Read more

Book Description

Long regarded as the leading book in the field, this volume provides a basic introduction to the biological, chemical, and physical properties affecting soil fertility and plant nutrition.It covers all aspects of nutrient management for profitable crop production, with particular attention to minimizing the environmental impact of soil and fertilizer management. The Sixth Edition has been substantially revised to reflect rapidly advancing knowledge and technologies in both plant nutrition and nutrient management. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

screening of salt tolerant and drought resistant plants
This research aimed to screening of salt and drought resistant plant in saudi arabia to evaluate the effect of water of differant salinities and drought (irrigation intervals)on plant growth and performance in a sandy soil ... Read more

Amazon.com

Picture a magical, sugar-fueled road trip with Willy Wonka behind the wheel and David Sedaris riding shotgun, complete with chocolate-stained roadmaps and the colorful confetti of spent candy wrappers flying in your cocoa powder dust. If you can imagine such a manic journey--better yet, if you can imagine being a hungry hitchhiker who's swept through America's forgotten candy meccas: Philadelphia (Peanut Chews), Sioux City (Twin Bing), Nashville (Goo Goo Cluster), Boise (Idaho Spud) and beyond--then Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America, Steve Almond's impossible-to-put down portrait of regional candy makers and the author's own obsession with all-things sweet, would be your Fodor's guide to this gonzo tour.

With the aptly named Almond (don't even think of bringing up the Almond Joy bit--coconut is Almond's kryptonite), obsession is putting it mildly. Almond loves candy like no other man in America. To wit: the author has "three to seven pounds" of candy in his house at all times. And then there's the Kit Kat Darks incident; Almond has a case of the short-lived confection squirreled away in an undisclosed warehouse. "I had decided to write about candy because I assumed it would be fun and frivolous and distracting," confesses Almond. "It would allow me to reconnect to the single, untarnished pleasure of my childhood. But, of course, there are no untarnished pleasures. That is only something the admen of our time would like us to believe." Almond's bittersweet nostalgia is balanced by a fiercely independent spirit--the same underdog quality on display by the small candy makers whose entire existence (and livelihood) is forever shadowed by the Big Three: Hershey's, Mars, and Nestle.

Almond possesses an original, heartfelt, passionate voice; a writer brave enough to express sheer joy. Early on his tour he becomes entranced with that candy factory staple, the "enrober"--imagine an industrial-size version of the glaze waterfall on the production line at your local Krispy Kreme, but oozing chocolate--dubbing it "the money shot of candy production." And while he writes about candy with the sensibilities of a serious food critic (complimenting his beloved Kit Kat Dark for its "dignified sheen," "puddinglike creaminess," "coffee overtones," and "slightly cloying wafer") words like "nutmeats" and "rack fees" send him into an adolescent twitter.

...the Marathon Bar, which stormed the racks in 1974, enjoyed a meteoric rise, died young, and left a beautiful corpse. The Marathon: a rope of caramel covered in chocolate, not even a solid piece that is, half air holes, an obvious rip-off to anyone who has mastered the basic Piagetian stages, but we couldn't resist the gimmick. And then, as if we weren't bamboozled enough, there was the sleek red package, which included a ruler on the back and thereby affirmed the First Rule of Male Adolescence: If you give a teenage boy a candy bar with a ruler on the back of the package, he will measure his dick

Candyfreak is one of those endearing, quirky titles that defy swift categorization. One of those rare books that you'll want to tear right through, one you won't soon stop talking about. And eager readers beware: It's impossible to flip through ten pages of this sweet little book without reaching for a piece of chocolate. --Brad Thomas Parsons ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Funniest Book I ever read
OK, so I am not a candy freak, but certainly a fan. Plus, my hometown is also home to M&M's/Mars Master Foods. And after reading the People Magazine review, I made a mental note to read this book.

I was not expecting it to be so funny. In fact, I didn't know what to expect really. I mean, I book about candy? How coud he write a whole book about candy without it coming off like a technical guide? But he did it. And I am grateful.

Almond might not be so grateful that I have passed my copy on to three others to read (everyone finished it in about 2-3 days). I sure he would prefer everyone buy their own copy. So, I am doing my part in telling you to get your own copy and prepare to laugh. And to have sugar cravings.

Fascinating, Nostalgic Read!
If you have any sense of awe in regard to childhood, and Americana, Candyfreak is worth your time . Reading this book reminded me of growing up, hanging around the candy store (or counter), and the salivation of opening the wrapper of newfound sweetness.

Candyfreak is what its name infers, but aren't we all that way too?

sweet sadness
Almond writes with pulsing personality and sensual joie de vivre.

This book is a unique mix of journalism, obsession, and personal revelations.

The weakness... visits to the candy companies become repetitous.

The strength... scenes of the author's childhood, his frailties, his stabs at adult love, and his disquiet about America.

Almond's most poignant writing involves his sadness and doubt. Read this for his courage and candor, his observations on our individual quests and our strange society.

Oompa Loompas, Goo-Goo Clusters, and Abba Zabas
Imagine an adult who is just as fascinated by candy as he was when he was eight years old. That is Steve Almond, mid-thirties, English professor, candyfreak.

It's even better being a candyfreak when you are an adult, because you can buy all the candy you want. And you can even eat all the candy you want, if like Almond, you are an ectomorph who never gains weight.

Candyfreak, the book, is a journey through the history of candy in America, and one man's relationship with candy. When Almond is talking about candy -- visiting candy factories, reminiscing about candies past, or discussing the attributes of candy, he is quite good. I enjoyed being reminded of some of my old favorites such as U-No and Kits and Sixlets. But when Almond gets more personal, I found myself skipping chunks of the book. This surprised me, because I usually like memoirs and personal essays. I found I just didn't care about Almond's personal quirks or even his politics, even though I usually agreed with him.

An index would have been helpful, to look up those specific candy bars you are wondering about. Even if you think you aren't interested in the history of candy bars or in candy trivia, you will find yourself compelled to find out what is in a candy bar called "Chicken Dinner" or "Vegetable Sandwich," or why it's called "Three Musketeers."

awfully amateur writing
it's pretty amateur writing-- a better edit would have helped a lot, and some stronger direction for the author. (in the list of links in the back of the book, the description for one is "This person rocks my world." --um, you couldn't give us anything more than that? like, why?) the stuff about the author's childhood is mildly intersting; it's a lot better when he finally visits the chocolate factories. the descriptions of the owners of the factories is great and the interviews are fun too... that's where the book really picks up. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens
EVERYTHING you would ever want to know about raising a flock of backyard chickens is superbly covered in this book! Once I started reading it, I found I couldn't put it down until 5 hours later as the information in it is so clear, so interesting, so usable. I would recommend this for any person who is just starting to raise chickens or for someone who is taking their chicken 'hobby' to new levels.

A complete guide to Raising Chickens
Finally, a complete reference that covers all the major areas of raising chickens. As a poultry farm and hatchery owner, I always suggest this book first to anyone interested in raising chickens. This is an indepth yet easy to read guide that is sure to educate even the most experienced chicken fancier. This book will help you choose the right breed of chicken, how to care for them, maintain their health, and meet your individual goals for your flock. This is currently the premier guide to raising chickens available.

Not too helpful
Doesn't try to solve your chicken problems, just suggests culling all non-perfect chickens.

Couldn't find a better book on raising chickens.
If you have done your research and found this book then you have done well, there is in my opinion NO better book for the beginner,intermediate or experienced backyard chicken grower.
Ms. Damerow covers all the subjects that you can think off, she even has an extensive section on disease and pests and their prevention.If you buy just one book on Chickens this should be it.

If you buy just one book on chickens - this should be it !
I bought a second book not sure just which I would find to be the most helpful. It was completely plain to see that Storey's was the most comprehensive and informative even for the not so experienced backyard chicken family. If you are going to buy just one book to use as a reference for raising chickens I would recommend Storey's. From the get go, Storey's explains the best breeds of chickens for the use you plan to raise them for, how to build the coop determinded on the size of your brood to doctoring your sick chickens and then showing your best chickens. For the backyard chicken raising family this should be your number one book of choice. ... Read more

Book Description

Revised and updated in accordance with modern taxonomic proposals, this edition offers a well-documented, logical and clear explanation of the structure and classification of fungi along with an introduction to physiological, biochemical, genetic and ecological data. The taxonomic approach provides a framework with predictive value. Therefore, the discussions of the numerous activities of fungi that directly or indirectly impact other living things, including humans, are discussed in the context of their close relatives. Contains scores of illustrations, life cycle drawings, tables and new photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent reference text for fungi
The text is a good introduction to fungi with several excellent black and white pictures and illustrations. The text also contains an extensive glossary of mycological terms. However, as other reviewers have indicated, the text appears to be written for people with at least a general biology background. As a microbiologist, I find this book to be a perfect reference for fungi.

A classic introduction with a focus on plant pathology.
Last month I began browsing my 1962 edition of Introductory Mycology. Lo and behold I read through the whole book over a weekend. This book was our bible for the Mycology 100 course in grad school. I was noticing how good the narrative and drawings were in this classic. The book is not a glitzy tome so common in textbooks today. Each class of fungi is dealt with separately and there are extensive references at the end of each chapter. Of course because of the date of my edition some of the references are dated. However, the basic science here is solid and presented in a pedagogical manner. The chapter on class Basidiomycetes deserves special mention. The basidium development narrative is just superb. If you have an interest in fungi and want to delve deeper into this important living group then get this book. It will serve you well for years to come just as it has done for me.

More intermediate than introductory Micology
This textbook is designed and geared towards individuals with already a basic understanding of fungi. Unlike the title, one should be acquinted with basic terminology so that the reading is more instructive and helpful. Once a basic understanding is established, this book can be a great aid when exploring the world of fungi either scientifically or for leisure purposes only. The figures are very useful and the book is well organized and easy to follow. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is one of the best-known and most respected books in geotechnical engineering. In its third edition, it presents both theoretical and practical knowledge of soil mechanics in engineering. It features expanded coverage of vibration problems, mechanics of drainage, passive earth pressure, and consolidation. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Terzaghi says it all...
you've got to have this book if you are a geotechnical engineer. terzaghi gives examples from actual projects and presents them clearly. there are solutions to geotechnical problems encountered in the field.

Karl Terzaghi is loved
Many have commented on my review below -- most favorably. A few said, it was the second edition of the book they had admired most. Well! that was in 1967. Geotechnical engineering has exploded since then. Today it would be almost impossible for anyone to write a 5-star general purpose book on the subject.

I want to thank you for your kind words and encouragement. I am most grateful.

Book of the century
In India people say there is no building like Tajmahal. In civil engineering, I say there is no book like Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. Karl Terzaghi, the father of soil mechanics, had a vision, a vision that he lived by, nurtured and preached. Very few have personified Terzaghi's vision better than co-authors, Peck and Mesri.

Permit me to say, no book in this century has had more influence on the rise of civil engineering than has Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. Since its first publication in 1948, the book has guided a multitude around the world, spawned countless other books, and set a stage of research for a geotechnical generation gone by, there is, and yet to come.

The library of a geotechnical engineer cannot be said to be complete without a copy of this book. ... Read more

Book Description

With a new look and format, but the same industry-leading quality, this book reflects the latest FDA Food Code and information on food safety. It incorporates new information and tasks that industry, academia, and regulatory experts deem essential to the role of foodservice professionals who are responsible for ensuring that an operation is serving safe food. The book prepares students for the ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification Exam. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Don't buy this one if you are currently enrolled in a class!
This is the out of print edition and doesn't contain the 2001 updates that most schools will test you on.

great book and very helpful
This book helped me a tremendous amount getting through the national certifation exam. Every three years we have to up date our certifation in California. I also purchased the Study Guide for the National Servsafe Exam: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations ISBN 0971999678 which is also on amazon. This book covers all levels of food safety. I highly recommend it, especially if it's your first time taking the course or exam.

Very detailed and great pictures
I live in Washington State where it's required to be certified in sanitation before applying for a job. I bought this book and also bought the Study Guide for the National Servsafe Exam: Key Reviews Questions and Answers with Explanations (ISBN: 0971999678) and it helped me pass the course and the national certification test. This study guide covers all necessary information you need to know to work in a restaurant or any other type of food service job.

excellent book and very informative
This book helped me a lot in culinary school, but there were no answers to the questions given at the end of each chapter. I purchased the Study Guide for the National Servsafe Exam: Key Review and Answers with Explanations (ISBN: 0971999678) also on amazon.com, and was able to get through my course easily and passed the national certification test. This study guide will help many students pass their sanitation course with a high grade and also pass the certification test. ... Read more

Book Description

In the genome era, the analysis of gene expression has become a critical requirement in many laboratories. But there has been no comprehensive source of strategic, conceptual, and technical information to guide this often complex task. Transcriptional Regulation in Eukaryotes answers that need. Written by two experienced investigators, Michael Carey and Stephen Smale at the UCLA School of Medicine, and based in part on the Gene Expression course taught at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, this book directly addresses all the concerns of a laboratory studying the regulation of a newly isolated gene and the biochemistry of a new transcription factor.

Chapter 1 reviews the state-of-the-art in the RNA polymerase II transcription field;

Chapters 2–10 are a systematic guide to the investigation of regulatory mechanisms for newly identified genes;

Chapters 11–15 discuss approaches for synthesizing recombinant transcription factors, analyzing their binding, and deciphering their mode of action.

Transcriptional Regulation in Eukaryotes reveals not only what to do but why, and how to plan properly for success. This approach is ideal for graduate students, physician-scientists, postdocs, and others entering the field, but is also valuable for established investigators undertaking in-depth studies in specific systems. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

a great reference for transcription lab work!
I purchased this book for my lab and I cannot praise it highly enough.The only problem is that grad students and postdocs keep stealing it from my office and I'm always having to go out and hunt it down on someone's bench!When introducing a new technique to your lab, it is a good idea to read the chapater on that technique before you pick up your pipet.The descriptions of methodology and the degree of detail are first rate. I hope that Carey and Smale bring out a new edition soon that covers the new innovations in the transcription field from the five years since their current edition was published.

Lori Bernstein
Assistant Professor
Texas A & M University

Good Book for the beginner and expert....
There are so many method for experiment regarding transcriptional regulations. In this book, you may find brief purpose, background knowledge and technical guide for the allmost experiment about transcriptionalregulations. ... Read more

Book Description

This textbook is intended for a diverse audience that ranges from chemistry majors to students in any of the life sciences.The logical organization (discussion of molecular structure immediately followed by the role it plays in metabolism) leads students through the complex world of biochemistry while an impressive art program helps to guide them through up-to-date concepts.Of special interest are the new Biochemical Methods boxes in the text, PowerPoint slides for instructors, and animated and annotated Chime structures of biomolecules in the OLC. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A very thorough intro to biochemistry for any grad student
From the point of view of biology and chemistry, this book outlines the fundamental points that are needed to understand the different processes of all cells, with a special emphasis on diseases. It has at the beginning of each chapter a short presentation of the problem to be discussed. It has an excellent set of questions at the end of each chapter. The index is very thorough and helpful and the references relate to CURRENT useful sources. ... Read more

Book Description

This widely acclaimed text covers the whole field of modern food microbiology. Now in its second edition, it has been revised and updated throughout and includes new sections on stress response, Mycobacterium spp., risk analysis and new foodborne health problems such as BSE. Food Microbiology covers the three main aspects of interaction between micro-organisms and food - spoilage, foodborne illness and fermentation - and the positive and negative features that result. It discusses the factors affecting the presence of micro-organisms in food and their capacity to survive and grow. Also included are recent developments in procedures used to assay and control the microbiological quality of food. Food Microbiology presents a thorough and accessible account of this increasingly topical subject, and is an ideal text for undergraduate courses in the biological sciences, biotechnology and food science. It will also be valuable as a reference for lecturers and researchers in these areas. ... Read more

Book Description

Organic and Biological Chemistryprovides a readable, uncomplicated and accessible introduction to those in allied health and other fields who have little or no background in chemistry. The author uses the same style and integrated pedagogy that has made her book so successful, balancing technical accuracy and everyday examples to help chemistry come to life.For college students instructors and students. ... Read more

Book Description

Molecular markers have opened exciting new windows through which to view the natural biological world. This treatment addresses the many applications for genetic markers (from polymorphic proteins and DNA) from the perspectives of population biology, behavioral ecology, organismal evolution, and phylogeny. Opening chapters review the history and purview of molecular approaches, and compare and contrast various laboratory techniques for revealing molecular markers. Subsequent chapters review the extensive scientific literature of molecular ecology and evolution, and describe a cornucopia of captivating discoveries about nature's workings, past and present.

The book is taxonomically balanced with numerous examples from plants, animals, and microbes. It is also temporally balanced with examples ranging from assessments of genetic parentage and kinship in the most recent generations to phylogenetic assessments deep in the Tree of Life (and nearly everything in-between). This Second Edition of a seminal work (first published in 1994) brings the reader up-to-date on the many dramatic advances and insights made over the last decade. Furthermore, by retaining descriptions of many pioneering works, this book also traces the empirical and conceptual roots of each subject, and thereby provides a rich sense of the field's history.

Appropriate for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and scientists in such disciplines as ecology, genetics, population biology, ethology, molecular biology, systematics, and conservation biology, this new edition is for anyone interested in the application of molecular markers to organisms in the wild. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great.
Excelent book, full of diverse examples. Excelent to read too. Full of very interesting informations. Everyone who is interested at the subject should read it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beware the description of this book
This is a supplement to my earlier review. Note that the description of American Insects, by Arnett,... is based on the first edition, in which "Every order, family, and genus is conveniently numbered and indexed" and you could "quickly determine the taxonomic position of any species, genus, or higher taxon of insect known to occur in America and Canada." This is not the case in the second edition. You can look up major genera only.

Subfamilies are listed under an entry for the family, not under the subfamily name, which means you _can't_ quickly determine their taxonomic positions. You have to know the taxonomic position in order to look up the subfamilies. This defeats one major purpose of the book, and renders it not very usable.

Whoever provided the text for the book description apparently just carried it over from the previous edition, without taking into account the changes in the new edition. This isn't by a long stretch the same book.

Once excellent book devalued
As a naturalist and amateur entomologist, I found the first edition of this book especially useful for looking up unfamiliar genera and species of insects, to find out where they fit in the scheme of insect taxonomy.

Unfortunately, CRC Press, the publisher of the second edition, has cut corners by reducing the size of the index from 128 pages for 714 pages of text in the first edition to 57 pages for 931 pages of text in the second edition. This was accomplished by eliminating all but the major genera from the index. In my opinion, this seriously diminishes the value of the book. The best information in the world is useless if you can't access it efficiently. A book like this lives or dies by the quality of its index.

After purchasing the book in early January, 2001 and quickly discovering the problem, I wrote to the publisher to complain and to ask that they make available a complete index as a supplement. I have yet to receive a response from them. The book's author, Ross Arnett, was upset when the publisher of the first edition inadvertently left out the photo captions in proof and wouldn't restore them. I have to think he is spinning in his grave over the gutting of the index in the second edition, a much more serious affair.

I'd love to be able to recommend the second edition of this book. However, unless the publisher remedies the index problem, I can't. Unless you want it primarily for the keys, I suggest looking for a used copy of the first edition. ... Read more

Book Description

You probably know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, and that a heart attack is the most common form of heart disease. But did you know that a significant risk factor for a heart attack is high cholesterol? Controlling cholesterol levels is a vital part of healthy living—and it’s easier than you might think to keep your cholesterol within safe boundaries, reduce your risk of heart attack, and improve your odds for a long, healthy life.

If your doctor has told you that you need to get your cholesterol in check, if you are concerned about all the fuss surrounding high cholesterol, or if you’re simply a health-conscious individual, Controlling Cholesterol For Dummies is the book of choice for you. Filled with effective solutions for managing cholesterol levels, from following a low-fat diet to choosing an exercise regimen, this friendly guide is a must-have for:

• Achieving and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels
• Rating your risk of heart disease
• Leading a cholesterol-lowering lifestyle
• Determining how low you should go
• Improving your overall health

You’ll discover how to build a cholesterol-lowering diet, shed pounds the healthy way, make your weight-loss menus marvelous, and keep track of calories without confusion. Controlling Cholesterol For Dummies also reveals:

• The difference between “good” and “bad” cholesterol
• The lowdown on brand-name diets
• How to cut cholesterol through prescription medications, vitamins, and supplements
• The added dangers of smoking and the benefits of alcohol (in moderation, of course!)
• How to find an exercise program you like—and stick to it
• Ways to cut back on saturated fats
• The top foods for lowering cholesterol—and the foods you must avoid

Featuring ten important cholesterol Web sites, ten nutrition Web sites, the truth behind common cholesterol myths, and a handy nutrition chart for several hundred everyday foods, Controlling Cholesterol For Dummies offers reasonable, moderate strategies to help you reach your goal. You won’t turn into an anti-cholesterol fanatic—you’ll simply gain the knowledge you need to lower your cholesterol levels and keep them that way! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good if you need quick quick coverage.
Nicely summed up by the reviewer below. If you need a very quick-and-dirty review, this is good. I take points off due to the lack of index and some weak sections. At this point, QBank leads me to believe that this book may not cover everything I needed to know.. but good for last minute stuff, especially if you hate Biochem like myself.

Good choice for USMLE
High Yield Biochemistry is the perfect book for a one or two day board review. It is easy reading without the complex charts and detail needed in the first year of medical school. The book does miss some major points. Vitamin overdoses are weak, as are some major disorders/deficiencies like Diabetes, G6pdh, Hbs/Hbc, and purine salvage. ... Read more