Editorial Review

How can you tell when a scientific theory is revolutionary?Read more

Reviews (22)

A "Must Read" for those of us who wonder.
Kaufman is not a "science writer", he is one of the worlds senior and most distinguished scientists and he has in this book opened his personal notebook of his most cutting-edge arguments and speculation.Fortunately, he also happens to be an excellent writer. As other reviewers have noted, parts of this book may be difficult to read without prior knowledge of the varied subject areas, but for those of us fascinated by how the universe works this book provides a new high-water mark of explanation.Kaufman pulls together his own and others' ideas in fields including molecular biology, ecology, complexity theory, physics and economics to bring into high relief a significant fact:all around us we see evolving and ever-increasing organizational complexity yet our physical and social sciences have not incorporated that fact into their mainstream theories. Physics has the laws of thermodynamics to specify how the universe becomes more disordered, but no laws to specify the obvious tendency of the universe to become more organized in the presence of an energy gradient.Economics has detailed theories to explain utility maximization and supply and demand balancing given a static set of goods and services, but no mainstream theory to explain the constant increase in economic diversity.Complexity theory provides mathematical tools and simulations that emulate physical complexity but it has not been effectively integrated into mainstream science.Numerous other writers have presented the idea of emergent complexity in biology, such as Capra or Lowenstein, but none that I have read so completely explore, elucidate, extend and defend with experimental evidence the concept as Kaufman does in this book. Buy and read this book.If at first you don't get it, read some related books and come back to it.It is very exciting to feel the approaching wave of a revolution in scientific thinking!

Questions which shake science
This is a great book. Not by the suggested answers to the problems related to the notion of Life, but by the questions which are asked. It breaks dogmas in physics which simply do not allow the comprehension of biology from a physical perspective. Kauffman notes limits of our actual physics, and proposes tentative ways of exploring. Confusion is Part of the Solution
Stuart Kauffman has been probing the "deep structure" of life for decades. He is one of the founding members of the Santa Fe Institute, the leading center for the emerging sciences of complexity. His work therein started in complex Boolean networks in which he found "order for free" in a void seeming to consist of nothing but chaos. This lead him to highly dynamical yet self-structuring autocatalytic sets (now known as "Kauffman sets") which eventually lead him to search for a general biology from which all of life could extrapolate. Kauffman never was much for neo-Darwinism or natural selection, and here he continues his holistic approach to self-organizing biospheres. Read more

Subjects:  1. Biotechnology    2. Life Sciences - Evolution    3. Research & Methodology    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Life Sciences | Evolutionary Biology    7. Popular science    8. Science / Evolution   

Reviews (3)

Best Reference Book Ever for Polymer Science
This book is organized in such a clear fashion that you will find virtually any fundamental polymer property, its origin and related theories in it.Most importantly, this book collects so many property tables that you will be amazed by how useful it is in your research. It is no doubt one of the most cited refrence in publications.A wonderful reference book for graduate students.

Never miss this handbook!!
I am working in Polymer relative field, and I need to know variousproperties of dozens of polymers. I am not a computer, so I could known allof them. Sometime I want to find a handbook for polymer properties, butmost of handbook only summerizes some common polymers. Thus, I can't findthe information through th handbook, but this book gives more than onehundres types of polymers with broad fields such as thermodynamic,mechanical, electrical, etc.. If you are a person who work in the polymerrelative fields, it is definately a handbook you need to have. Trust me,you can make it.

chief planner
this book is the best reference for gradute students ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chemistry - General    2. Engineering - Chemical & Biochemical    3. Material Science    4. Mechanical properties    5. Polymeric Materials    6. Polymers    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Biochemical Engineering    11. Physical chemistry   

Subjects:  1. Biotechnology    2. Instruments & Supplies    3. Medical    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Reference    6. Emergency services    7. Medical equipment & techniques    8. Purchasing & supply management    9. Yearbooks, annuals, almanacs    10. c 1990 to c 2000   

Subjects:  1. Allied Health Services - Medical Technology    2. Biomedical Materials    3. Chemistry - General    4. Family & General Practice    5. General    6. Medical    7. Medical / Nursing    8. Polymers in medicine    9. Textiles & Polymers    10. Plastics & polymers technology    11. Technology / Textiles & Polymers   

Reviews (7)

Save on Textbook
I purchased this book with a description of like new.I would say this is new.The previous person who used this did not even break in the binder.This is an excellent reference book,I have enjoyed reading the text up to this point.

Best Basic Book on Tisssue Culture
For many years Freshney's Culture of Animal Cells has been the gold standard of tissue culture reference books.This new edition adds and updates many techniques and continues to be the best book in its area.I use it extensively both for my own research and in teaching classes on tissue culture.

The best book on cell culture
Freshney's Culture of Animal Cells is a great book. It is writen on an easy style, it is concise and complete at the same time and it does teach you all the basics (and a little bit more) of cell culture. When I was doing my masters I didn't have a lot of help with my cell culture experiments and this book was fundamental for my research. The book covers everything, starting from the biology of cultured cells, equipments, design of the lab and asseptic technique and going all the way to primary culture, cloning and selection, cell separation, characterization, differentiation and more. The book (hard cover) is pretty resistant and it easily stands going to the bench (where you surely will be using it a lot). If you are thinking about spending money on a book about cell culture techniques this is the book! Don't think twice. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animal Cell Biotechnology    2. Biotechnology    3. Cell Culture    4. Laboratory manuals    5. Life Sciences - Anatomy & Physiology    6. Life Sciences - Cytology    7. Life Sciences - Genetics & Genomics    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Tissue culture    11. Biology, Life Sciences    12. Chemistry    13. Science / Cytology   

Reviews (1)

A must have if you want to know about confocal microscopy
This is a great reference book.A great place to start if you want to learn about confocal microscopes.The chapters are written by experts in their specific field of confocal microscopy. The book is also wellreferenced so that you can easliy continue your search for knowledge onconfocal microscopy.I also found the appendix interesting, they list mostof the existing confocal systems and there specs.This is useful if youplan on purchasing one.This book is also useful if you plan on buildingyour own. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biotechnology    2. Life Sciences - Biochemistry    3. Science    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Biological    6. Confocal    7. Microscopy    8. Pawley    9. Science / Biochemistry   

Subjects:  1. Genome    2. Genomes    3. Life Sciences - Biochemistry    4. Life Sciences - Biology - Molecular Biology    5. Life Sciences - Genetics & Genomics    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Genetics (non-medical)    9. Science / Biochemistry   

Reviews (1)

Excelent Book!!!!
I used this book during my Master in Science (Biofilm modelling). The theory contained in this book is up to date and every chapter in it contains valuable information. It was of great help, chapters are well organized and it covers all important aspects of environmental biotechnology.
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Subjects:  1. Environmental Engineering & Technology    2. Environmental Monitoring    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Technology    5. Technology & Industrial Arts    6. Waste Biodegradation    7. Biochemical Engineering    8. Technology / Environmental   

Reviews (9)

Worst Chem E book ever
I think this is the worest Chem E book ever.too bad its one of the only aviablable books for reaction engineering since levenspeil was the first to do alot of these things back in the 50s and 60s.there are numerous mistakes in every chapter.Be weary when using this book to study from.

A decent undergraduate book
CRE is not a bad book. The author does a good job of explaining reactor design fundamentals, from simple kinetic models to complex reactor systems involving heat/material transfer or multiple reaction contents.He lays the groundwork well early on be using simple, clear examples.There are numerous typos (mostly in the text, though, not the problems. The text itself is in large and legible type.In addition, the book is not overcrowded-like a lot of life science books-with meaningless pictures, text, history, etc (but it might take the boredom meter to a new level for some readers).Although not a big deal, Levenspiel uses some language that makes you kinda wonder what planet he came from.Also, the author puts all the variable nomenclature at the beginning of the book, which is really annoying because you have to flip back and forth until you memorize each character variable.Other than that, it should be adequate to get you through the course w/o a great deal of trouble.

Too detailed
As a final year undergraduate, I find that this book is fairly useless. Although the information is in there, it is nigh on impossible to find. It would probably be of use to someone who is working on research in that field, but to a student who has not yet done such detailed work, don't bother. Save your money and spend it on beer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chemical Engineering Apparatus    2. Chemical reactors    3. Engineering - Chemical & Biochemical    4. Engineering - Nuclear    5. Nuclear Chemical Engineering    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Biochemical Engineering    10. Industrial chemistry    11. Technology / Engineering / Chemical & Biochemical   

Features

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Reviews (1)

Cardiac Pacing for the Millenium
An incredibly well written and expertly researched book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biomedical Engineering    2. Biotechnology    3. Cardiac Pacing, Artificial    4. Cardiac pacing    5. Cardiology    6. Cardiovascular Diseases    7. Defibrillators, Implantable    8. Electric countershock    9. General    10. Medical    11. Medical / Nursing    12. Pacemaker, Artificial    13. Surgery - General    14. Cardiothoracic surgery    15. Medical / Cardiology   

Reviews (3)

good with an adjunct
this is a very nice book with abundant information.there are few topics which are dealt extraordinarily especially centrifugation,HPLC,electrophoresis etcetera.i have been studying this book from my graduation.initially i used to feel some difficulty with this book,so i studied biopysicaland biophysical techniques by Upadhyaya and Upadhyaya.once i got the clear idea regarding the techniques,i shifted to this book.now i feel this book is very helpful.it is highly recommendedto allbiology students.

Excellent reference
This book is an invaluable source of information not only for those studying about various practical techniques but even those engaged in experiments in a lab environment. Written more as an overview, it works to familiarize the reader with the principles of both experimental protocols and the equipment that might be used, for example centrifuges. It's very useful to go back to it from time to time to get a refresher on techniques that I might use on a regular basis but might not remember all the details of. Highly recommended. It's also written quite simply, which unfortunately is not the case for all biology texts.

A useful, informative guide to practical biology
This book would be especially useful to science students engaging in a predominantly practical-based biological course. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biochemistry    2. Life Sciences - Biochemistry    3. Life Sciences - Biology - Molecular Biology    4. Methodology    5. Molecular biology    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Medical / Biochemistry   

Reviews (3)

Fascinating material
I used this book for one of my favorite classes in college on biotechnology.It will show you the cool side of science and all of the neat things you can do with biology and DNA.The level is low enough to where you only need a minimal background to understand it, basic biology classes and preferably genetics.After completing the book you should be excited about the future of biotech, and you will have some understanding about how it works.

Good introductory material for the technical
To those who are interested in the functional aspects of the DNA this is the right introductory stuff. It covers areas including basic molecular biology to commercial methods for manipulating the genes. Pretty useful for someone who's more interested in the technology than the biology!

Good overview but lacks technical rigor
I am currently using this book for a course in Molecular Biotechnology taught through the chemistry department.Although the book covers a wide range of biotechnology fields, from manipulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes through human gene therapy, it does so in asomewhat shallow and repetitive way.I have also seen clearer and moreconcise diagrams covering similar topics in other biochemistry books, andthere is a paucity of in-depth coverage in any particular area.This isnot necessarily the authors's fault, however, arising from the plethora ofinformation found in the biotechnology field.If someone wants a broadreview of molecular biotechnology, this is a decent book, but if you wantto focus on a specific area within biotechnology, look somewhere else. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biotechnology    2. Genetic Engineering    3. Life Sciences - Biology - Molecular Biology    4. Life Sciences - Genetics & Genomics    5. Medical    6. Microbiology    7. Molecular Biology    8. Science    9. DNA   

Subjects:  1. Bioinformatics    2. Biotechnology    3. Medical    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Medical informatics    6. Reference    7. Applications of Computing    8. Biomedial Informatics    9. Health Informatics    10. Medical / Administration    11. Medical Computing    12. Medical equipment & techniques   

Reviews (2)

Building Mathematical Models of Cells
The history of science over the past few centuries is to become ever more specialized. The physicists, becomming ever more concerned with the very large (stars, galaxies, the cosmos) or the very tiny (first atoms, then atomic components, now sub-components. The biologists on the other hand were studying much larger things, such as the cells that make up life. Both sciences developed techniques to facilitate their study.
Great Job
A superb intro to the field. The math is moderate and helpful. Network concepts and their ties to examples and theory are clearly and succinctly presented. This is a textbook but reads easily like a book. Covers key elements while connecting them by at least mention to up-to-date further research. The basics and the grandeur of systems biology. I am trying to remember now anything on the negative side and cannot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Applied    2. Biological systems    3. Biotechnology    4. Computational biology    5. General    6. Mathematical models    7. Mathematics    8. Physics    9. Probability & Statistics - General    10. Science    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Biology, Life Sciences    13. Mathematics / Applied   

Reviews (5)

Great !
My close friend who is one of the nicest person I ever met, recommended me this book. Upon opening the first chapter, I already know that this book is amazing. My writing improves a lot. If you are an international student like me, you might also have hard time on writing as well. I guaranteed that this book is really invaluable.

Very good book, examples used bit too technical
Very good book for beginners and experienced researchers! I haven't come across any other book that actually describes how you should write a biomedical paper. The only critique is that the examples used are too technical for non-biomedical researchers, this makes it hard to understand the examples. But even if you do not have a biomedical background you will learn a lot from this book.

Authoritative
Authoritative guide on how to write.I have never seen a more comprehensive book on how to write clearly and write well.I would give it 6 stars if I could.Even non-scientists should read this.(Having said that, though, scientists IN PARTICULAR should read this - hint, hint.) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Nonfiction    2. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    3. Life Sciences - Biology - General    4. Medical    5. Medical Writing    6. Publishing    7. Research    8. Technical writing    9. Writing    10. Biomedical engineering    11. English    12. Medical research    13. Science / Biology    14. Writing & editing guides    15. Writing skills   

Reviews (3)

Great introduction to polymer chem...
I was not able to fit polymer chem into my schedule at University, so I bought this book after graduating.This book is extremely organized and provides a lot of examples.The first of three sections provides a great introduction with the focus on definitions and structure.This is accomplished with very little reference to reactions. Premier Polymer Chemistry Text
This textbook does an excellent job of going over the basics of polmer chemistry.There are insightful questions at the end of chapters that make students think and the book goes over the material in such a way that a background in organic chemistry is not necessary.If you need to learn about polymer chemistry on your own, this book is an excellent purchase.

Polymer Chemistry-An Excellent Introduction
"Polymer Chemistry: An Introduction" is an excellent text for an upper division undergraduate or graduate level course in polymer chemistry.The book is also enjoyable to read for scientists and engineers in the polymer and materials fields.The content is logically organized, there is fairly in-depth discussion of mechanisms of polymerization reactions and of the origins of stereoregularity in polymers, and the problems at the end of each chapter are more than adequate for reviewing the subject matter. Professor Stevens clearly introduces the reader to the subject of polymer chemistry, relating the physical properties of macromolecular materials to polymer orientation, microstructure, stereochemistry and chemical composition.He also provides an enormous amount of information on the history of polymers in a fashion that effectively reinforces the important concepts being described.I find myself referring to this text far more frequently than the other polymer texts on my bookshelves. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biotechnology    2. Chemistry - Organic    3. Polymer Chemistry    4. Polymerization    5. Polymers    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Chemistry | Materials Chemistry    9. Plastics & polymers technology    10. Science / Chemistry / General   

Subjects:  1. Biochemistry    2. Clinical Chemistry    3. Enzyme-linked immunosorbant as    4. Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay    5. Laboratory Medicine    6. Life Sciences - Biochemistry    7. Medical / Nursing    8. Pathology    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Genetics (non-medical)    12. Molecular biology   

Reviews (4)

VERY GOOD BOOK IN THE SUBJECT
This volme I have purchased yesterday from the local Book Seller. I had gone through first three chapters. Since I am teaching Biochemical Engineering to my Undergraduate and Post Graduate studentsfor last three years, I understand this volume is very much helpful in addition to some volumes I have in this subject like, Biochemical Engineering by Humphrey, Aiba and Millis (Academic Press), Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering by Baily & Ollis (Mc Graw Hill). However, in teaching the tutorials in this subject, an instruction manual consisting of solution of unsolved problems given at the end of each chapter of the book would be very much helpful. I have collected a such instruction manual (solutions to unsolved problems given in the Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering)(Gift copy) from McGraw Hill Publishing Company . I hope any such volume might be available for Bioprocess Engineering by Shuler and Kargi. If so, I would appreciate for detail information and way to procure it. It will not only help the teacher but the students as well.

Good, but has glaring flaws
This was the book for my introductory bioprocess engineering course. I felt it covered the quantitative areas, such as enzyme kinetics, bioreactor design, stoichiometry, etc.., quite well. However, the qualitative sections, such as DNA replication, metabolic pathways, and cell function, etc.., are explained way too quickly and lightly for someone with little or no training in Biology. Upon reading a few pages into one of these qualitative sections, you quickly find the author throwing terms at you that he never defined (to be fair, it would take an extra 100 pages to define all of these terms). Also, the text has some really unfortunate typos, typos so severe they may actually hinder your learning (subscripts change for no reason, two different constants given the same symbol, etc.) Biology folks will be happy, but ChEs with no knowledge of Biology may want to stick to the section on bioprocess engineering in Fogler.

bioprocess engineering:basic conceptsISBN 0134782151
im going to use this book the next semester in theunivesity of puerto rico, mayaguez campus, and i need a copy of it to be sure, if this one is what I want. If you can help i'll be glad of you ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biochemical Engineering    2. Biotechnology    3. Biotechnology (General)    4. Engineering - Chemical & Biochemical    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Technology / Engineering / Chemical & Biochemical   

Editorial Review

Having trouble deciphering your genetic code? Do dominant genes make you feel recessive? Let reigning nonfiction cartoonist Larry Gonick and microbiologist Mark Wheelis ease your way through Mendelian genetics, molecular biology, and the basics of genetic engineering. Gonick's drawings range from a moderately detailed look at ribosomes in action to loony pictures of dancing scientists, talking peas, and opinionated fruit flies. Matthew Meselson, co-discoverer of the "one gene-one protein" principle, says, "it puts textbooks to shame"--and he's right. Read more

Reviews (36)

Nicely Engineered
This is the update edition of "The Cartoon Guide to Genetics" by Larry Gonick and Mark Wheelis.The original edition was published in 1983, and this First Collins edition was published in 2005.This is one of a series of Cartoon Guides which Larry Gonick has co-authored with scientists in the field of choice.Mark Wheelis is the senior lecturer in Microbiology at the University of California at Davis.
Splendid, Spectacular Overview
I just finished this book an hour ago and am ready to rave about it (and, more generally, its highly visual and accessible approach).More than any "popular" science book I've ever read, it quickly took me to an unprecedented comfort level with the material.Cellular biology is a three-dimensional domain where pure-text approaches fall short when trying to describe the spatial processes of cellular replication, DNA copying, etc.I think that this writing team has a talent for making information teachable, and that this book (along with the books of its kind in the series) is a great gift to the curious layperson.Thanks again to the authors - wow!

Fun stuff.
Larry Gonick, The Cartoon Guide to Genetics, Revised Edition (Harper, 1991)
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Subjects:  1. Biotechnology    2. Caricatures and cartoons    3. Cartoons and caricatures    4. General    5. Genetics    6. Life Sciences - Genetics & Genomics    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Genetics (non-medical)    10. Science: General Issues    11. Study Aids / General   

Reviews (6)

Required reading
"Top 1000" reviewer Timothy W. Lieder wrote (see his uninformed review below) that he only read half of this book and that Reich recommended "more orgasms". I seriously doubt that Timothy W. Lieder even read a quarter of the book.
A deeply thought-out and provacative book
This is my first exposure to Reich, and what he has to say is more relevant today than ever.It's easy to be misled by the title and think its about having more sex, but nothing could be further than the truth. Heexplores the direct relationship between neuroses (and most of society is neurotic to varying degrees as a result of being raised in an authoritarian manner) and the inability to surrender completely to the the full bio-energetic pleasure of complete orgasm.If you have studied any Tantra you may be aware that what most of us call orgasm is only a genital sneeze, in terms of the possibility available.Thus, we are cut off from the totality of what we are and this is expressed in the energetics of our experience of orgasm, and ultimately, how we live our lives. He also explores the evolution of fascism under these constraints, and how it propogates itself through society.Frightening stuff, particularly in light of current world politics. All in all, a fascinating read, slowed only by old terminology. My only disappointment was the lack of exposition of his therapeutic techniques, other than it appears he is the first to use the breath in healing. This book will open your mind to new ways of thinking about the relationships between our selves, our culture and our politics.

On the biological and social implications of "love making"
The book focuses on the function of orgasm as an important PART of "healthy" love making. The issues discussed are timeless and at the same time not given the proper importance in our everyday life. Why? The author gives his opinion which is informed by the biological, psychological and social scientific domain.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biotechnology    2. General    3. Medical    4. Orgasm    5. Psychoanalysis    6. Psychology    7. Psychology Of Sexuality    8. Sex (Psychology)    9. Sexual behavior