the new edition is incomplete, 18 Jul 2008
I really liked the Alberts. That's why I bought the new edition, my last edition is now more than 10 years old. What I liked was the coverage of a wide area of cell biology from the basics to developmental biology and immunology. I was therefore very disappointed when I read in the preface that the current paperback edition does not contain all chapters, some chapters are only available on the CD that is included with the book. What am I supposed to do, print the 300 missing pages? If you want the complete book you have to buy the hardback version, currently at about £100- I guess this was a trick of the publisher to rip of libraries, at least our library decided to buy the complete book at twice the price of the paperback...


A must for biology undergraduates., 03 Dec 2005
A really good textbook for all undergraduate biology and biochemistry students. One of the only books I consistently used throughout my course. I am now a teacher, and often use it to help bridge the gap for my students between A levels and university. It is very clear and the diagrams are excellent. If I were a student considering buying this book, I am not sure that I would spend the extra money on buying the latest edition. It costs enough to go to university as it is! If you do buy it used though, make sure it's in good condition as it will be well used.

Not bad! :), 05 Nov 2001
Good chapters on enzyme kinetics. Skips around, but it's all there. Easy reading (for biochem). Better than stryer ;).

Excellent book but out of date, 20 Sep 2001
A wonderfully written and illustrated book, but now totally out of date and in serious need of a new edition. Where is it?!

A foundation Text., 03 Sep 2001
This is an excellent, informative text. I used it extensively through my first degree, my masters and I even refer to it now while I'm doing my PhD. Money well spent.

the new edition is incomplete, 18 Jul 2008
I really liked the Alberts. That's why I bought the new edition, my last edition is now more than 10 years old. What I liked was the coverage of a wide area of cell biology from the basics to developmental biology and immunology. I was therefore very disappointed when I read in the preface that the current paperback edition does not contain all chapters, some chapters are only available on the CD that is included with the book. What am I supposed to do, print the 300 missing pages? If you want the complete book you have to buy the hardback version, currently at about £100- I guess this was a trick of the publisher to rip of libraries, at least our library decided to buy the complete book at twice the price of the paperback...


A must for biology undergraduates., 03 Dec 2005
A really good textbook for all undergraduate biology and biochemistry students. One of the only books I consistently used throughout my course. I am now a teacher, and often use it to help bridge the gap for my students between A levels and university. It is very clear and the diagrams are excellent. If I were a student considering buying this book, I am not sure that I would spend the extra money on buying the latest edition. It costs enough to go to university as it is! If you do buy it used though, make sure it's in good condition as it will be well used.

Not bad! :), 05 Nov 2001
Good chapters on enzyme kinetics. Skips around, but it's all there. Easy reading (for biochem). Better than stryer ;).

Excellent book but out of date, 20 Sep 2001
A wonderfully written and illustrated book, but now totally out of date and in serious need of a new edition. Where is it?!

A foundation Text., 03 Sep 2001
This is an excellent, informative text. I used it extensively through my first degree, my masters and I even refer to it now while I'm doing my PhD. Money well spent.

Great....but not that great, 30 Aug 2001
A tolerable reference, especially for cell signalling/transduction, but not the killer text everyone makes it out to be. Having just finished the first year of a microbiology/virology degree, I can honestly say that I have used Lubert Stryer's Biochemistry more frequently, and if you want cell biology, buy a copy of Molecular Biology Of The Cell by Alberts et al. instead. Of course, if you like nice bright pictures, then this is probably for you. Otherwise, the money is better spent elsewhere.

Superb, highly readable book, with excellent CDROM, 11 Aug 2001
I was very impressed with this book. It is logically set out, with many helpful diagrams reinforcing the text. At the same time it is highly readable. I had expected the CDROM to be a bit of a gimmick, but far from it. The CDROM animations accompanying some of the more difficult sections of the book really do help in understanding cell functions, eg the graphical representation of ribosome assembly and protein synthesis from mRNAs, and the animation illustrating the life cycle of mRNAs.

Disorganized and hard to read, 18 Jul 2001
This textbook is the most disorgnized that I have yet had to use. Reading assignments on each simple subject had to come from 3 different chapters in which the same information was repeated, altered slightly, and added to. The result of studying this text was always confusion. The book is full of information, but it's not put into any sort of order, rendering most of it useless, since it can't be found when you need it. This text is utterly unreadable.

A great book for anyone interested i biotechnology, 13 Mar 1999
This is one of the first book that I have read that dosen't contain idle chit-chat and contemplations from the author. It's direct and serious about giving a wide view on theory and methods from the world of biochemistry. Thumbs up :-)

the new edition is incomplete, 18 Jul 2008
I really liked the Alberts. That's why I bought the new edition, my last edition is now more than 10 years old. What I liked was the coverage of a wide area of cell biology from the basics to developmental biology and immunology. I was therefore very disappointed when I read in the preface that the current paperback edition does not contain all chapters, some chapters are only available on the CD that is included with the book. What am I supposed to do, print the 300 missing pages? If you want the complete book you have to buy the hardback version, currently at about £100- I guess this was a trick of the publisher to rip of libraries, at least our library decided to buy the complete book at twice the price of the paperback...


A must for biology undergraduates., 03 Dec 2005
A really good textbook for all undergraduate biology and biochemistry students. One of the only books I consistently used throughout my course. I am now a teacher, and often use it to help bridge the gap for my students between A levels and university. It is very clear and the diagrams are excellent. If I were a student considering buying this book, I am not sure that I would spend the extra money on buying the latest edition. It costs enough to go to university as it is! If you do buy it used though, make sure it's in good condition as it will be well used.

Not bad! :), 05 Nov 2001
Good chapters on enzyme kinetics. Skips around, but it's all there. Easy reading (for biochem). Better than stryer ;).

Excellent book but out of date, 20 Sep 2001
A wonderfully written and illustrated book, but now totally out of date and in serious need of a new edition. Where is it?!

A foundation Text., 03 Sep 2001
This is an excellent, informative text. I used it extensively through my first degree, my masters and I even refer to it now while I'm doing my PhD. Money well spent.

Great....but not that great, 30 Aug 2001
A tolerable reference, especially for cell signalling/transduction, but not the killer text everyone makes it out to be. Having just finished the first year of a microbiology/virology degree, I can honestly say that I have used Lubert Stryer's Biochemistry more frequently, and if you want cell biology, buy a copy of Molecular Biology Of The Cell by Alberts et al. instead. Of course, if you like nice bright pictures, then this is probably for you. Otherwise, the money is better spent elsewhere.

Superb, highly readable book, with excellent CDROM, 11 Aug 2001
I was very impressed with this book. It is logically set out, with many helpful diagrams reinforcing the text. At the same time it is highly readable. I had expected the CDROM to be a bit of a gimmick, but far from it. The CDROM animations accompanying some of the more difficult sections of the book really do help in understanding cell functions, eg the graphical representation of ribosome assembly and protein synthesis from mRNAs, and the animation illustrating the life cycle of mRNAs.

Disorganized and hard to read, 18 Jul 2001
This textbook is the most disorgnized that I have yet had to use. Reading assignments on each simple subject had to come from 3 different chapters in which the same information was repeated, altered slightly, and added to. The result of studying this text was always confusion. The book is full of information, but it's not put into any sort of order, rendering most of it useless, since it can't be found when you need it. This text is utterly unreadable.

A great book for anyone interested i biotechnology, 13 Mar 1999
This is one of the first book that I have read that dosen't contain idle chit-chat and contemplations from the author. It's direct and serious about giving a wide view on theory and methods from the world of biochemistry. Thumbs up :-)

A tough read, 12 Nov 2001
This is not the book for an introduction to genetics. I had to buy it because my lecturer said we'd definetly need it but I have found myself relying on simpler texts. This book just goes into too much wordy, tedious detail. Its a shame, because the first edition is gem. Buy this as a reference text because it is very comprehensive, but if you are a newcommer to genetics also get a simpler textbook!

A must have reference book for anyone studying Human Genetic, 09 Dec 1999
The book clearly and accuratley setails the current state of knowledge of Human Genetics at the Molecular Level, providing examples where relevant. The book is easily accesible to biologists with little experience in molecular biology as all techniques and principles are clearly explained.

A worthwhile investment

This book is up to date but a confusing read, 16 Nov 1999
Although this should be a useful addition to any genetics library, it requires you to know your stuff. The titles and headings can be illogical and a confusing colour scheme often detracts from the information. Still, the most up to date genetics textbook around with a lot of internet references which are helpful.

the new edition is incomplete, 18 Jul 2008
I really liked the Alberts. That's why I bought the new edition, my last edition is now more than 10 years old. What I liked was the coverage of a wide area of cell biology from the basics to developmental biology and immunology. I was therefore very disappointed when I read in the preface that the current paperback edition does not contain all chapters, some chapters are only available on the CD that is included with the book. What am I supposed to do, print the 300 missing pages? If you want the complete book you have to buy the hardback version, currently at about £100- I guess this was a trick of the publisher to rip of libraries, at least our library decided to buy the complete book at twice the price of the paperback...


A must for biology undergraduates., 03 Dec 2005
A really good textbook for all undergraduate biology and biochemistry students. One of the only books I consistently used throughout my course. I am now a teacher, and often use it to help bridge the gap for my students between A levels and university. It is very clear and the diagrams are excellent. If I were a student considering buying this book, I am not sure that I would spend the extra money on buying the latest edition. It costs enough to go to university as it is! If you do buy it used though, make sure it's in good condition as it will be well used.

Not bad! :), 05 Nov 2001
Good chapters on enzyme kinetics. Skips around, but it's all there. Easy reading (for biochem). Better than stryer ;).

Excellent book but out of date, 20 Sep 2001
A wonderfully written and illustrated book, but now totally out of date and in serious need of a new edition. Where is it?!

A foundation Text., 03 Sep 2001
This is an excellent, informative text. I used it extensively through my first degree, my masters and I even refer to it now while I'm doing my PhD. Money well spent.

Great....but not that great, 30 Aug 2001
A tolerable reference, especially for cell signalling/transduction, but not the killer text everyone makes it out to be. Having just finished the first year of a microbiology/virology degree, I can honestly say that I have used Lubert Stryer's Biochemistry more frequently, and if you want cell biology, buy a copy of Molecular Biology Of The Cell by Alberts et al. instead. Of course, if you like nice bright pictures, then this is probably for you. Otherwise, the money is better spent elsewhere.

Superb, highly readable book, with excellent CDROM, 11 Aug 2001
I was very impressed with this book. It is logically set out, with many helpful diagrams reinforcing the text. At the same time it is highly readable. I had expected the CDROM to be a bit of a gimmick, but far from it. The CDROM animations accompanying some of the more difficult sections of the book really do help in understanding cell functions, eg the graphical representation of ribosome assembly and protein synthesis from mRNAs, and the animation illustrating the life cycle of mRNAs.

Disorganized and hard to read, 18 Jul 2001
This textbook is the most disorgnized that I have yet had to use. Reading assignments on each simple subject had to come from 3 different chapters in which the same information was repeated, altered slightly, and added to. The result of studying this text was always confusion. The book is full of information, but it's not put into any sort of order, rendering most of it useless, since it can't be found when you need it. This text is utterly unreadable.

A great book for anyone interested i biotechnology, 13 Mar 1999
This is one of the first book that I have read that dosen't contain idle chit-chat and contemplations from the author. It's direct and serious about giving a wide view on theory and methods from the world of biochemistry. Thumbs up :-)

A tough read, 12 Nov 2001
This is not the book for an introduction to genetics. I had to buy it because my lecturer said we'd definetly need it but I have found myself relying on simpler texts. This book just goes into too much wordy, tedious detail. Its a shame, because the first edition is gem. Buy this as a reference text because it is very comprehensive, but if you are a newcommer to genetics also get a simpler textbook!

A must have reference book for anyone studying Human Genetic, 09 Dec 1999
The book clearly and accuratley setails the current state of knowledge of Human Genetics at the Molecular Level, providing examples where relevant. The book is easily accesible to biologists with little experience in molecular biology as all techniques and principles are clearly explained.

A worthwhile investment

This book is up to date but a confusing read, 16 Nov 1999
Although this should be a useful addition to any genetics library, it requires you to know your stuff. The titles and headings can be illogical and a confusing colour scheme often detracts from the information. Still, the most up to date genetics textbook around with a lot of internet references which are helpful.

Many anecdotes, little culinary knowledge, 05 May 2008
I bought this book hoping to learn some hard science behind cooking and I'm very disappointed. The book consists mostly of anecdotes of what scientists from Dijon found in one kind of wine/cheese/meat or another but hardly any of this can be extrapolated to everyday cooking and it doesn't give any sort of a big picture view on food - just a lot of details.

The book also contains a few interesting ideas, especially on non-traditional emulsions/foams/suspensions/gels - in particular chapter 97 "Everything Chocolate" is very interesting.

Overall I'd suggest buying another book. It's pleasant to read but amount of useful or enlightening content is quite low.

Fascinating and inspiring, 12 Mar 2008
This is very interesting book covering a wide range of topics on the subject of flavour, taste and smell perception as well as the application of basic science to food and drink technology. I was particularly interested in the recent research into the physiology of taste perception, which until recently was the poor cousin of that of the sense of smell. There is a fair bit of chemistry, biochemistry and physics to take in to get full value from the book so I think this book would appeal most to those not only interested in food and cooking but also with some scientific knowledge. The last section of the book focuses on how the physico-chemical properties of ingredients like eggs or fats can be manipulated into creating novel recipes for foods. One can see where the likes of the innovative chef Heston Blumenthal got his inspiration.

A real page turner, 03 Mar 2008
Strangely enough for a professional scientist, This' book contains an extraordinary number of basic temperature conversion mistakes (and I'm not talking a few degrees here and there, more like 100C in some cases).

That aside, the only real problem I've found is that I can't put the book down for long enough to actually try to cook something.

WHY?, 30 Dec 2007
A must for any chef who always has the question WHY? in their mind and some of the answers are in this book the others you'll have to figure out for your self.

the new edition is incomplete, 18 Jul 2008
I really liked the Alberts. That's why I bought the new edition, my last edition is now more than 10 years old. What I liked was the coverage of a wide area of cell biology from the basics to developmental biology and immunology. I was therefore very disappointed when I read in the preface that the current paperback edition does not contain all chapters, some chapters are only available on the CD that is included with the book. What am I supposed to do, print the 300 missing pages? If you want the complete book you have to buy the hardback version, currently at about £100- I guess this was a trick of the publisher to rip of libraries, at least our library decided to buy the complete book at twice the price of the paperback...


A must for biology undergraduates., 03 Dec 2005
A really good textbook for all undergraduate biology and biochemistry students. One of the only books I consistently used throughout my course. I am now a teacher, and often use it to help bridge the gap for my students between A levels and university. It is very clear and the diagrams are excellent. If I were a student considering buying this book, I am not sure that I would spend the extra money on buying the latest edition. It costs enough to go to university as it is! If you do buy it used though, make sure it's in good condition as it will be well used.

Not bad! :), 05 Nov 2001
Good chapters on enzyme kinetics. Skips around, but it's all there. Easy reading (for biochem). Better than stryer ;).

Excellent book but out of date, 20 Sep 2001
A wonderfully written and illustrated book, but now totally out of date and in serious need of a new edition. Where is it?!

A foundation Text., 03 Sep 2001
This is an excellent, informative text. I used it extensively through my first degree, my masters and I even refer to it now while I'm doing my PhD. Money well spent.

Great....but not that great, 30 Aug 2001
A tolerable reference, especially for cell signalling/transduction, but not the killer text everyone makes it out to be. Having just finished the first year of a microbiology/virology degree, I can honestly say that I have used Lubert Stryer's Biochemistry more frequently, and if you want cell biology, buy a copy of Molecular Biology Of The Cell by Alberts et al. instead. Of course, if you like nice bright pictures, then this is probably for you. Otherwise, the money is better spent elsewhere.

Superb, highly readable book, with excellent CDROM, 11 Aug 2001
I was very impressed with this book. It is logically set out, with many helpful diagrams reinforcing the text. At the same time it is highly readable. I had expected the CDROM to be a bit of a gimmick, but far from it. The CDROM animations accompanying some of the more difficult sections of the book really do help in understanding cell functions, eg the graphical representation of ribosome assembly and protein synthesis from mRNAs, and the animation illustrating the life cycle of mRNAs.

Disorganized and hard to read, 18 Jul 2001
This textbook is the most disorgnized that I have yet had to use. Reading assignments on each simple subject had to come from 3 different chapters in which the same information was repeated, altered slightly, and added to. The result of studying this text was always confusion. The book is full of information, but it's not put into any sort of order, rendering most of it useless, since it can't be found when you need it. This text is utterly unreadable.

A great book for anyone interested i biotechnology, 13 Mar 1999
This is one of the first book that I have read that dosen't contain idle chit-chat and contemplations from the author. It's direct and serious about giving a wide view on theory and methods from the world of biochemistry. Thumbs up :-)

A tough read, 12 Nov 2001
This is not the book for an introduction to genetics. I had to buy it because my lecturer said we'd definetly need it but I have found myself relying on simpler texts. This book just goes into too much wordy, tedious detail. Its a shame, because the first edition is gem. Buy this as a reference text because it is very comprehensive, but if you are a newcommer to genetics also get a simpler textbook!

A must have reference book for anyone studying Human Genetic, 09 Dec 1999
The book clearly and accuratley setails the current state of knowledge of Human Genetics at the Molecular Level, providing examples where relevant. The book is easily accesible to biologists with little experience in molecular biology as all techniques and principles are clearly explained.

A worthwhile investment

This book is up to date but a confusing read, 16 Nov 1999
Although this should be a useful addition to any genetics library, it requires you to know your stuff. The titles and headings can be illogical and a confusing colour scheme often detracts from the information. Still, the most up to date genetics textbook around with a lot of internet references which are helpful.

Many anecdotes, little culinary knowledge, 05 May 2008
I bought this book hoping to learn some hard science behind cooking and I'm very disappointed. The book consists mostly of anecdotes of what scientists from Dijon found in one kind of wine/cheese/meat or another but hardly any of this can be extrapolated to everyday cooking and it doesn't give any sort of a big picture view on food - just a lot of details.

The book also contains a few interesting ideas, especially on non-traditional emulsions/foams/suspensions/gels - in particular chapter 97 "Everything Chocolate" is very interesting.

Overall I'd suggest buying another book. It's pleasant to read but amount of useful or enlightening content is quite low.

Fascinating and inspiring, 12 Mar 2008
This is very interesting book covering a wide range of topics on the subject of flavour, taste and smell perception as well as the application of basic science to food and drink technology. I was particularly interested in the recent research into the physiology of taste perception, which until recently was the poor cousin of that of the sense of smell. There is a fair bit of chemistry, biochemistry and physics to take in to get full value from the book so I think this book would appeal most to those not only interested in food and cooking but also with some scientific knowledge. The last section of the book focuses on how the physico-chemical properties of ingredients like eggs or fats can be manipulated into creating novel recipes for foods. One can see where the likes of the innovative chef Heston Blumenthal got his inspiration.

A real page turner, 03 Mar 2008
Strangely enough for a professional scientist, This' book contains an extraordinary number of basic temperature conversion mistakes (and I'm not talking a few degrees here and there, more like 100C in some cases).

That aside, the only real problem I've found is that I can't put the book down for long enough to actually try to cook something.

WHY?, 30 Dec 2007
A must for any chef who always has the question WHY? in their mind and some of the answers are in this book the others you'll have to figure out for your self.

ideal for the basics, 16 Apr 2008
This book is ideal for medical students who just need the basics about immunology. Its possible to read the entire book from cover to cover and understand most (if not all) of what is written. There are no flashy diagrams or colour pictures, however the text is almost perfect. You will understand how the body fights infection once you have read it.

Great for Univ of Manchester students, 06 Feb 2008
This book is all u need for immunology exam, even without attending his lectures! It's a well written textbook aim for undergraduate taking his course module. I personally think he used a very basic language to explain things, so it's easy for us to get a good understanding of wot's going on. All the exams questions were based on this textbook. So it is a great helper though it's pretty expensive for such a small textbook. Try to get it from the library before u decided to own one.

Well structured but sloppy, 03 Jan 2007
This book was the recommended text for my Immunology module (a second year course to give an idea of its level). It pretty much mirrors my course, as far as I can tell, so if you're at Manchester University you will probably want to buy this book.

Each chapter is clearly structured and as a rule topics are well laid out. The diagrams and boxes contain useful additions to the text which helped me understand some of the more complicated sections. Sometimes the author appears to talk around a point however, evidence more thorough editing was perhaps necessary to make the book more concise.

Furthermore, I have serious issues with the grammar used. It frequently talks of 'antibody' and 'antigen' in a plural sense with singular grammar. Maybe Dr Wood is actually correct, I would not claim to be an authority; however it reads badly to me and made reading difficult in some sections - having to decipher the concepts could be difficult enough without having to decipher the text first.

I do not feel that I should condemn the book for the grammar alone, if you are taking an Immunology course you will probably need a text book, and I dare say this is as good as any out there. It might be an idea to try to pick up a copy on Amazon Market place or eBay though, the book is pretty expensive ",

4/5

the new edition is incomplete, 18 Jul 2008
I really liked the Alberts. That's why I bought the new edition, my last edition is now more than 10 years old. What I liked was the coverage of a wide area of cell biology from the basics to developmental biology and immunology. I was therefore very disappointed when I read in the preface that the current paperback edition does not contain all chapters, some chapters are only available on the CD that is included with the book. What am I supposed to do, print the 300 missing pages? If you want the complete book you have to buy the hardback version, currently at about £100- I guess this was a trick of the publisher to rip of libraries, at least our library decided to buy the complete book at twice the price of the paperback...


A must for biology undergraduates., 03 Dec 2005
A really good textbook for all undergraduate biology and biochemistry students. One of the only books I consistently used throughout my course. I am now a teacher, and often use it to help bridge the gap for my students between A levels and university. It is very clear and the diagrams are excellent. If I were a student considering buying this book, I am not sure that I would spend the extra money on buying the latest edition. It costs enough to go to university as it is! If you do buy it used though, make sure it's in good condition as it will be well used.

Not bad! :), 05 Nov 2001
Good chapters on enzyme kinetics. Skips around, but it's all there. Easy reading (for biochem). Better than stryer ;).

Excellent book but out of date, 20 Sep 2001
A wonderfully written and illustrated book, but now totally out of date and in serious need of a new edition. Where is it?!

A foundation Text., 03 Sep 2001
This is an excellent, informative text. I used it extensively through my first degree, my masters and I even refer to it now while I'm doing my PhD. Money well spent.

Great....but not that great, 30 Aug 2001
A tolerable reference, especially for cell signalling/transduction, but not the killer text everyone makes it out to be. Having just finished the first year of a microbiology/virology degree, I can honestly say that I have used Lubert Stryer's Biochemistry more frequently, and if you want cell biology, buy a copy of Molecular Biology Of The Cell by Alberts et al. instead. Of course, if you like nice bright pictures, then this is probably for you. Otherwise, the money is better spent elsewhere.

Superb, highly readable book, with excellent CDROM, 11 Aug 2001
I was very impressed with this book. It is logically set out, with many helpful diagrams reinforcing the text. At the same time it is highly readable. I had expected the CDROM to be a bit of a gimmick, but far from it. The CDROM animations accompanying some of the more difficult sections of the book really do help in understanding cell functions, eg the graphical representation of ribosome assembly and protein synthesis from mRNAs, and the animation illustrating the life cycle of mRNAs.

Disorganized and hard to read, 18 Jul 2001
This textbook is the most disorgnized that I have yet had to use. Reading assignments on each simple subject had to come from 3 different chapters in which the same information was repeated, altered slightly, and added to. The result of studying this text was always confusion. The book is full of information, but it's not put into any sort of order, rendering most of it useless, since it can't be found when you need it. This text is utterly unreadable.

A great book for anyone interested i biotechnology, 13 Mar 1999
This is one of the first book that I have read that dosen't contain idle chit-chat and contemplations from the author. It's direct and serious about giving a wide view on theory and methods from the world of biochemistry. Thumbs up :-)

A tough read, 12 Nov 2001
This is not the book for an introduction to genetics. I had to buy it because my lecturer said we'd definetly need it but I have found myself relying on simpler texts. This book just goes into too much wordy, tedious detail. Its a shame, because the first edition is gem. Buy this as a reference text because it is very comprehensive, but if you are a newcommer to genetics also get a simpler textbook!

A must have reference book for anyone studying Human Genetic, 09 Dec 1999
The book clearly and accuratley setails the current state of knowledge of Human Genetics at the Molecular Level, providing examples where relevant. The book is easily accesible to biologists with little experience in molecular biology as all techniques and principles are clearly explained.

A worthwhile investment

This book is up to date but a confusing read, 16 Nov 1999
Although this should be a useful addition to any genetics library, it requires you to know your stuff. The titles and headings can be illogical and a confusing colour scheme often detracts from the information. Still, the most up to date genetics textbook around with a lot of internet references which are helpful.

Many anecdotes, little culinary knowledge, 05 May 2008
I bought this book hoping to learn some hard science behind cooking and I'm very disappointed. The book consists mostly of anecdotes of what scientists from Dijon found in one kind of wine/cheese/meat or another but hardly any of this can be extrapolated to everyday cooking and it doesn't give any sort of a big picture view on food - just a lot of details.

The book also contains a few interesting ideas, especially on non-traditional emulsions/foams/suspensions/gels - in particular chapter 97 "Everything Chocolate" is very interesting.

Overall I'd suggest buying another book. It's pleasant to read but amount of useful or enlightening content is quite low.

Fascinating and inspiring, 12 Mar 2008
This is very interesting book covering a wide range of topics on the subject of flavour, taste and smell perception as well as the application of basic science to food and drink technology. I was particularly interested in the recent research into the physiology of taste perception, which until recently was the poor cousin of that of the sense of smell. There is a fair bit of chemistry, biochemistry and physics to take in to get full value from the book so I think this book would appeal most to those not only interested in food and cooking but also with some scientific knowledge. The last section of the book focuses on how the physico-chemical properties of ingredients like eggs or fats can be manipulated into creating novel recipes for foods. One can see where the likes of the innovative chef Heston Blumenthal got his inspiration.

A real page turner, 03 Mar 2008
Strangely enough for a professional scientist, This' book contains an extraordinary number of basic temperature conversion mistakes (and I'm not talking a few degrees here and there, more like 100C in some cases).

That aside, the only real problem I've found is that I can't put the book down for long enough to actually try to cook something.

WHY?, 30 Dec 2007
A must for any chef who always has the question WHY? in their mind and some of the answers are in this book the others you'll have to figure out for your self.

ideal for the basics, 16 Apr 2008
This book is ideal for medical students who just need the basics about immunology. Its possible to read the entire book from cover to cover and understand most (if not all) of what is written. There are no flashy diagrams or colour pictures, however the text is almost perfect. You will understand how the body fights infection once you have read it.

Great for Univ of Manchester students, 06 Feb 2008
This book is all u need for immunology exam, even without attending his lectures! It's a well written textbook aim for undergraduate taking his course module. I personally think he used a very basic language to explain things, so it's easy for us to get a good understanding of wot's going on. All the exams questions were based on this textbook. So it is a great helper though it's pretty expensive for such a small textbook. Try to get it from the library before u decided to own one.

Well structured but sloppy, 03 Jan 2007
This book was the recommended text for my Immunology module (a second year course to give an idea of its level). It pretty much mirrors my course, as far as I can tell, so if you're at Manchester University you will probably want to buy this book.

Each chapter is clearly structured and as a rule topics are well laid out. The diagrams and boxes contain useful additions to the text which helped me understand some of the more complicated sections. Sometimes the author appears to talk around a point however, evidence more thorough editing was perhaps necessary to make the book more concise.

Furthermore, I have serious issues with the grammar used. It frequently talks of 'antibody' and 'antigen' in a plural sense with singular grammar. Maybe Dr Wood is actually correct, I would not claim to be an authority; however it reads badly to me and made reading difficult in some sections - having to decipher the concepts could be difficult enough without having to decipher the text first.

I do not feel that I should condemn the book for the grammar alone, if you are taking an Immunology course you will probably need a text book, and I dare say this is as good as any out there. It might be an idea to try to pick up a copy on Amazon Market place or eBay though, the book is pretty expensive ",

4/5

Saviour of First Year, 02 Jan 2006
So it was in the middle of my fresher's alcoholic haze that I decided I'd better purchase a decent physiology text for the next 2 years of my course. Armed with book vouchers I simply dived into this book at the shop because the cover was pretty.
Why do I love this book so much? Not just the cover, but the rest of the illustrations are SO useful in understanding pathways & interactions which are covered in more traditional texts by a few paragraphs of block text.
The book is ideal for people who struggle with physiology - I've spent hours searching libraries and the internet for information sometimes, but it's always covered in B&B. Concepts are outlined at the beginning of a chapter and covered in increasing depth as the chapter progresses logically. It is impossible to get lost in this book - each new chapter covers a discreet topic.
A must for any medic! (It's getting me through first year no trouble at all)
Also comes with Student Consult access - internet site which has additional diagrams and information for every chapter which had to be left out of the book in the interest of brevity.
B&B is fantastic as you can read into each topic in ever increasing depth and be armed with the perfect foundations of knowledge to undertake further reading or simply do well in exams!

Awesome textbook for my course..., 27 Dec 2005
The diagrams and tables are absolutely awesome. The textbook combines recent understanding of both Physiology and Biochemistry explaining it in detail how they are related in the topics mentioned. Even Voet Voet Pratt's latest edition of Fundamentals of Biochemistry didn't cover an important biocehmical topic for my medical course I managed to find in Boron and Boulpaep.

A brilliant textbook!

an essential textbook, 21 Jun 2004
This is a comprehensive textbook, covering every aspect of human physiology. The content is structured by body systems with a final section on an integrated multi-system approach to metabolic rates and adaptations. It is written in a readable and student-friendly style making it suitable for both medical undergraduates and other health professionals. One of it's main strengths are the extensive, high quality colour diagrams, (which tie in well with the text), plus text boxes relating the physiology to clinical examples. Direct links to references on the associated website are included, giving the reader access to expansion of concepts, further clinical illustrations and relevant developments following publication.

Good as a reference, 22 Mar 2003
I use Boron & Boulpaep as a reference when other books don't cover the material as much as I like them to. It's really a good book if you like to know all of physiology, but not if you just like the core of a subject. A little annoying fact is that all information keeps repeating throughout the book (the best example is renal physiology) if you read it as a first-hand book. But if you use it as a reference you'll like it as you doesn't have to browse the register to frequently. Some weak points are coagulation and gastrointestinal motility but I still recommend the book.

the new edition is incomplete, 18 Jul 2008
I really liked the Alberts. That's why I bought the new edition, my last edition is now more than 10 years old. What I liked was the coverage of a wide area of cell biology from the basics to developmental biology and immunology. I was therefore very disappointed when I read in the preface that the current paperback edition does not contain all chapters, some chapters are only available on the CD that is included with the book. What am I supposed to do, print the 300 missing pages? If you want the complete book you have to buy the hardback version, currently at about £100- I guess this was a trick of the publisher to rip of libraries, at least our library decided to buy the complete book at twice the price of the paperback...


A must for biology undergraduates., 03 Dec 2005
A really good textbook for all undergraduate biology and biochemistry students. One of the only books I consistently used throughout my course. I am now a teacher, and often use it to help bridge the gap for my students between A levels and university. It is very clear and the diagrams are excellent. If I were a student considering buying this book, I am not sure that I would spend the extra money on buying the latest edition. It costs enough to go to university as it is! If you do buy it used though, make sure it's in good condition as it will be well used.

Not bad! :), 05 Nov 2001
Good chapters on enzyme kinetics. Skips around, but it's all there. Easy reading (for biochem). Better than stryer ;).

Excellent book but out of date, 20 Sep 2001
A wonderfully written and illustrated book, but now totally out of date and in serious need of a new edition. Where is it?!

A foundation Text., 03 Sep 2001
This is an excellent, informative text. I used it extensively through my first degree, my masters and I even refer to it now while I'm doing my PhD. Money well spent.

Great....but not that great, 30 Aug 2001
A tolerable reference, especially for cell signalling/transduction, but not the killer text everyone makes it out to be. Having just finished the first year of a microbiology/virology degree, I can honestly say that I have used Lubert Stryer's Biochemistry more frequently, and if you want cell biology, buy a copy of Molecular Biology Of The Cell by Alberts et al. instead. Of course, if you like nice bright pictures, then this is probably for you. Otherwise, the money is better spent elsewhere.

Superb, highly readable book, with excellent CDROM, 11 Aug 2001
I was very impressed with this book. It is logically set out, with many helpful diagrams reinforcing the text. At the same time it is highly readable. I had expected the CDROM to be a bit of a gimmick, but far from it. The CDROM animations accompanying some of the more difficult sections of the book really do help in understanding cell functions, eg the graphical representation of ribosome assembly and protein synthesis from mRNAs, and the animation illustrating the life cycle of mRNAs.

Disorganized and hard to read, 18 Jul 2001
This textbook is the most disorgnized that I have yet had to use. Reading assignments on each simple subject had to come from 3 different chapters in which the same information was repeated, altered slightly, and added to. The result of studying this text was always confusion. The book is full of information, but it's not put into any sort of order, rendering most of it useless, since it can't be found when you need it. This text is utterly unreadable.

A great book for anyone interested i biotechnology, 13 Mar 1999
This is one of the first book that I have read that dosen't contain idle chit-chat and contemplations from the author. It's direct and serious about giving a wide view on theory and methods from the world of biochemistry. Thumbs up :-)

A tough read, 12 Nov 2001
This is not the book for an introduction to genetics. I had to buy it because my lecturer said we'd definetly need it but I have found myself relying on simpler texts. This book just goes into too much wordy, tedious detail. Its a shame, because the first edition is gem. Buy this as a reference text because it is very comprehensive, but if you are a newcommer to genetics also get a simpler textbook!

A must have reference book for anyone studying Human Genetic, 09 Dec 1999
The book clearly and accuratley setails the current state of knowledge of Human Genetics at the Molecular Level, providing examples where relevant. The book is easily accesible to biologists with little experience in molecular biology as all techniques and principles are clearly explained.

A worthwhile investment

This book is up to date but a confusing read, 16 Nov 1999
Although this should be a useful addition to any genetics library, it requires you to know your stuff. The titles and headings can be illogical and a confusing colour scheme often detracts from the information. Still, the most up to date genetics textbook around with a lot of internet references which are helpful.

Many anecdotes, little culinary knowledge, 05 May 2008
I bought this book hoping to learn some hard science behind cooking and I'm very disappointed. The book consists mostly of anecdotes of what scientists from Dijon found in one kind of wine/cheese/meat or another but hardly any of this can be extrapolated to everyday cooking and it doesn't give any sort of a big picture view on food - just a lot of details.

The book also contains a few interesting ideas, especially on non-traditional emulsions/foams/suspensions/gels - in particular chapter 97 "Everything Chocolate" is very interesting.

Overall I'd suggest buying another book. It's pleasant to read but amount of useful or enlightening content is quite low.

Fascinating and inspiring, 12 Mar 2008
This is very interesting book covering a wide range of topics on the subject of flavour, taste and smell perception as well as the application of basic science to food and drink technology. I was particularly interested in the recent research into the physiology of taste perception, which until recently was the poor cousin of that of the sense of smell. There is a fair bit of chemistry, biochemistry and physics to take in to get full value from the book so I think this book would appeal most to those not only interested in food and cooking but also with some scientific knowledge. The last section of the book focuses on how the physico-chemical properties of ingredients like eggs or fats can be manipulated into creating novel recipes for foods. One can see where the likes of the innovative chef Heston Blumenthal got his inspiration.

A real page turner, 03 Mar 2008
Strangely enough for a professional scientist, This' book contains an extraordinary number of basic temperature conversion mistakes (and I'm not talking a few degrees here and there, more like 100C in some cases).

That aside, the only real problem I've found is that I can't put the book down for long enough to actually try to cook something.

WHY?, 30 Dec 2007
A must for any chef who always has the question WHY? in their mind and some of the answers are in this book the others you'll have to figure out for your self.

ideal for the basics, 16 Apr 2008
This book is ideal for medical students who just need the basics about immunology. Its possible to read the entire book from cover to cover and understand most (if not all) of what is written. There are no flashy diagrams or colour pictures, however the text is almost perfect. You will understand how the body fights infection once you have read it.

Great for Univ of Manchester students, 06 Feb 2008
This book is all u need for immunology exam, even without attending his lectures! It's a well written textbook aim for undergraduate taking his course module. I personally think he used a very basic language to explain things, so it's easy for us to get a good understanding of wot's going on. All the exams questions were based on this textbook. So it is a great helper though it's pretty expensive for such a small textbook. Try to get it from the library before u decided to own one.

Well structured but sloppy, 03 Jan 2007
This book was the recommended text for my Immunology module (a second year course to give an idea of its level). It pretty much mirrors my course, as far as I can tell, so if you're at Manchester University you will probably want to buy this book.

Each chapter is clearly structured and as a rule topics are well laid out. The diagrams and boxes contain useful additions to the text which helped me understand some of the more complicated sections. Sometimes the author appears to talk around a point however, evidence more thorough editing was perhaps necessary to make the book more concise.

Furthermore, I have serious issues with the grammar used. It frequently talks of 'antibody' and 'antigen' in a plural sense with singular grammar. Maybe Dr Wood is actually correct, I would not claim to be an authority; however it reads badly to me and made reading difficult in some sections - having to decipher the concepts could be difficult enough without having to decipher the text first.

I do not feel that I should condemn the book for the grammar alone, if you are taking an Immunology course you will probably need a text book, and I dare say this is as good as any out there. It might be an idea to try to pick up a copy on Amazon Market place or eBay though, the book is pretty expensive ",

4/5

Saviour of First Year, 02 Jan 2006
So it was in the middle of my fresher's alcoholic haze that I decided I'd better purchase a decent physiology text for the next 2 years of my course. Armed with book vouchers I simply dived into this book at the shop because the cover was pretty.
Why do I love this book so much? Not just the cover, but the rest of the illustrations are SO useful in understanding pathways & interactions which are covered in more traditional texts by a few paragraphs of block text.
The book is ideal for people who struggle with physiology - I've spent hours searching libraries and the internet for information sometimes, but it's always covered in B&B. Concepts are outlined at the beginning of a chapter and covered in increasing depth as the chapter progresses logically. It is impossible to get lost in this book - each new chapter covers a discreet topic.
A must for any medic! (It's getting me through first year no trouble at all)
Also comes with Student Consult access - internet site which has additional diagrams and information for every chapter which had to be left out of the book in the interest of brevity.
B&B is fantastic as you can read into each topic in ever increasing depth and be armed with the perfect foundations of knowledge to undertake further reading or simply do well in exams!

Awesome textbook for my course..., 27 Dec 2005
The diagrams and tables are absolutely awesome. The textbook combines recent understanding of both Physiology and Biochemistry explaining it in detail how they are related in the topics mentioned. Even Voet Voet Pratt's latest edition of Fundamentals of Biochemistry didn't cover an important biocehmical topic for my medical course I managed to find in Boron and Boulpaep.

A brilliant textbook!

an essential textbook, 21 Jun 2004
This is a comprehensive textbook, covering every aspect of human physiology. The content is structured by body systems with a final section on an integrated multi-system approach to metabolic rates and adaptations. It is written in a readable and student-friendly style making it suitable for both medical undergraduates and other health professionals. One of it's main strengths are the extensive, high quality colour diagrams, (which tie in well with the text), plus text boxes relating the physiology to clinical examples. Direct links to references on the associated website are included, giving the reader access to expansion of concepts, further clinical illustrations and relevant developments following publication.

Good as a reference, 22 Mar 2003
I use Boron & Boulpaep as a reference when other books don't cover the material as much as I like them to. It's really a good book if you like to know all of physiology, but not if you just like the core of a subject. A little annoying fact is that all information keeps repeating throughout the book (the best example is renal physiology) if you read it as a first-hand book. But if you use it as a reference you'll like it as you doesn't have to browse the register to frequently. Some weak points are coagulation and gastrointestinal motility but I still recommend the book.

Instant notes in Genetics, 11 Dec 2003
A great book for revision of all the basics. Principles well explained with diagrams to help.

BUY THIS BOOK IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!, 09 Aug 2003
This book is a must for those (like myself) who find it difficult to get their head round the subject of genetics! I am a fan of the instant notes series and i was not disappointed with Winters' instalment. The book reads like a set of detailed, yet concise and to the point lecture notes. After reading it, I finally understood some very important concepts behind the subject of genetics.

A must for all students learning genetics everywhere., 21 May 2001
I have found this textbook an invaluable source of information on all the topics that it covers. Each chapter begins with a summary box of the chapter to come. This allows the reader to check the key points covered, and to review the chapter quickly in revision. These key points are well directed, covering the really important aspects of the subject.

These chapter notes are followed by very comprehensible descriptions of the topic in hand, with clear and easy to understand diagrams and relevant examples wherever necessary.

I began reading the textbook with a very limited understanding of the topics involved having read previous alternative books that were recommended by lecturers to me. This book is an obstensible improvement to those books, perhaps aided by its seeming simplicity. Each chapter is dedicated to providing a concise yet thorough coverage of the topic, and does so in a bitesize chapter.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the book is its size: it covers an awful lot of ground in a relatively short book. Always an advantage in the accessibility of information in it, its approachability, and practicality.

the new edition is incomplete, 18 Jul 2008
I really liked the Alberts. That's why I bought the new edition, my last edition is now more than 10 years old. What I liked was the coverage of a wide area of cell biology from the basics to developmental biology and immunology. I was therefore very disappointed when I read in the preface that the current paperback edition does not contain all chapters, some chapters are only available on the CD that is included with the book. What am I supposed to do, print the 300 missing pages? If you want the complete book you have to buy the hardback version, currently at about £100- I guess this was a trick of the publisher to rip of libraries, at least our library decided to buy the complete book at twice the price of the paperback...


A must for biology undergraduates., 03 Dec 2005
A really good textbook for all undergraduate biology and biochemistry students. One of the only books I consistently used throughout my course. I am now a teacher, and often use it to help bridge the gap for my students between A levels and university. It is very clear and the diagrams are excellent. If I were a student considering buying this book, I am not sure that I would spend the extra money on buying the latest edition. It costs enough to go to university as it is! If you do buy it used though, make sure it's in good condition as it will be well used.

Not bad! :), 05 Nov 2001
Good chapters on enzyme kinetics. Skips around, but it's all there. Easy reading (for biochem). Better than stryer ;).

Excellent book but out of date, 20 Sep 2001
A wonderfully written and illustrated book, but now totally out of date and in serious need of a new edition. Where is it?!

A foundation Text., 03 Sep 2001
This is an excellent, informative text. I used it extensively through my first degree, my masters and I even refer to it now while I'm doing my PhD. Money well spent.

Great....but not that great, 30 Aug 2001
A tolerable reference, especially for cell signalling/transduction, but not the killer text everyone makes it out to be. Having just finished the first year of a microbiology/virology degree, I can honestly say that I have used Lubert Stryer's Biochemistry more frequently, and if you want cell biology, buy a copy of Molecular Biology Of The Cell by Alberts et al. instead. Of course, if you like nice bright pictures, then this is probably for you. Otherwise, the money is better spent elsewhere.

Superb, highly readable book, with excellent CDROM, 11 Aug 2001
I was very impressed with this book. It is logically set out, with many helpful diagrams reinforcing the text. At the same time it is highly readable. I had expected the CDROM to be a bit of a gimmick, but far from it. The CDROM animations accompanying some of the more difficult sections of the book really do help in understanding cell functions, eg the graphical representation of ribosome assembly and protein synthesis from mRNAs, and the animation illustrating the life cycle of mRNAs.

Disorganized and hard to read, 18 Jul 2001
This textbook is the most disorgnized that I have yet had to use. Reading assignments on each simple subject had to come from 3 different chapters in which the same information was repeated, altered slightly, and added to. The result of studying this text was always confusion. The book is full of information, but it's not put into any sort of order, rendering most of it useless, since it can't be found when you need it. This text is utterly unreadable.

A great book for anyone interested i biotechnology, 13 Mar 1999
This is one of the first book that I have read that dosen't contain idle chit-chat and contemplations from the author. It's direct and serious about giving a wide view on theory and methods from the world of biochemistry. Thumbs up :-)

A tough read, 12 Nov 2001
This is not the book for an introduction to genetics. I had to buy it because my lecturer said we'd definetly need it but I have found myself relying on simpler texts. This book just goes into too much wordy, tedious detail. Its a shame, because the first edition is gem. Buy this as a reference text because it is very comprehensive, but if you are a newcommer to genetics also get a simpler textbook!

A must have reference book for anyone studying Human Genetic, 09 Dec 1999
The book clearly and accuratley setails the current state of knowledge of Human Genetics at the Molecular Level, providing examples where relevant. The book is easily accesible to biologists with little experience in molecular biology as all techniques and principles are clearly explained.

A worthwhile investment

This book is up to date but a confusing read, 16 Nov 1999
Although this should be a useful addition to any genetics library, it requires you to know your stuff. The titles and headings can be illogical and a confusing colour scheme often detracts from the information. Still, the most up to date genetics textbook around with a lot of internet references which are helpful.

Many anecdotes, little culinary knowledge, 05 May 2008
I bought this book hoping to learn some hard science behind cooking and I'm very disappointed. The book consists mostly of anecdotes of what scientists from Dijon found in one kind of wine/cheese/meat or another but hardly any of this can be extrapolated to everyday cooking and it doesn't give any sort of a big picture view on food - just a lot of details.

The book also contains a few interesting ideas, especially on non-traditional emulsions/foams/suspensions/gels - in particular chapter 97 "Everything Chocolate" is very interesting.

Overall I'd suggest buying another book. It's pleasant to read but amount of useful or enlightening content is quite low.

Fascinating and inspiring, 12 Mar 2008
This is very interesting book covering a wide range of topics on the subject of flavour, taste and smell perception as well as the application of basic science to food and drink technology. I was particularly interested in the recent research into the physiology of taste perception, which until recently was the poor cousin of that of the sense of smell. There is a fair bit of chemistry, biochemistry and physics to take in to get full value from the book so I think this book would appeal most to those not only interested in food and cooking but also with some scientific knowledge. The last section of the book focuses on how the physico-chemical properties of ingredients like eggs or fats can be manipulated into creating novel recipes for foods. One can see where the likes of the innovative chef Heston Blumenthal got his inspiration.

A real page turner, 03 Mar 2008
Strangely enough for a professional scientist, This' book contains an extraordinary number of basic temperature conversion mistakes (and I'm not talking a few degrees here and there, more like 100C in some cases).

That aside, the only real problem I've found is that I can't put the book down for long enough to actually try to cook something.

WHY?, 30 Dec 2007
A must for any chef who always has the question WHY? in their mind and some of the answers are in this book the others you'll have to figure out for your self.

ideal for the basics, 16 Apr 2008
This book is ideal for medical students who just need the basics about immunology. Its possible to read the entire book from cover to cover and understand most (if not all) of what is written. There are no flashy diagrams or colour pictures, however the text is almost perfect. You will understand how the body fights infection once you have read it.

Great for Univ of Manchester students, 06 Feb 2008
This book is all u need for immunology exam, even without attending his lectures! It's a well written textbook aim for undergraduate taking his course module. I personally think he used a very basic language to explain things, so it's easy for us to get a good understanding of wot's going on. All the exams questions were based on this textbook. So it is a great helper though it's pretty expensive for such a small textbook. Try to get it from the library before u decided to own one.

Well structured but sloppy, 03 Jan 2007
This book was the recommended text for my Immunology module (a second year course to give an idea of its level). It pretty much mirrors my course, as far as I can tell, so if you're at Manchester University you will probably want to buy this book.

Each chapter is clearly structured and as a rule topics are well laid out. The diagrams and boxes contain useful additions to the text which helped me understand some of the more complicated sections. Sometimes the author appears to talk around a point however, evidence more thorough editing was perhaps necessary to make the book more concise.

Furthermore, I have serious issues with the grammar used. It frequently talks of 'antibody' and 'antigen' in a plural sense with singular grammar. Maybe Dr Wood is actually correct, I would not claim to be an authority; however it reads badly to me and made reading difficult in some sections - having to decipher the concepts could be difficult enough without having to decipher the text first.

I do not feel that I should condemn the book for the grammar alone, if you are taking an Immunology course you will probably need a text book, and I dare say this is as good as any out there. It might be an idea to try to pick up a copy on Amazon Market place or eBay though, the book is pretty expensive ",

4/5

Saviour of First Year, 02 Jan 2006
So it was in the middle of my fresher's alcoholic haze that I decided I'd better purchase a decent physiology text for the next 2 years of my course. Armed with book vouchers I simply dived into this book at the shop because the cover was pretty.
Why do I love this book so much? Not just the cover, but the rest of the illustrations are SO useful in understanding pathways & interactions which are covered in more traditional texts by a few paragraphs of block text.
The book is ideal for people who struggle with physiology - I've spent hours searching libraries and the internet for information sometimes, but it's always covered in B&B. Concepts are outlined at the beginning of a chapter and covered in increasing depth as the chapter progresses logically. It is impossible to get lost in this book - each new chapter covers a discreet topic.
A must for any medic! (It's getting me through first year no trouble at all)
Also comes with Student Consult access - internet site which has additional diagrams and information for every chapter which had to be left out of the book in the interest of brevity.
B&B is fantastic as you can read into each topic in ever increasing depth and be armed with the perfect foundations of knowledge to undertake further reading or simply do well in exams!

Awesome textbook for my course..., 27 Dec 2005
The diagrams and tables are absolutely awesome. The textbook combines recent understanding of both Physiology and Biochemistry explaining it in detail how they are related in the topics mentioned. Even Voet Voet Pratt's latest edition of Fundamentals of Biochemistry didn't cover an important biocehmical topic for my medical course I managed to find in Boron and Boulpaep.

A brilliant textbook!

an essential textbook, 21 Jun 2004
This is a comprehensive textbook, covering every aspect of human physiology. The content is structured by body systems with a final section on an integrated multi-system approach to metabolic rates and adaptations. It is written in a readable and student-friendly style making it suitable for both medical undergraduates and other health professionals. One of it's main strengths are the extensive, high quality colour diagrams, (which tie in well with the text), plus text boxes relating the physiology to clinical examples. Direct links to references on the associated website are included, giving the reader access to expansion of concepts, further clinical illustrations and relevant developments following publication.

Good as a reference, 22 Mar 2003
I use Boron & Boulpaep as a reference when other books don't cover the material as much as I like them to. It's really a good book if you like to know all of physiology, but not if you just like the core of a subject. A little annoying fact is that all information keeps repeating throughout the book (the best example is renal physiology) if you read it as a first-hand book. But if you use it as a reference you'll like it as you doesn't have to browse the register to frequently. Some weak points are coagulation and gastrointestinal motility but I still recommend the book.

Instant notes in Genetics, 11 Dec 2003
A great book for revision of all the basics. Principles well explained with diagrams to help.

BUY THIS BOOK IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!, 09 Aug 2003
This book is a must for those (like myself) who find it difficult to get their head round the subject of genetics! I am a fan of the instant notes series and i was not disappointed with Winters' instalment. The book reads like a set of detailed, yet concise and to the point lecture notes. After reading it, I finally understood some very important concepts behind the subject of genetics.

A must for all students learning genetics everywhere., 21 May 2001
I have found this textbook an invaluable source of information on all the topics that it covers. Each chapter begins with a summary box of the chapter to come. This allows the reader to check the key points covered, and to review the chapter quickly in revision. These key points are well directed, covering the really important aspects of the subject.

These chapter notes are followed by very comprehensible descriptions of the topic in hand, with clear and easy to understand diagrams and relevant examples wherever necessary.

I began reading the textbook with a very limited understanding of the topics involved having read previous alternative books that were recommended by lecturers to me. This book is an obstensible improvement to those books, perhaps aided by its seeming simplicity. Each chapter is dedicated to providing a concise yet thorough coverage of the topic, and does so in a bitesize chapter.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the book is its size: it covers an awful lot of ground in a relatively short book. Always an advantage in the accessibility of information in it, its approachability, and practicality.

Best Molecular Genetics Textbook!, 09 Sep 2008
This is an updated version (2006) which is significantly better than previous edition. Compared to Human Molecular Genetics (Strachan & Read), the Genome 3 is by far an easier textbook to read with excellent illustrations and an accompanying CD with all photos in jpeg or powerpoint ready figures - excellent for Lecturers who teach on the subject!! It has good introduction from DNA to genes to DNA replication /transcription/translation and more. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in molecular genomics especially undergraduates science/medical/dental students.

the new edition is incomplete, 18 Jul 2008
I really liked the Alberts. That's why I bought the new edition, my last edition is now more than 10 years old. What I liked was the coverage of a wide area of cell biology from the basics to developmental biology and immunology. I was therefore very disappointed when I read in the preface that the current paperback edition does not contain all chapters, some chapters are only available on the CD that is included with the book. What am I supposed to do, print the 300 missing pages? If you want the complete book you have to buy the hardback version, currently at about £100- I guess this was a trick of the publisher to rip of libraries, at least our library decided to buy the complete book at twice the price of the paperback...


A must for biology undergraduates., 03 Dec 2005
A really good textbook for all undergraduate biology and biochemistry students. One of the only books I consistently used throughout my course. I am now a teacher, and often use it to help bridge the gap for my students between A levels and university. It is very clear and the diagrams are excellent. If I were a student considering buying this book, I am not sure that I would spend the extra money on buying the latest edition. It costs enough to go to university as it is! If you do buy it used though, make sure it's in good condition as it will be well used.

Not bad! :), 05 Nov 2001
Good chapters on enzyme kinetics. Skips around, but it's all there. Easy reading (for biochem). Better than stryer ;).

Excellent book but out of date, 20 Sep 2001
A wonderfully written and illustrated book, but now totally out of date and in serious need of a new edition. Where is it?!

A foundation Text., 03 Sep 2001
This is an excellent, informative text. I used it extensively through my first degree, my masters and I even refer to it now while I'm doing my PhD. Money well spent.

Great....but not that great, 30 Aug 2001
A tolerable reference, especially for cell signalling/transduction, but not the killer text everyone makes it out to be. Having just finished the first year of a microbiology/virology degree, I can honestly say that I have used Lubert Stryer's Biochemistry more frequently, and if you want cell biology, buy a copy of Molecular Biology Of The Cell by Alberts et al. instead. Of course, if you like nice bright pictures, then this is probably for you. Otherwise, the money is better spent elsewhere.

Superb, highly readable book, with excellent CDROM, 11 Aug 2001
I was very impressed with this book. It is logically set out, with many helpful diagrams reinforcing the text. At the same time it is highly readable. I had expected the CDROM to be a bit of a gimmick, but far from it. The CDROM animations accompanying some of the more difficult sections of the book really do help in understanding cell functions, eg the graphical representation of ribosome assembly and protein synthesis from mRNAs, and the animation illustrating the life cycle of mRNAs.

Disorganized and hard to read, 18 Jul 2001
This textbook is the most disorgnized that I have yet had to use. Reading assignments on each simple subject had to come from 3 different chapters in which the same information was repeated, altered slightly, and added to. The result of studying this text was always confusion. The book is full of information, but it's not put into any sort of order, rendering most of it useless, since it can't be found when you need it. This text is utterly unreadable.

A great book for anyone interested i biotechnology, 13 Mar 1999
This is one of the first book that I have read that dosen't contain idle chit-chat and contemplations from the author. It's direct and serious about giving a wide view on theory and methods from the world of biochemistry. Thumbs up :-)

A tough read, 12 Nov 2001
This is not the book for an introduction to genetics. I had to buy it because my lecturer said we'd definetly need it but I have found myself relying on simpler texts. This book just goes into too much wordy, tedious detail. Its a shame, because the first edition is gem. Buy this as a reference text because it is very comprehensive, but if you are a newcommer to genetics also get a simpler textbook!

A must have reference book for anyone studying Human Genetic, 09 Dec 1999
The book clearly and accuratley setails the current state of knowledge of Human Genetics at the Molecular Level, providing examples where relevant. The book is easily accesible to biologists with little experience in molecular biology as all techniques and principles are clearly explained.

A worthwhile investment

This book is up to date but a confusing read, 16 Nov 1999
Although this should be a useful addition to any genetics library, it requires you to know your stuff. The titles and headings can be illogical and a confusing colour scheme often detracts from the information. Still, the most up to date genetics textbook around with a lot of internet references which are helpful.

Many anecdotes, little culinary knowledge, 05 May 2008
I bought this book hoping to learn some hard science behind cooking and I'm very disappointed. The book consists mostly of anecdotes of what scientists from Dijon found in one kind of wine/cheese/meat or another but hardly any of this can be extrapolated to everyday cooking and it doesn't give any sort of a big picture view on food - just a lot of details.

The book also contains a few interesting ideas, especially on non-traditional emulsions/foams/suspensions/gels - in particular chapter 97 "Everything Chocolate" is very interesting.

Overall I'd suggest buying another book. It's pleasant to read but amount of useful or enlightening content is quite low.

Fascinating and inspiring, 12 Mar 2008
This is very interesting book covering a wide range of topics on the subject of flavour, taste and smell perception as well as the application of basic science to food and drink technology. I was particularly interested in the recent research into the physiology of taste perception, which until recently was the poor cousin of that of the sense of smell. There is a fair bit of chemistry, biochemistry and physics to take in to get full value from the book so I think this book would appeal most to those not only interested in food and cooking but also with some scientific knowledge. The last section of the book focuses on how the physico-chemical properties of ingredients like eggs or fats can be manipulated into creating novel recipes for foods. One can see where the likes of the innovative chef Heston Blumenthal got his inspiration.

A real page turner, 03 Mar 2008
Strangely enough for a professional scientist, This' book contains an extraordinary number of basic temperature conversion mistakes (and I'm not talking a few degrees here and there, more like 100C in some cases).

That aside, the only real problem I've found is that I can't put the book down for long enough to actually try to cook something.

WHY?, 30 Dec 2007
A must for any chef who always has the question WHY? in their mind and some of the answers are in this book the others you'll have to figure out for your self.

ideal for the basics, 16 Apr 2008
This book is ideal for medical students who just need the basics about immunology. Its possible to read the entire book from cover to cover and understand most (if not all) of what is written. There are no flashy diagrams or colour pictures, however the text is almost perfect. You will understand how the body fights infection once you have read it.

Great for Univ of Manchester students, 06 Feb 2008
This book is all u need for immunology exam, even without attending his lectures! It's a well written textbook aim for undergraduate taking his course module. I personally think he used a very basic language to explain things, so it's easy for us to get a good understanding of wot's going on. All the exams questions were based on this textbook. So it is a great helper though it's pretty expensive for such a small textbook. Try to get it from the library before u decided to own one.

Well structured but sloppy, 03 Jan 2007
This book was the recommended text for my Immunology module (a second year course to give an idea of its level). It pretty much mirrors my course, as far as I can tell, so if you're at Manchester University you will probably want to buy this book.

Each chapter is clearly structured and as a rule topics are well laid out. The diagrams and boxes contain useful additions to the text which helped me understand some of the more complicated sections. Sometimes the author appears to talk around a point however, evidence more thorough editing was perhaps necessary to make the book more concise.

Furthermore, I have serious issues with the grammar used. It frequently talks of 'antibody' and 'antigen' in a plural sense with singular grammar. Maybe Dr Wood is actually correct, I would not claim to be an authority; however it reads badly to me and made reading difficult in some sections - having to decipher the concepts could be difficult enough without having to decipher the text first.

I do not feel that I should condemn the book for the grammar alone, if you are taking an Immunology course you will probably need a text book, and I dare say this is as good as any out there. It might be an idea to try to pick up a copy on Amazon Market place or eBay though, the book is pretty expensive ",

4/5

Saviour of First Year, 02 Jan 2006
So it was in the middle of my fresher's alcoholic haze that I decided I'd bette