Book Description

Newly revised to accompany Microbiology: An Introduction, Seventh Edition by Tortora, Funke, and Case, this lab manual includes 57 experiments that demonstrate the broad spectrum of microbiology.Intended as a manual of basic microbiologic techniques, this popular lab manual features applications in diverse areas, including the biological sciences, the allied health sciences, agriculture, environmental science, nutrition, pharmacy, and various pre-professional programs. Experiments have been refined in this new edition to encourage readers to develop critical thinking skills as well as learn basic facts and technical skills. Material with direct application to clinical and commercial labs is included whenever possible, and increased emphasis is placed on lab safety.For college instructors and students. ... Read more

Book Description

Hole's Human Anatomy and Physiology assumes no prior science knowledge. The text supports main concepts with clinical applications, making them more relevant to students pursuing careers in the allied health field. The learning aids throughout the text, along with the reader-friendly writing style, create a highly-effective learning system for understanding the concepts of anatomy and physiology. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Textbook
I took this course in college because it was required for my major. I honestly have to say that this book is extremely thorough. It covers all body systems in great detail it's diagrams are extremely helpful. ... 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 (20)

Wildflowers made easy: an indispensable reference.
If you're going to buy just one book on wildflower identification, this is it. While not foolproof, this system is the best I've seen. It beats by far other methods using color and shape of flower, as used in the Audubon and Peterson field guides (though both the latter have their place, and you should get both if you're really serious).

A most unique aspect of this book is that it includes shrubs as well as plants normally considered wildflowers, adding greatly to its utility for the amateur observer.

Simple System Eases Wildflower Identification
The author's system allows even amateurs like me to quickly and accurately identify wildflowers.

It is as simple as answering five questions which point the user to the appropriate page in the book where the flower is described and pictured. The text is great. The first sentence of each description distinguishes that plant from all others in that group.

If you are looking for a wildflower guide, they do not get better than this one.

Hands-down best (for the Northeast)
This is the easiest-to-use and most thorough flower guide I've ever seen. Yes, most illustrations are black-and-white. It's an initial disappointment; however, the quick and sure five-step identification process is worth the lack of color (and the drawings are expertly done). It's much more complete than, say, the Audubon guide. Newcomb has yet to leave me stumped for the identity of any flowering plant. As has been noted, this guide is valid for the Northeast U.S., from Virginia-Kentucky up; and for Canada from Thunder Bay to Newfoundland. I wish the rest of you had a version -- it's indispensible.

Nice book, but..
there's no way to tell from the web pages, but this book is only about wildflowers in the Northeast portion of the U.S., didn't do me much good in California.
Was a Christmas gift that will be returned.
Amazon.com should make it plain that it's regional.

A useful book
Newcomb's guide is a great book, once you get past the initial training period. For those of us used to flipping through pictures of flowers and fruit until we think we have the right one, this book can be initially off-putting.

My advice...get used to it. Newcomb's system is more efficient and more certain than flower-flipping. A good book. ... Read more

Book Description

Biochemistry Molecular Biology of Plants is a major contribution to the plant sciences literature, superbly edited by three distinguished scientists, Bob B. Buchanan, Wilhelm Gruissem, and Russell L. Jones, with contributions from more than 50 world-renowned scientists. With over 1,400 pages, 1,100 full-colour original drawings and 500 photographs this work qualifies, in the words of the Science reviewer, as:

"an essential reference for practicing plant biologists and for the increasing number of scientists from other disciplines who are entering the field of plant biology. To exploit fully the wealth of new information provided by the genome projects and to integrate the metabolic, regulatory, and signal transduction pathways of complex organisms, biologists will require a solid command of biochemistry and physiology. For this reason, the publication of Biochemistry Molecular Biology of Plants could not have come at a more opportune and auspicious time."

This book is meticulously organised and richly illustrated, useful both for teaching and for reference. The multi-authored work provides a contemporary view of its subject, including molecular biology, cell biology, and plant physiology, integrated around the themes of:

• compartmentation
• cell reproduction
• energetics
• metabolism
• development

"The great strength of this book is that it has integrated its three major components (molecular biology, cell biology, and plant biochemistry) in each of the 24 chapters, resulting in a comprehensive analysis of a multitude of specific topics."

Who should buy this spectacular new text?

Book Description

Would you like to bring guest lectures like researchers, physicians, or fellow instructors into you microbiology course? With this third edition of INTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY you get the perspective of all of those three professionals. John Ingraham, a professor of microbiology at University of California at Davis, and Catherine Ingraham, his daughter and a practicing physician, utilize their experience within a case history approach complemented by a great technology package. Each chapter in INTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY now consistently begins with a case history, which John Ingraham has found very motivatonal to students who are new to the study ofbasic science. Because Catherine Ingraham studied to become a physician by interviewing patients, determining causes and implementing solutions, she knows mastry comes from high interest human stories rather than clinical presentations. Many of the case histories found in this book are taken from Catherine's experience as a physician. This combination of experiences and talent brings a case-based quality to every lecture and homework session.This unique author team also provides up-to-the-minute currency. Coverage of new microbial "events" such as biological warfare, studied by John and its effects prepared for in Catherine's office, keeps students interested. The authors also highlight reemerging diseases, such as tuberculoses and smallpox.As with previous editions, this book takes a "body systems" organization. Students are exposed to the unknown, the world of the microbes, through the known, and the different parts of their own bodies. And, because art is so important, there is again a multimedia manager with this title, but with more exciting capabilities than ever before. Instructors receive powerful PowerPoint slides for all the illustrations, tables and figures from the text, plus several animations are at your fingertips. ... Read more

Book Description

Roger Tory Peterson had already made his mark with his innovative field guide when he conducted DDT research during World War II. His friend and fellow naturalist Rachel Carson built on these efforts and eventually wrote Silent Spring, a landmark text that, along with Peterson"s field guide, jump-started the modern environmental movement.
By combining the tireless observation of a scientist with the imaginative skills of an artist and writer, Peterson created a field guide that Robert Bateman, in his foreword to the fifth edition, says was the doorway for millions of people into the wonderland of natural history.
The Peterson Identification System has been used in the more than fifty books that make up the Peterson Field Guide series. Peterson"s magnum opus, now in its fifth edition, created the trail for countless field guides to follow. They are still following year by year, but his is the standard by which all other field guides are judged.
On the morning of July 28, 1996, Roger Peterson was painting his final bird plate. He died peacefully in his sleep later that day. It is fitting that his final work—a culmination of more than sixty years of observing, painting, and writing—should be this one, a revision of the guide that started his legacy. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A review for beginning birders (from one, gulp!)
When starting this hobby, there are an immense number of guides and (often expensive) resources to choose from.

This book should be the first one you buy (well, if you are in the eastern half of the US).

But it should not be the last. The Peterson Guide uses drawings (important -- NOT photos) to show you the typical features of the birds around you. Other great guides -- like the Audubon series -- use photos, but photos are harder for a beginner to use for a sure-fire identification. Or this beginner anyway...

No bird in the field looks exactly like the lovely Peterson drawing, but no two bird photos are ever alike, either (even of the same bird). Use the Peterson to get to know the bird species around you, and maybe next buy a guide like the Audubon Society Field Guide (just because -- I dunno, they seem like a one-two punch to me)! It's great to go looking with both, but if I had to choose one, it would be Peterson.

To learn more about birding in general, Sibley has a nice, shortish overview book called "Sibley's Birding Basics."

I'm only getting started, but this is some advice about what's helped in beginning to learn all this wonderful stuff about the living world all 'round.

small improvement--world of difference
I previously carried an old edition of Peterson's because the pictures are more helpful for identification than those in any other field guide. However, it was a nuisance having to search through the range maps in the back of the book to see whether a bird could be found in a given location.

In this new edition a miniature range map is printed next to the description of each bird on the page opposite the picture. (Full-sized maps are still located in the back of the book.) The new format is very helpful to those of us who don't already know the ranges of most birds. This very good field guide is now great.

The is the best bird guide book I've ever seen or owned!
I owe a few bird books but this is the best and most handy one to identify a bird I'm not familar with. I love the arrows pointing to the areas for quick identification. It shows me what I should be looking for and sure helps when the bird won't stand still. The book is so light, I can have it on hand at all times. I even have it next to me in my own backyard. If you want a book to start out a new hobby of identifying birds, this is the one to get. Then start collecting from there. In fact, I'm considering buying another one for my car for spir-of-the-moment identification away from home and leave one at home for the backyard.

Very useful and handy!
Really needed a good (and easy to use) guide for our new bordering-on-the-woods house. We get tons of bird traffic at our feeders, and this book is organized well enough that I can quickly identify the species we see.

The field guide that started it all
If you're getting into birding, or want a good field guide to see what birds are at your cabin or in your yard, this is it.

It's got the bird listed opposite from the description and has arrows to show field marks of a species. New in the 5th edition are:

Maps on the same page as the description (maps improved too!)
The description mentions how common the bird is in the east.
The area covered doesn't take a sharp turn and leave out the tip of texas

If you're getting more into birding I'd highly recommend David Sibley's guide, it has many more views and plumages of each bird, but is a bit large to take in the field. ... Read more

Book Description

Regarded as the "Bible" of mammalian embryo manipulation techniques since the 1986 publication of the first edition of Manipulating the Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual, the third edition of this essential laboratory resource has now been completely reorganized, rewritten, and updated by a new cast of authors. The result is a compilation of new, cutting–edge protocols that include embryonic stem cell production and genetic manipulation, mouse chimeras, mouse cloning, assisted reproduction strategies (including intracytoplasmic sperm injection and in vitro fertilization), whole embryo culture systems, electroporation, embryo and gamete cryopreservation and rederivation, and gene expression, as well as more extensive background information on the use of these techniques. The "gold standard" techniques for applying recombinant DNA technology to investigations of mammalian embryonic development included in the first two editions of this book are also updated and recast, as is the summary of the current state of understanding of mouse development at the molecular level. This book is the premier authoritative and comprehensive source of technical and theoretical guidance for mouse developmental biologists and geneticists and is an essential resource for newcomers to these fields. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The New Testament?
A definitive summary of mouse development and simple, concise proven protocols. This is the best publication there is for this kind of work. It's much better than the 2nd, ed. I wish it had more of a troubleshooting focus, but I guess if you are in this line of work, you should be able to figure out problems yourself, or query the tg list.... I like how there are alternative strategies mentioned depending on how your lab is equiped (or not). ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Incredibly boring!
This entire series of "Incredibly Easy" books should be called "Incredibly Boring"! I've found all of them to be useless in keeping my attention or in helping me to remember. There is nothing memorable about anything in these books.

Very helpful book!!!!
This book helped me get through Pathophysiology. When you are learning about Fluids and Electrolytes, it really breaks it down into an easier to understand format. The quizzes and questions at the end of the book are also helpful. They do not only give you the correct answer but also tell you why it is correct. I would reccommend it to any nursing student, even if your program does not require Patho!

Must have for nursing students!
This book is a must have for nursing students! Makes fluid and electrolytes easy to understand.

Great For Nursing Students!
I read this book over my summer break from nursing school and found it very helpful. It is easy to follow and you will be amazed at how interesting fluids and electrolytes can be! It made everything "click"

Excellent book
I am an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and ACLS Experienced Provider (ACLS-EP) Instructor and use this book in my classes. It is a great book to teach electrolytes, and is very clear. I am also an Excelsior student, and this book was essential for Nursing Concepts 2 test. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND purchasing this book if you plan on taking NC2 or ACLS-EP. If you are ever confused about why you have electrolytes infusing, this book is clear and to the point. ... Read more

Book Description

BIRDING BY EAR uses an educational and entertaining method for learning bird songs. Instead of merely providing a catalog of bird song samples, BIRDING BY EAR actually teaches. This proven method has greatly enhanced the field experience for birders across North America. The authors have created learning groups of similar vocalizations and clearly point out distinguishing characteristics. Using techniques such as phonetics, mnemonics, and descriptive words, Walton and Lawson provide a context for learning the songs and calls of eighty-five species of birds found east of the Rockies. Combine the auditory instruction here with the visual features of the Peterson Identification System. Page numbers in BIRDING BY EAR's booklet refer to species descriptions in the PETERSON FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA, fifth edition. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

"Who cooks for you?"
Listening to this 3-CD set for the first time, I cycled through an entire manic-depressive episode. The depression occurred early on the first CD, track 4--"Sing-Songers." If there was one bird song I thought I knew it was the American Robin's cheerful warble. Now I learn that there are three other birds that sound EXACTLY like the robin to me: the Scarlet Tanager; the Summer Tanager; and the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.

Oh no! I'm going to have to listen to these CDs a hundred times before I can even be confident of the robin again.

Later that same night, as I was crawling moodily into bed, I cranked open the window and heard a series of low hoots that sounded like, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you?"--Instant mood swing. I lay there grinning in the dark, because I had just identified a Barred Owl. He sounded exactly like he did on these CDs.

There is something so satisfying about being able to identify a song or a flower or even an animal track, as a reminder of the lives being lived around us--some of them very strange and beautiful. You will be amazed the first time you step outside after listening to these CDs, by how the orchestra of bird song begins to sort itself out into individual instruments. I was able to identify the Song Sparrow and the Oven Bird--two shy, unseen songsters that had been puzzling me for years.

Each of the tracks in this CD set contains narration as well as bird calls and bird song. Birds are grouped on a track based on similarity of song, which is why you'll find the Mourning Dove on the Owl track. According to the narrator, many people mistake them for owls.

At the end of the third CD, bird songs and calls are grouped together by habitat. To test yourself, listen to the birds and try to recognize them without referring to the accompanying text insert. I averaged round three out of ten correct identifications per group, but I expect to do better as I replay these fascinating CDs.

Added benefit: this 'Guide to Birdsong Identification' will bewitch any resident cats. One of mine is perched on the CD player right now, trying to peer into a speaker.

Great work out CD
I listen to these CDs while working out at the gym and boy did it pay off. While on vacation last summer in Vermont I could identify almost every bird call I heard without even trying. My ears would prick up at every sound of a bird and I would know what it was. It's a great feeling to take a walk in the woods or to garden in your back yard and know who is out there with you without fumbling with your binoculars. These are excellent CDs.

Great learning tool for birders....
If you wish to broaden your bird-identification skills and gain an advantage in telling birds apart by song, this audio guide is perfect for you.

The birds in this guide are grouped together based on the similarities of their calls, as well as habitat preferences. By doing this, the authors of this guide have allowed the learner to compare similar sounding species likely to be confuse in the field.

Richard Walton's clear voice introduces each species and walks the listener through the various groupings. Throughout, he points out key characteristics of each bird call to enhance the listener's learning experince. The birds featured in each group on this three disc set include many familar eastern North American species. The eastern woodpeckers, several confusing sparrow species, buetos, tanagers and several other neotropical migrants are featured on the first disc. The second features several owl species and a variety of flycatchers among others. The third CD is comprised mostly of neotropical songbirds and a few odds and ends species: common eastern warblers, thrushes, plus American bittern. The third disc also includes a several groupings of birds that allows the listener's to test their bird vocalization identification skills.

Along with the CDs, a complementry booklet with surprisingly good black-and-white illistrations is included. This helps the birder make visual assocations with the species they are hearing. Room is provided on each page for the listener to take notes on the various bird vocalizations. Page numbers for locating the birds on the plates in the PETERSON FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS: EASTERN/CENTRAL REGION are also provided in the booklet.

Overall, this three-CD set serves as a nice introduction/learning tool to the voices of Eastern North America's birds. It allows the learner to broaden his or her bird identifiaction skills. It is especially useful for beginners, but experienced enthusiats may also find the guide highly useful in comparing bird calls. A great buy.

Excellent bird song guide
By grouping bird song according to characteristics, this clear guide makes it easier to learn and be able to identify bird song. The method of grouping similar types of songs on the CD, along with the brief, written guide enclosed, enables you to locate and identify birds you hear in the field much more easily than guides that simply list songs in order of the species' appearance in bird guides. Songs and calls are both included, as well as variations, which is very helpful as birds have "dialects" and variations in song patterns just like people of different areas have.

Repetition & field work are the key to this CD.
When I first received this CD I was disappointed & overwhelmed. I thought, how could I possibly learn any of these bird calls (I'm 50 years old). It seemed like a monumental task. Well, I kept listening over and over (thinking the mnemonics were silly) and low and behold things started to click. I made a few forays into the field and was very excited when I heard bird calls and the mnemonics made sense. I still get excited when I'm able to identify a bird by song or call. I even find myself doing it on TV commercials. This CD isn't any good if you don't include field work with it. Practice, practice, practice and one day you will be out in the field and hear a bird and know exactly what you are looking for. This CD has made me a much better birder. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Covering 508 bird species found east of the Rocky Mountains, the revised second edition takes into account changes in taxonomy and uses improved photography. At the heart of the guide is a set of 646 well-made color photographs whose subjects are organized by easily discerned characteristics (e.g., "chicken-like marsh birds," such as the clapper rail; "gull-like birds," such as the kittiwake; and "upright-perching water birds," such as the common murre). The photographs are then keyed to textual descriptions of the birds' appearance, range and habitat, nesting characteristics, and behavior. Easy to use and handsomely produced, this belongs in every eastern birdwatcher's collection. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Not as good as the Peterson Bird Guides
This National Audubon Society field guide to birds has lots and lots of nice, but small, photos of birds. That's nice. This guide also includes most of the birds of the region. Those are the plusses of this book. There are, however, a number of minuses that come along with this book.

First of all, no photograph-based field guide can show the important characteristics needed to identify most birds as clearly as a good illustration can. Next, the only info that accompanies each photograph is the common name of the bird, along with its gender, average size, and a reference to a page number to a section in the back of the book that provides all of the descriptive narrative information for each species. That info includes each bird's physical description, voice (call), habitat, nesting info, and geographic range (with a map by the info -- that's nice). The part that's frustrating for me is that I have to spend time flipping back and forth between the photo section at the front of the book and the info section at the back of the book in order to get the info I'm looking for! While I'm in the field birding, that's a hassle! I therefore much prefer the illustrated format that has pictures and descriptive info of the Peterson Guides to the Audubon guides.

Still, the Audubon guides are useful, though I use mine primarily as a secondary source, and it usually stays inside when I go out -- Peterson is my guide of choice.

I am, by the way, a novice birder myself, and find that the Peterson Guides help me to ID birds faster and with fewer errors than the Audubon guides do.

5 points for photos, but 3 points for ease of use, for 4 points overall.

Good luck,and happy spotting!

Alan Holyoak, Dept of Biology, Manchester College, IN

An Excellent Field Guide for Birders
This is an excellent guide to identifying birds. The National Audubon Society is an excellent authority on all things nature, and therefore it is not surprising that the National Audubon Society would publish a helpful guide. The guide helps a birder identify birds by behavior, size, habitat, plumage, call, and location. There are color photographs of many birds to guide the birder. The plates are grouped by family which makes basic identification easy. The book also has a section that describes each bird as well as maps that show the likely locations where birds can be found. The color plates are enjoyable simply to look at, and can help a person prepare for possible sightings. The book is small enough that it can be carried to the field. The cover is also durable so it can withstand wear and tear. Since the boos are divided buy Eastern Region and Western Region, so the book is not very cumbersome.

Good Pictures, Info; Poor Organization
I have used many of Audubon's Field Guides, and they are very helpful and usually organized and easy to understand. However, this one is extremely complex and confusing.

When I find an interesting bird, I would go grab my binoculars and field guide and look it up. I go to the correct catagory and frantically search for the bird. When I find it, it gives me a detailed color picture that helps identify the bird. However, if you want more information, it than refers you to a different page, hundreds of thin pages away. You than need to go and find the page, but by then, the bird is gone. When I do get to the page, it is filled with wonderful detailed information of appearance, voice, habitat, nesting, range, map of habitat, and a brief summary.

The book is nice, but I would recommend buying another one with more organization.

Great potential but bad design
Field guides are great to have because they're small and their entire aim is to help you immediately identify a bird you see before you. Every birder should have at least one field guide, and maybe even several - some to keep in the car or by a window.

Being published by the National Audubon Society, you'd expect this field guide to be top-notch, one developed and tested by thousands of birders. Indeed, the photos are very nice, full color and in 'native habitat'. The descriptions are pretty complete - with size, key things to look for, song, hapitat. There's a little map showing range, and the range is also described as well.

The problem is with the layout. All of the pictures are at the front of the book - put into groups by bird type, three to a page. Often there's only one photo of a bird, even though they look different during different years of life or seasons. If you see something that seems it might be right, now you have to go flipping through many pages to track down the actual *information* on that bird. Does it even live where you're looking? Are there other similar birds it might be instead? What are those key features you're supposed to be watching for? By the time you figure any of this out, the bird is probably back in hiding.

It seems with their knowledge of birders and how birders operate, they'd have arranged this book in an easier-to-use fashion. While this is a nice book to have for its lovely pictures, it's not what I grab when I need to bring a field book with me on a trip.

Incomplete and inconvenient
This book, although had good intentions is a very inefficient and incomplete field guide. It only has pictures of some of the birds, and usually only one plumage, which makes it impossible as a reliable field guide for fall shorebirds and warblers, and juvenile birds. The pictures of the birds are also seperate from the descriptions and range maps. In addition the pictures are organized by color rather that family. So, if you know you are looking at a warbler you can't go to the warbler section you must find the section of the pictures that has e.g. birds with yellow plumage. Pictures of birds in flight are all but absent in this guide, so if you don't know your hawks, etc. you won't be any better off with this book. I would recommend a more complete and easy to use guide like the National Geographic field guide. ... Read more

Book Description

Introductory, one-semester text designed for non-majors. Covers the basics of marine biology with a global approach using examples from numerous regions and ecosystems worldwide. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Effective introduction
I have begun to use the third edition of this book in my introductory marine science course.I have to say that the Castro and Huber have taken a professional, effective approach to covering a diverse subject.The book takes a typical approach.Part 1: The nature of science and the physical environment.Part 2: Life in the marine environment, starting with physiology and moving on to diversity.Part 3: Ecology, covering basic principles and exploring various arine habitats.Part 4: Man's impact on the sea.Things that I like about this book include: the excellent illustrations, both photographs and diagrams; box readings on special topics; and the chapter self reviews.Things that I do not like include the failure to put the various groups of animals in evolutionary relationships.There are two chapters on marine organisms, vertebrates and invertebrate.This arrangement fails to recognize the over all diversity of these groups and frequently unrelated groups are piled together for no reason but convenience.I think perhaps a simple appendix of cladograms of the various groups would address this.There is also a companion web site that I have not had the time to explore.

In all, it is an effective introduction to marine biology.I am enjoying incorporating it in to my class.I also think that it would be a fine choice for persons who want to study marine biology on there own.It is written at such a level that a person with a high school education can understand it with only a few references to the glossary or other books.

Have Fun Discovering Marine Biology
I am a high school student and this is a college course, and the only reason I am bought this book was because my school can't afford to supply the students with it. This book is great and is going to almost guarantee me a passing grade in my Marine Biology class. Although this is just an introduction book it is full of information and it is and interesting subject to study. Coming from a student I recommend this book to any Marine Biology teacher. This subject is overall fun and even if you are expecting to be something non-related to this subject when you choose your career this is still very educational. ... Read more

Book Description

"Operative Strategy" is the advance plan that the surgeon develops to anticipate and avoid technical pitfalls and potential danger points of an operation. The goal is to make each surgical procedure safe and without complications. Completely revised and now under the editorship of Carol E.H. Scott-Conner, Chassin's Operative Strategies in General Surgery: An Expositive Atlas, Third Edition provides a clear exposition of all basic procedures including surgery of the digestive tract, breast, abdominal wall, selected head and neck, and endocrine system. Surgery is currently in a state of transition, and many procedures are being performed by minimally-invasive means. While some might argue that "old" operations should be discarded, no operations have been deleted from the text, thus providing the reader with a repository of rare techniques in addition to cutting-edge, minimally invasive approaches. In addition, nineteen new chapters have been added, including discussions of: -laparoscopic basics -laparoscopic nissen fundoplication -laparoscopic esophagomyotomy -laparoscopic plication of perforated ulcer -laparoscopic appendectomy -mesh repair of inguinal hernia -laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia

Over 1000 elegant illustrations by Caspar Henselmann accompany this text, an indispensable reference for all surgical residents and practicing surgeons. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Chassin's Operative Strategy in Genral Surgery- A Must Read
I know that Zollinger's and Sabiston are the standard reccommended readings. If you have the money to go ahead and get them, but if you are on a budget like most residents the one book you can't pass up is Chassin's. It is clear, current, offers basic tips and explains common pitfalls. The diagrams and pictures are fabulous. You will definately be prepared for any OR case if you review this book the night before.

For surgical trainees
Good books on operative surgery are difficult to find. This book offers a much clearer understanding of operative general surgery. The detailed text is aided with helpful illustrations. It describes many of the pitfalls that surgeons encounter in day to day practice. The price may be off-putting but to the serious surgical trainee, they will see this book as an invaluable investment. ... Read more

Book Description

Everyone's heard of the Great Whites. But most people know little of the hundreds of other types of sharks that inhabit the world's oceans. Written by two of the world's leading authorities and superbly illustrated by wildlife artist Marc Dando, this is the first comprehensive field guide to all 440-plus shark species. Color plates illustrate all species, and detailed accounts include diagnostic line drawings and a distribution map for each species. Introductory chapters treat physiology, behavior, reproduction, ecology, diet, and sharks' interrelationships with humans.

• More than 125 original full-color illustrations for fast and accurate identification of each shark family
• Over 500 additional drawings illustrating physical features from different angles
• Clear identification information for each species with details of size, habitat, behavior, and biology
• Quick ID guide helpful for differentiating similar species
• Geographic distribution maps for each species
• For professional and amateur shark enthusiasts

Reviews (1)

A must for shark workers and enthusiasts
If you don't know anything about Leonard Compagno, you should know that he is a very thorough archivist.It was he who cataloged all of the known shark species for the FAO Species Catalog, presumably the basis for this book.The book begins with a small introductory section on sharks (evolution, anatomy, physiology, ecology, etc.) and a key to the families.This is followed by wonderfully drawn color plates of each shark.The individual descriptions of the sharks include a line drawing with notable characters, examples of upper and lower teeth (more if heterodontic), distributions and a short blurb that includes habitat, size, behavior and biology, descriptions and IUCN status.Included are relatively new species and all of the deep-water forms.I cannot imagine needing another guide, at least for the next ten years.New species aren't exactly rolling in.I would recommend, however, a hardback copy for field workers, as paperbacks don't last very long with heavy usage.Also, keep in mind that other elasmobranchs are not included.I have not seen Compagno's much cheaper Collins Guide (only available in hardback), but I do know that this Princeton Guide is worth the money. ... Read more

Book Description

The new edition of this market-leading Environmental Science text offers a wealth of new technology for you and your students. Each text will be packaged FREE with an Essential Study Partner CD-ROM for students PLUS a password code card to access our cool new Online Learning Center website. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Horrible.
Any text that advises poverty-stricken Africans to use solar-powered stoves as opposed to wood-burning fires to cook their food in attempt to lower energy consumption has gone too far off the deep end as to be a suitable college source.

Too many typos, too opinionated in the wrong places, not opinionated enough in the right places, just horrible. Wretched book. And to think, my family spent over $100 on the package. Ack!

[Ask your prof to use one of the labs to research better textbooks if this is all he/she can come up with.]

Well-researched and thoughtfully presented
The authors obviously put a lot of work into making science accessible and interesting! The information in the book is up-to-date, and the approach is balanced. Great text!

Tree-hugger only
The teacher who teaches this is an enviromentalist wacko and this book can be used solely for that purpose.

A clearly defined study of environmental science
This text is a clearly defined study of environmental science. It is full of content and each chapter offers extensional learning through the use open-ended presentations of current events applicable to the content. There are loads of interesting topics and there are also references to Online sources for additional information. This is an excellent book for the study of environmental science.

An excellent text of relevant content
This text does an excellent job of introducing the reader to relevant material with regard to the study of environmental science. The chapters feature current real-life events in an extension format that allows for open-ended discussion and direct application of the content. The text does a great job explaining the role of socioeconomic factors as contributors to global environmental degredation. It can make one consider and question the logic and ethics behind much of what is done by government, industry, and the individual. ... Read more

Book Description

Like its predecessors, this edition stresses intuitive understanding of principles rather than learning by mathematical proof. Provides broad coverage of statistical procedures used in all the health science disciplines. This version contains a greater emphasis on computer applications, and most of the statistical techniques include the MINITAB commands by which they can be applied. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very Good
I have used this and other texts by Daniel over the years and I find you can not go wrong with his works. He is a no nonsense author and a very good writer who uses plenty of examples. Get his nonparametric book also.

Solid introductory reference
The title is very appropriate - this text provides a solid foundation in biostats. I used it for an intro course in grad school, and working through the text was very worthwhile. Previously cloudy concepts are now more clear, and I have a great reference for future use. More in-depth biostats deserves a consultation with a statistician, not a longer text. I agree with other reviewers that there are occasional mistakes (which need to be fixed - this is not even the first edition), but overall I would still highly recommend it.

Decent introductory text; but shoddy construction
Well, if I still refer to this text after having taken Intro to Biostats almost 3 years ago, then this book can't be all that bad. For the money, however, the publisher could have at least made the book more durable. This book starts to fall apart after only about a month of use- I kid you not!

The worst
Now I know why some governments burn books. Use your copy for your next campfire.

Many Many mistakes.
Let's look at chapter 9. You will find the following mistakes. (1) Page 419. Figure 9.4.5 (d) r squared - 1, it should be r squared - 0. (2) Page 417 Formula (9.4.1) "-" should be "+" (3) Page 421 8. Statistical decision. Where did they get 8.25? (4) Page 403 Figure 9.2.1 intercept=0 Normally, it is not 0. Anyway, 0 is not totally wrong.

I hate this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Developmental Biology, Seventh Edition captures the richness, the intellectual excitement, and the wonder of contemporary developmental biology. It is written primarily for undergraduate biology majors but will be useful for introducing graduate students and medical students to developmental biology. In addition to exploring and synthesizing the organismal, cellular, and molecular aspects of animal development, the Seventh Edition expands its coverage of the medical, environmental, and evolutionary aspects of developmental biology.

FEATURES OF THE SEVENTH EDITION

A completely updated text integrates classical developmental biology with contemporary techniques, including the new material on vertebrate limb cell specification, microarrays, RNA interference, microtubular motors, floxed genes, vertebra formation, neural crest differentiation, neural crest specification, heart cell specification, herbicide-induced gonadal disruptions, pancreatic development, digit determination, tadpole deiodinases, insulin-like growth factors, developmental symbioses, and the developmental origins of feathers, jaws, and teeth during evolution.

A new chapter on medical implications of developmental biology • The news is full of developmental biology and its medical implications. Therapeutic cloning and cancer therapies, in vitro fertilization, congenital anomalies, and teratogenesis are major concerns not only of scientists but of all citizens. Chapter 21, "Medical Implications of Human Development," brings these topics together and discusses:

*the regulation of fertility
*the identification of genetic defects that affect development
*the identification of teratogenic compounds that affect development
*the identification of factors in the maternal environment which may influence the health of the fetus or the adult
*the realization that cancers can be disruptions of developmental regulation and might be cured through developmental processes
*the attempts to cure developmental diseases (including cancers) through detection, cloning, stem cell therapy, and genetic engineering
*the attempt to cure traumatic and degenerative disease through regeneration. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Outstanding in-depth intro to developmental biology
I think Scott Gilbert has done an absolutely stupendous job in writing this clearly written, beautifully illustrated and up-to-date exposition of developmental biology. The concluding chapter on evolutionary developmental biology is brief but very well done. The websites associated with the book and the CD provide much additional information. Definitely the premier textbook in this area. Don't tackle it without having taken at least a course in cell biology, and some exposure to biochemistry and genetics would be helpful as well. The last time I read a dev bio textbook was when I was in college 30 years ago; how things have changed!

tough but pleasurable
You definitly need some background in cellular and molecular biology and genetics to get a lot out of this book, but in that it represents the direction of developmental biology. This textbook is a worthwhile challenge, and if you have a knowledgable professor (as I do), you're sure to learn a lot (as I am).

Mostly about animal biology
This is very comprehensive introductory book in developmental biology starting from 18th century. Author very informed with the latest developments provides information on subjects based on latest developments. Illustrations are very nice, subjects cover all the phases of development, cell partitioning, gastrolization, transcriptional regulation,cell specification, cell to cell interaction, hormonal development and finale. author also has given a chapter on DNA and transcriptions. It is mostly about amphibians and insects and very limited on human. There are also up to date specilizied subjects introduced in frames for more curious minds. A book to be read over and over again as your knowledge in other fields increases.

Good overview of developmental biology
Well written and illustrated reference on animal development. This book covers basic principles of developmental biology, and then considers transcriptional regulation, control of development by RNA processing and translational regulation. Cell specification and cellular interactions are then considered. The last chapter considers developmental mechanisms in evolution.

Good, but single author can't handle all
This is a superb textbook which includes a wide scope of current developmental biology. The new version also embraces a modern interactive technology. It's really cool! The text is fluent and consistent because a single author wrote all the chapters. However, its drawback is that the author can't know all the things. This is contrast to other reputated textbooks such as Molecular Biology of the Cell, Principles of Neural Science, etc., written by multiple authors who have expertises in each chapter. Developmental biology has expanded and now covers evolution, plants, and even behavior. I think Dr. Scott Gilbert is a genius. But I can't believe he can handle all of these stuffs. It's time to ask some people to write each chapter. ... Read more