Biology with MasteringBiology (8th Edition) Reviews

• MasteringBio = amazing

  
  By APANYCY3KETXF on 2008-09-28
  This book is a good biology text book -- it's pretty easy to read and has interesting examples and real-world applications of some of the concepts. The MasteringBio website, though, is AWESOME. It comes with an ebook version of the text book, so you don't have to carry it around with you (good because it is huge and really heavy). It also has quizzes and mini tests that you can take online to see if you understand the material. The best part in my opinion though is that there are all kinds of animations and interactive learning tools that make the material super easy to understand. I absolutely recommend it!
  
  

• Very Good if you can lift it

  
  By AY7CGSWDQ3SRL on 2008-05-31
  I completed my B.A. in biology over 30 years ago and got this book for self-study and to catch up with progress in topics outside of my work experience. The sections seem well written and illustrated. Since this is an introductory text it has sidebars and interviews meant to interest the intro student. I'd leave those out, if only to make the book less massive.
  
  

• Fundamental Text

  
  By A34GN9S99XZ4FX on 2009-08-20
  Some Pros about this book:
  1. Change is good and the help of co-authors has made this book much better than previous editions.
  2. This book will provide students well rounded knowledge of most biological concepts.
  3. Up to date (considering date of publication).
  4. Genetics section is superior compared even to Genetics textbooks.
  5. Embryology is well discussed or at least mentioned in almost every chapter.
  6. Systems biology made simple to understand (almost like reading a Histology or Anatomy and Physiology text)
  7. Plant biology well discussed.
  8. Research Method boxes made very easy to understand.
  9. Diagrams are succinct and easy to read; most have labeled processes.
  10. The order of chapters is for the most part good... go from 1 to 56. (Reader should consider joining discussions on plants rather than reading straight through the book though...)
  
  Some Cons about this book:
  1. This book constantly refers to a certain "enzyme" or "protein" without giving its name.
  a. you could find these in any well-rounded Genetics text.
  2. Biotechnology and Genomic Evolution chapters are kind of dull, simply because of the amount of information presented.
  a. Probably a con of any book discussing those two topics.
  3. Text makes the reader refer to other chapters quite often. This makes the book shorter but sometimes confusing.
  
  I would recommend this book for anyone to read, especially to students studying Biology in pre-professional programs who do not use this book at their university.
  
  

• Great textbook

  
  By A8GREEE2F6R2W on 2008-09-14
  This book has a great layout, and it has a great website that coincides with it. It's easy to read and not very complex. Obviously, some Biology prerequisite should be in order if using this book, but other than that, I say it's one of my better textbooks this semester, if not the best.
  
  

• Excellent biology text

  
  By A3GWQGJRH8AONY on 2010-01-31
  In preparation for giving a week's lectures (on evolution) to a high-school class, I purchased this text because it is the one the teacher used. Even though I already owned numerous biology texts, I do not regret the purchase: this is a superior general biology text. It is appropriate for either high school or undergraduate courses.
  
  All of the basic stuff is covered, of course. I was glad to see a chapter devoted to cell-signalling (even though the coverage is not all that in-depth: well, at least not when compared to the undergraduate molecular cell biology texts I have, which is not a fair comparison).
  
  An entire unit (in all, chapters 22 - 26) deals with evolution, but discussion of this -- THE unifying theme of all biology, tying together otherwise widely scattered and disparate facts -- is not restriced to just those chapters. The recurring ties to evolution, made throughout the text, were much appreciated.
  
  The diagrams are excellent and numerous, making it easier for students to understand the material.
  
  
  
  PS: Note that this book's average rating has been reduced artificially because many people have rated it low DUE TO PROBLEMS THEY HAD WITH SELLERS. Unfortunately, there is no way to nullify such ratings; they remain despite "0 of 25" people finding the reviews helpful.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Great book!!!!!!
  By AJK89KSYHCKL2 on 2008-08-30
  This book is great for any biology course. I give it my highest recommendation for any college level course. I personally a using it for General Biology I and it is a great tool with great diagrams to enhance the reading.
  
  
• This is a GREAT book!
  By A3P2NWIM9T494N on 2009-03-02
  This is one of the best Biology books I've ever read. It goes into incredible detail into every aspect of biology, from DNA to evolution. I'm taking a Post-Bac Pre-Med class that is using this book and am sure this will get me prepared for the MCAT.
  I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone interested in in-depth biology studies.
  
  
• Good book but beware of spam.
  By A63B8V34D6U3G on 2009-11-11
  The book itself is probably the most readable textbook I own, and I have no complaints about it.
  
  However, beware that signing up to MasteringBiology will potentially result in daily spam to the sign up email. Though the actual MasteringBio site is great it is frustrating that I have to deal with spam for it, hence the 4 stars.
  
  
• 3-peat
  By A16A8ZU6RCR6HM on 2009-12-01
  Good information for a general Biology book, finally caught up to Levine/Miller by 6th Edition.
  
  I have an predecessor to this book from early 1990s: "The World of the Cell." Co-Authored by Reece (Read the acknowledgments. The books reference each other.) Campbell "Biology" is a much better book than "World of the Cell" overall, but I miss the access to detailed explanation, especially the bridge between Molecular Biology and BioChem that World of the Cell offered. In "Biology," Respiration & Photosynthesis ETC reactions are described as RedOx & electron transfer, and then every reaction drops the electrons. This is challenging for a student that never had Biology (home school, &/or opted for other sciences in HS). It's also difficult to gain respect for the field when an 18yr old teen who has had high school Chemistry can't understand why Biology PhDs "can't" do simple stoichiometry.
  
  I'm frustrated with the new edition every semester trend. It's artificially driving up the price & making it difficult for avg students to recover any of their expenses. Neill Campbell passed away by the 7th edition. Certainly, other contributors have made discoveries, but perhaps the publisher or remaining author(s) could wait a full year or two between editions to compile, edit, & peer-review? Are thousands of books really useless after one semester?
  
  
• Get MasteringBiology. Period.
  By A2BU2B8896HN3G on 2010-02-26
  The book is great, but MasteringBiology is better. Top three features:
  
  1) BioFlix animations. Diagrams are good, but these animations just make things easier.
  2) ebook. You can search, highlight, annotate, etc, etc... and besides, who wants to lug around a huge textbook?
  3) Downloadable diagrams. Yes, you can download the "Art" (the diagrams) from each chapter. This comes in handy for notes you take on your laptop. I usually insert relevant diagrams as I'm taking notes during class.
  
  Goodness, buying the book almost seems pointless.
  
  
• Great undergraduate material, well organized
  By A1ZAIEZHFLI9UN on 2010-08-18
  From a student's standpoint, this book provides thorough information without overburdening vocabulary or thick, poorly-written grammar. You can read it quickly, efficiently and absorb as much information as quickly as possible.
  
  Its page-by-page layout is thoughtfully constructed to allow smooth reading. Diagrams and pictures are vibrant and informative. Side-bars help fill in gaps and answer questions you may have.
  
  For a professor (I am not one, but I know some who chose to use this book), this book is great for a variety of reasons.
  
  1) It is kept up to date quite regularly.
  2) It has top-notch info
  3) Its well-labeled and logically placed chapters allow you to customize your student's reading to specialize in biomedical engineering, biology, nursing, genetics and other majors.
  
  
  
• Most intuitive way of learning college first-year biology.
  By A32RLYLROL6CAA on 2010-08-18
  First, this book is lovely. I have read and studied from two different biology textbooks before stumbling on upon this gem, and let me tell you, Campbell and Reece do an exemplary job of teaching biology. As a former teacher myself, I am confident that even the simplest of persons can open this textbook and be taught the fundamental concepts of biology. Notoriously difficult concepts to teach and learn, such as the cardiac cycle and immunology, are explained clearly and succinctly by the authors without any faulty oversimplification.
  
  The textbook spans eight main units [The Cell, Genetics, Evolution, etc.] with a total of fifty-six subunits. Each of the eight main units, however, is marked with an interview with a leading scientist on that field. These interviews are very enlightening and shows how alive the field of biology is today. I found that these interviews served to excite my interests in biology, as well as to make me aware of the cutting-edge research occurring right now to expand our range of biological knowledge. In a few generations, new ways of understanding life will be available to us thanks to these ardent researchers and scientists burning the midnight oil!
  
  One of the best selling points of this particular biology is also the fact that, when bought new, it allows you access to an online version of its text at Masteringbiology. With this feature, you can tow a 1200+ page biology text in the comfort of your slim netbook!
  
  If you are a newfound Biology student, do yourself a favor and purchase this book. I can think of no other biology book that would be better equipped to teach you the basic and guiding principles of first-year biology.
  
  
• A joy
  By A3MOTNC6UH8OS9 on 2010-08-15
  Aside from the gorgeous images, sensible diagrams, and incredible breadth, this book had TRIVIA. I loved it; there were writers here after my own heart. Especially: "In October or November, when the moon is in its last quarter, the palolo worms break in half, releasing tail segments engorged with sperm or eggs. These packets rise to the ocean surface and burst in such vast numbers that the sea surface turns milky with gametes." Milky with gametes! Did you know that vampire bats must excrete 24% of their body mass each hour while feeding or become too bloated with blood to fly?
  
  I guess use of this volume will either reveal to you that you are meant to study biology for years to come or get you through a requisite course series (may be difficult for ESL students). Regardless, I consider it to be worth its price.
  
  
• Biology 8th Edition
  By ADUWTKDFJPQ3 on 2010-08-12
  The book was quite expensive for a used item. It was listed as "like new with no highlighting" and the book did not arrive in this condition. There was a great deal of highlighting and a bit torn up. I was disappointed in the condition of the Biology textbook by Neil A. Campbell, Jane B. Reece.
  
  
• Keeping in mind that I don't enjoy science...
  By AYYHI5VJHEXNT on 2010-02-22
  It's giant, bulky and hard to read through the vocabulary. The good that came out of buying this book was the "masteringbiology" code that came with to have access to a lot of help online! pretty pricy, but hey the book is HUGE.
  
  
• Wonderfully Comprehensive
  By AFUDX6IMK50OZ on 2009-09-17
  The book itself is wonderful and full of a lot of information - it is very easy to read and yet goes so far in depth into the subjects. It assumes, in the beginning chapters, that the readers/students have no previous knowledge about biology or chemistry, and so therefore takes the time to describe in detail the needed concepts to understand the rest of the book. It is also well organized and well put-together. I recommend the book to any biology student/professor.
  
  
• Wonderful Service!
  By A1YZZDA5O27IRT on 2010-08-24
  Great service! Got exactly what I asked for and more! Just in time for my class! :)
  
  
• Great Condition, excellent resources
  By A18L7F08CPNBK4 on 2010-08-23
  The textbook came right on time, properly packed, in brand new condition, with the Mastering Biology online resources that I find very helpful!
  
  
• Textbook
  By A2PUAA9UUDLF55 on 2010-08-08
  I am extremely pleased with my purchase for a biology textbook. The product arrived in a timely manner. It was in the same shape that was described online, which was a big relief. Also, it was still pre-wrapped and came with the computer disk also. I have not yet started the class yet, so this is the only reason I am giving this product 4 stars instead of 5. The book looks brand new and was a lot cheaper then the prices at my university were offering.
  
  
• review
  By A1LIJM41EX0K34 on 2010-07-18
  book came in a fairly timely manner, lots of highlighting in the first 20 chapters and a couple self-quizzes were answered, other than that book was in good condition, minor damage as stated. Safe buyer.
  
  
• Excellent desicion to buy my textbooks from Amazon, will do from now on!
  By A3S88LSMT5CRQ1 on 2010-07-07
  Easily found exact textbook that I needed, had plenty of options between condition, price, etc. Book was delivered much faster than was expected and made it to me before class started! Excellent, all the way around.
  
  
• Great Biology Textbook
  By AMRV4OBHJ0UDJ on 2010-06-21
  This is a great, in-depth intro biology book. Big book but full of great information. I recommend it to anyone trying to touch up on Bio.
  
  
• Excellent Biology Book
  By A2JK8NVVZO7OEA on 2010-03-11
  This Biology book is thorough, detailed. It might be big, however Biology is a very detailed oriented subject. This book covers all bases exceedingly well
  
  
• Excellent
  By A28B4QJDG3DZKP on 2010-02-27
  I used Campbell Biology back in High School and it remains to be an excellent introductory biology book for college.
  
  
• i love this book!
  By AQ4RQN7G3U112 on 2009-10-05
  very informative, great illustrations and explanations,
  
  i'm majoring in biology and this text really helped in my bio classes, especially the masteringbio!
  
  
• Good Intro Text for Biology
  By AI8US4VR6S6XL on 2009-08-29
  I used this book for my intro Biology class in college and it explains things well and has good color diagrams and pictures.
  
  
• Great physical book, good website, awful eText
  By AJEB5DRYOX20S on 2010-04-06
  This is a great physical book and the website isn't half bad. But the eText is truly awful. It's written for Flash Player. What were they thinking? If I could rate the eText separately, I'd give it a golden duck egg. Either Kindle, iBook, or even PDF downloads would be ok.
  
  So don't think of reading this on an iPad. Seriously, someone at the publishing house needs to think seriously about their IT.
  
  
• Hard subject
  By A1Q9MKAIJ317D on 2009-10-13
  Hard subject to begin with, but the book does a good job at explaining the topics and concepts.
  
  
• Good Biology Book
  By A133531VSFGJI1 on 2008-09-15
  Dense albeit through text. Diagrams and pictures are very good and aid greatly in understanding biology. Needs more problems at the end of the chapter to help the student lock in the information.
  
  
• No Book
  By A2TWQYHV90SHVP on 2010-08-28
  The book was never shipped nor can I get in touch with the seller. The email address is undeliverable.
  
  

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