Biology Books

My AP Biology class used the Campbell textbook, and I purchased this study guide to read along with it. It's perfect for summarizing the text and it goes into detail which is probably needed for the class tests. I wouldnt advise that you rely on the study guide, however, it is an excellent review with some practice questions and charts in each section that match the textbook. It goes into great depth for it to be a good AP test prep book. If you are looking for a AP Bio prep book for the AP test, I recommend Cliffnotes. If your class is using the respective Campbell textbook, it's a great idea to have this as well.

My AP Biology course uses Campbell's Biology as its main text. I ordered the study guide to help me study for tests. When I do the reading, I use this study guide to read the short summary, then read the section in the book. So far, this strategy has been very effective. In addition, the multiple choice study questions at the end of each chapter is very helpful. This book presents the information in a very organized, logical, and concise way. I would recommend it to anyone.

This study guide helped to clarify information in my text that was unclear. By using this study guide it helped me to raise my grades in both of my college biology classes. Subjects liked ecology, the five kingdoms and energy pathways were explained with the reader in mind. I also found the following awesome for test preparation:

The Ultimate Study Guide for Biology: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations (Topics: Organization of Living Things & Chemistry of Life, Structure and Function of the Cell and Energy Pathways, Reproduction and Heredity, Genetics) Volume 1 by Patrick Leonardi

The Ultimate Study Guide for Biology: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations (Topics: Evolution, Kingdom Bacteria, Kingdom Protista, Kingdom Fungi, Viruses, Plant Form and Function) Volume 2 by Patrick Leonardi

The Ultimate Study Guide for Biology: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations (Topics: Kingdom Animalia, Organization of the Animal Body, Animal Form and Function, Animal Reproduction, Development and Behavior) Volume 3 by Patrick Leonardi

The first study guide is great for getting a clearer explanation for harder subjects like the Krebs cycle and genetics. However, the the last three study guide helped me to figure out what kind of questions would appear on my college exams. I was recommended these books from my cousin who took bio at another college. I'm glad I took his advice, they helped me a lot.

First, let me say that, early on in the semester, I became disenchanted with the class I was using Campbell's book for (general biology). It was pretty evident that one of the main intentions of the class was to weed out students, and so I didn't find it very appealing; however, if you are unsure about which facet of biology you're interested in (or if you're interested at all), then the class might hold some value for you.

Taking that into consideration, I wanted to get what I need to know for the tests, and not waste anymore time. Taylor's study guide was perfect for this; it gives only what you need to know, and presents in a fashion such that the reader cannot be passive; i.e. its perfect for test preparation. I went from spending upwards of 10 hours a week reading and outlining Campbell's book to maybe 10-15 preparing the weekend before the test (about two days in the library), with equal results.

I must admit that I actually learned the material better when I was reading and outlining, but after asking myself to what end, I decided it wasn't worth it. This certainly isn't the only use of the study guide, but it worked for me, and I think it illustrates the power of this guide.

I used this book to help study for a very fast paced class at the University of Minnesota. I improved my grade from about 70% on the first exam, to over 90% on the second and about 95% on the final by using the book.

The text is simply too filled with information. I found it difficult to know what to focus on in my studying. And there are just too few sample questions in the back.

The study guide provides worksheet style exercizes to focus the student.

I think would be especially helpful for courses where they use a "test bank of questions to generate the exam.

This book provides a great understanding of the basic elements of brain and their interactions. It takes a radical approach of synaptic organization as the basis of brain functions. It is a must for everyone interested in neuro/brain/mind science.

This is a very good neurophysiology book from the morphological and physiological viewpoints. It's inexpensive and well written. Thanks Gordon.

my brain study group used this book for textbook. my major is traditional chinese medicine treatment of neurology disease, so i need some neuroscience part. this book is not easy reading, but this book gaved me many information for neuroscience.

I became acquainted with this book when I read the first edition, way back in the late 70s when I was a neuroscience grad student. I remember how impressed I was that here, for the first time really, different areas of the brain could be analyzed and compared by how the neurons wired up with each other. Later in life as a young neurologist I read through the 3rd edition, and now as a more seasoned one I've just finished reading the fifth. The book has maintained its basic organizational structure while greatly expanding its content, sometimes to the detriment of clarity being lost in the details, which is why I took off a star. The first two chapters are very helpful, with one of the best discussions of different ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors in the context of neural cell physiology I've seen. In subsequent chapters the basic circuitry of the spinal cord, cochlear nucleus, olfactory bulb, retina, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, olfactory cortex, hippocampus and cerebral cortex are discussed in similar fashion. First the neuronal elements--cell types--are defined, then the basic anatomy of the area, then the synaptic connections between different types of neurons, then the anatomy of the circuitry, then the physiology of the synaptic actions. Finally an attempt is made to relate all of these basics to how the brain area functions for the organism.
As others have pointed out, the book requires concentration to read, even to somebody with my long background. But it is rewarding to see how far the field has come in the nearly 30 years I've been studying it. It's only marginally clinically relevant for a neurologist, but for basic neuroscientists I'd consider it a must read.

This is an excellent book: clear, well-organized, and well-written. It examines how groups of neurons give rise to brain functions. The introductory chapter lays the groundwork, going over basic theories of how groups of cells perform computations and what mechanisms they use to do it. Subsequent chapters stand alone, each with a focus on a particular brain region (hippocampus, basal ganglia, cortex, thalamus, retina, etc.).

I agree with an earlier reviewer: this book is not for the uninitiated, although it is spectacularly helpful for theoretical neuroscientists who are modeling cell assemblies as well as experimentalists working at the cell or systems level. However, I disagree with his list of good introductory books. "Principles of Neural Science" in particular is a good reference but not terribly readable. I would recommend Nicholls' "From Neuron to Brain" as a more accessible book about brain function. The Scientific American series, including "The Scientific American Book of the Brain," is quite good factually and provides a more general overview including some psychology, but the quality of the writing varies. Finally, for kicks, a newcomer should try the enjoyable, controversial "How the Mind Works" by Stephen Pinker. He is biased and arrogant, but also clever and entertaining.

Human beings are very complex individuals -- we are all driven to make a place in the world, yet we have different means to achieve this place...different behaviors that allow us to "survive."

In the book, "The Tending Instinct," the author shows how men and women differ in their responses in times of need. According to the author, women are born with a "nurturing" quality and tend to seek support from others during times of stress. During these times, women will also reach out to help others. This natural "tending instinct" that women have, is vital in a society and also beneficial to children who are exposed to this instinctive behavior at an early age.

MyParenTime.com highly recommends the book, "The Tending Instinct" -- this book is wonderful! It is clearly written and very interesting. Readers will find it greatly informative!

If you have ever wondered about how the other half of the sky copes with stress! If you have ever given any thought to the science of anthropology & how it has neglected the study of how women look at life. If you have had this needling question that "What if society is a lie?" & couldn't find any answers...then this book's for you, because Shelley E. Taylor asked a seemingly innocuous question which unearthed a fascinating idea!

THE TENDING INSTINCT is a powerful, transformative read. It deals with both old & new ideas about community, society, morality & how women & men think about their lives, how we interact & cope with stress.

Very good stuff! Well written, well-researched, informative & everso interesting. You will find yourself nodding & saying "Of course! I knew that!"

When Darwin wrote that man attains "a higher eminence, in whatever he takes up, than can woman - whether requiring deep thought, reason, or imagination, or merely the use of the senses and hands," he was echoing what had been known to be true since the time of Aristotle. Taylor explains clearly and with compelling authority why this traditional viewpoint is so wide of the mark.

In marketing, the discipline in which I work it is quite evident that the world of consumer commerce revolves around the tending and befriending instincts of woman. Taylor grasps the fundamental principles of marketing better than all the commonly used textbooks. The reason is they all start out from the Darwinian perspective that humans are at core selfish. If the human brain was a computer that was programmed by evolution then the dog-eat-dog perspective might be tenable. However mammals tend their young - they have to, so the urge to nurture is a necessary part of human nature. Taylor makes it abundantly clear that it is a feminine trait - not masculine.

This book is excellent at explaining the connection between befriending and stress. It makes an excellent companion book to Hrdy's book "Mother Nature," an anthropologist, also from UCLA, that explains more details about lactation and mothering.

For woman readers this book should be inspiring and validating. For men... well it is sobering and in spots embarassing.

Thank you Shelley!

The Tending Instinct is a seminal work, tying together ideas and data from difficult-to-quantify areas such as the psychology of stress, the emotional and physical aspects of the act of nuturing, and its [especially long-term] effects, and the biochemistry of stress response in humans and other primates, in both the long and short term. She also discusses tending in society as a whole -- that is, the nurturing infrastructure of a society, those elements of day-to-day life that make it easy to tend or be tended. Ease of access to trusted caregivers for working parents, or medical care, educational or mentorship opportunities, for example.

Taylor is synthesizing, spanning disciplines to draw together different strands of research in biochemistry, psychology, and other arenas, to propose they demonstrate human beings are overridingly a tending species, a nurturing species. Success, for h. sapiens, is existing in a strong network of support, giving and taking as one's needs require. Our most successful humans are those who inspire, those who persuade, those who build coalitions to achieve a good for the entire group.

Fascinating stuff.

Shelley Taylor has pulled off a coup, integrating scientific research with anecdotes from her own life and translating academic jargon into readable prose.

Men and women differ in the way they respond to stress. After a hard day's work, men want to be alone; women spend more time with the children. And it is this tending instinct that keeps a society together and makes individuals healthier.

Men and women differ in other ways that influence social interaction, says Taylor. Men's groups are more hierarchical, women's more informational. Married men live longer than single men, and women fare better during times of major crisis, such as the dissolution of the Communist bloc.

Another key theme: Nurturing is essential to well-being. A nurturant parent can override genes that would predispose a child toward aggression, depression or other disorders.

Much of what Taylor writes will not seem radically new, but cumulatively, chapter to chapter, she builds a case for recognizing the importance of nurturing and the style of interaction known as traditionally female.

Because Taylor is a psychologist, rather than sociologist, it's not surprising that she omits suggestions and implications. Many well-educated citizens, for instance, resent payments to welfare mothers, yet Taylor's findings emphasize that paying women to nurture their children can save millions of dollars by keeping those children out of the criminal justice system.

A sociologist could point out that in fact tending seems to be punished by society. "Nurturant" occupations, such as teaching and social work, typically pay less than more aggressive occupations, such as policing. In medicine, surgeons make the most while pediatricians and psychiatrists earn the least, on average.

Taylor also ignores outliers -- the non-nurturing female and the nurturing male. -- who occupy ambivalent roles in many societies. And while she says that friends will become the most important social relationship, as we move farther from families, I find that friendship bonds often are formed based on family status. A married but childless woman says, "People my age are having babies!" and I say, "Women my age are getting visits from the grandchildren!"

As an academic, Taylor herself anticipates comments on what's working and what's missing, and she has made an exceptionally strong contribution here. I am recommending this book to readers who want to learn more about stress as well as those who are fascinated by the eternal "how men differ from women" puzzle.

The title is misleading. If you expect Biology 101 you're going to be disappointed.

Mayr assumes a great deal about the educational level of his readers, so perhaps the book should should carry a subtitled warning to the unwary.

My sound bite description of the book is The Philosophy of Biology.

It's not about living things per se but about the study of them, with particular emphasis on the way in which the biology is closer to history than it is to areas of science that involve the exploration of universal properties. While the future behavior of subatomic particles and the formation of stars and galaxies may be, to a certain extent, predictable, biology is about what has been, not what will be.

Mayr accepts this, but brilliantly defends biology as a science (is history a science?). Whether you find him convincing depends on how much you respect the force of his conviction, if not the arguments themselves. Mayr's not an easy read and it's not always immediately apparent what points he is making.

Mayr was perhaps the world's greatest living biologist, or at least its most visible, to those who look for such things. Now that he has died, I feel driven to go back for a reread, after which perhaps I'll post another review.

This is an excellent and extremely accessible (but not in a dumbed down sense) introduction to biology. My only serious complaint is in Mayr's treatment of ethics, which is a good example of what bad can happen when a specialist doesn't stick to his specialty. His discussion of the possible biological origins of certain ethical behavior starts off fine, with an explication of how though individualistic selection can produce egoism, kinship selection and group selection can extend an organism's altruistic "interest" to other members of its kin or, larger, to its group. So far so good. But as Mayr notes what Darwin pointed out, altruistic behavior via kinship selection never extends to every member of a species. So by the end of the discussion of the biology of altruistic behavior, what we have are explanations for why someone might act altruistically towards their "in-group". Yet later, in discussing the proposition that moral inclinations are not innate, Mayr appears to endorse the proposition that reprehensible behavior towards minorities (including slavery) is, as Mayr put it, "amoral". But a group subordinating the interests of an outgroup for the benefit of the ingroup is precisely what one would expect from Mayr's biological account of altrusitic behavior directed solely towards one's ingroup! At the very least, Mayr gives a good account for why one would be biologically inclined to act altruistically towards one's ingroup, but provides zero biological reason for any transgroup universal altruism. From then on, Mayr only gets worse, delving into the murky fields of philosophy and moral theology. Aside from Mayr's wildly overstated implication that Darwin proved that God has nothing to do with the origin of morality (when did biology start coming up with transcendental proofs like that?), Mayr further sullies an otherwise excellent book by critiquing Judeo-Christian ethics' relevance in today's world. That has nothing to do with biology, and if someone wanted to read much better discussions on such a subject, there are much better treatments in the philosophy section of the bookstore. Furthermore, Mayr's broad brush overview of Judeo-Christian morality reeks of straw man superficiality. Perhaps Mayr didn't think it worth his time to study serious treatments on Judeo-Christian morality, but if he didn't, he shouldn't have broached the subject in a biology book. Finally, that Mayr can discuss the scientific bases of morality without mentioning the classic problem of the "naturalistic fallacy" (i.e. in this context, what IS the case biologically, does not entail what OUGHT to be the case morally), AKA the "fact-value gap", indicates how superficial (or unread) a discussion of ethics Mayr engages in. If creationists sound silly talking about biology, biologists should get a clue about how they must sound when they try to talk seriously about theology and moral philosophy.

     As a field of inquiry Biology has always been somewhat suspect. When first introduced to it we are told that "biology is the science of life," but this is almost immediately followed by the rather sheepish admission that "scientists are unable to agree on a standard definition of life." (This quote is from Biology The Easy Way, which admittedly is not in quite the same league as Prof. Mayr's work. But, as his first chapter here shows, there's not a great deal of daylight between his position and that of the simpler introductory text just quoted). Hmmm! A "science of life" that can't define "life." Not exactly reassuring news after more than two hundred years of inquiry!

     After this inauspicious start, Biology rather quickly degenerates into a prolonged exercise in classification. Not that it's not fun deciding whether Neocons are poisonous fungi or uselful protists, but it is after all a limited exercise. Once we move beyond the issue of classification we find that Biology has remarkably little to offer as a field of study in its own right. It is, at root, a field for amateurs, for naturalists who are impressed by the variety and beauty (or ugliness) of Nature.

    And there is much in Nature, and Biology too, to admire. Who among us is not impressed by the mighty Sequoia? (Even Neocons think they make neat window-boxes). And isn't it fun to be able to demonstrate your superior knowledge by intoning wisely at keg parties that "The whale, you know, is not really a fish. It's a mammal. As indeed is the bat."

     But, party tricks aside, what else does Biology offer?

     Most students rather quickly come to the conclusion that it's less a field OF scientific study than FOR scientific application. Chemistry, for instance, when applied to Biology is endlessly engaging, and profitable too. Biochemistry is not a new science; it is merely the application of a real science, Chemistry, to a fertile field, Biology.

     Then too of course there's the whole question of Evolution, which invariably brings all the more creulous "scientists" out of the woodwork to rail against so-called "Creationism." For most of us, these are not really opposing choices. We embrace both without any great discomfort. As Whitman once said: "We contain multitudes." Or, in Shakespeare's phrase: "There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in [either] philosophy." But for the "scientists" and the "creationists," it's a crusade; a sort of intellectual jihad in which each side fights with a crazed and unreasoning determination to annihilate the other. It's the arrogance of both that turns the rest of us off. They both act, and argue, as though dogmatic orthodoxy is our only guide. They seek Consistency, not Truth.

     To his credit, Mayr is not a crazed intellectual jihadist, and he has answers aplenty for each and all of my (above-noted) objections to Biology as an intellectual pursuit worthy of our time and effort. His book is wide-ranging and knowledgeable, as one would expect from a man of his stature. But he is also very well-versed in the history and philosophy of science, which is unfortunately all-too-rare among his contemporary fellow-scientists. Most of them pooh pooh philosophy as unworthy of their superior intellects!

    This Is Biology is an excellent work, which college-level students of science, (and philosphy; and indeed, history) should read. I don't find Mayr's arguments convincing, but I do think his wonderfully-engaging book will provide an entree to a better class of keg party!

Ernst Mayr is one of my favorite natural science writers. He has the experience of a lifetime (to say the least, since he has over 70 active years in the field) in biology. Mayr has an exquisite writing style and lots of anecdotes to share, besides he surely is an intellectual though never makes you feel neophyte, on the contrary, he guides you with ease and a critic view on nature itself. "This is Biology" is enriched with personal opinions and, of course, reflects the authors' view modeled by only seven decades of experience among the best.

Mayr's book is a superb reflection on the place biology deserves among the sciences and among all other intellectual disciplines. He clearly explains the accomplishments and uniqueness of biological science. As one would expect, his reflections on evolutionary biology are his strongest.

Great book, but I just couldn't give it 5 stars like many others did. I reserve 5 stars for truly monumental works. In this rating system, if you rate The Lord of the Rings, Les Misrables, Great Expectations, and The Grapes of Wrath 5 stars, can you honestly count this work with them?

Stephen Harrigan has captured the most enjoyable account of his Diving adventures. I felt myself re-living the events and relating them to my own modest enoyable times spent in the Caribbean recently. Superbly written and hard to put down. Makes airplane flights disappear. Happily discovered we are in the same City too.

When people want to know what it's like to dive, I give them this book. Harrigan has captured the essence of scuba diving. He has nearly expressed the inexpressible.

I was in tears by the end of the first chapter-- I thought I was one of a FEW who feels more at home underwater than on the surface. I don't get to dive very often (family, etc.) but whenever I need to "dive", I pull out this book & I'm in Heaven. Harrigan's descriptions of not only what he sees but what feelings these visions invoke move me beyond words, as I think they would anyone who feels the ocean in their blood.

This is the best book about scuba diving I've ever read and should be read by anyone and everyone that is interested in scuba diving. It does a fabulous job of describing the great things about scuba diving without telling you what you already know. That said, it is also a great story and would probably be enjoyed by non-scuba divers. This is a great gift idea for a diving inclined loved one.

One warning... one of the reviewers recommended reading this to get your diving fix when you aren't going to be able to get underwater for a while; NOT TRUE. I found the exact opposite, this book only heightened my desire to go diving to near pathological levels!

If you've read this, I'd also recommend reading Neutral Buoyancy by Tim Ecott which is another good book about diving. It has more history and straight information than this book.

This book caught my eye when I was walking down an aisle in the library, what are the odds? But I am so glad that I found it. Volk is a really great writer and his insight about death from the standpoint of a scientist makes me feel at peace. Highly recommended

There is nothing morbid about this book. Tyler Volk's openness and sincerity about the sometimes difficult topic of death had just the opposite effect. My understanding of life, and my gratitude for it, was enhanced. - In just over 200-pages, Volk covers a lot of territory. In three parts, he sensitively explores what neurologically makes us a conscious self, warmly discusses cultural attitudes, and knowledgeably looks at how the myriad forms of death make biological life possible. - If you enjoy reading about the natural sciences or social-cultural topics, you will enjoy this book. Because I enjoy both, I had a great time. It brought to mind cell biologist Ursula Goodenough's "The Sacred Depths of Nature," which I also found edifying. - As the author of "What is Death?," Tyler Volk comes across graciously human and without pretense. Unlike an aloof scientist narrowly consumed with a field of interest, I experienced Volk as down to earth and someone who shares the foibles and joys of being alive. Like each of us, he also is trying to come to terms with his own life and death. Volk's honesty in relating some of his personal journey enhances this fine volume.

Interestingly, I found this book to be inspirational. Even though the book flies in the face of religion, it does have a certain spirituality about it. For example, one of the book's messages concerns living in the "present". I.e. being present in our world right now and experiencing life to its fullest. The author even includes a beautiful poem by William Blake to bring the point home.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the science including the explanation of programmed cell death and basic biology which was all new to me. In addition, the psychological perspective was interesting as well. Here Mr Volk does a nice job explaining "terror management" and the primal clash.

The book really whetted my appetite for these and other topics. Luckily Volk also includes a nice bibliography for further study.

Although beautifully written, "What is Death?" may be a challenging read for some because Tyler asks us to confront our mortality. The book is worth every second you spend with it.

Tyler presents information which is powerful and important to us as individuals. Equally important in this time when we are all confronted with the causes and effects of terrorism, Tyler presents important research about what all human beings do when confronted with mortality--which includes defending our worldviews more fiercely...

In an era when religion's malignancy is becoming increasingly apparent, we urgently need to be shown that spirituality is quite compatible with a rational, scientific, areligious worldview. This task has been taken on by some very good books recently, notably "The Problem of the Soul" by the philosopher Owen Flanagan and "The Sacred Depths of Nature" by the biologist Ursula Goodenough. Another excellent addition to this genre is "What Is Death?" by the biologist Tyler Volk. He begins his narrative on a personal note, describing how a near-death experience left him anxiously pondering his mortality. We then follow him as he explores death from many different perspectives-genetic, neurological, ecological, cultural-and eventually arrives at a better understanding of how vital death is to life. Particularly fascinating is Volk's discussion of recent research showing how death influences our thoughts and behavior even when we are not consciously thinking about it, often by making us cling more tightly to our beliefs. These findings obviously have tremendous relevance for understanding post-9/11 events. "What Is Death?" has not entirely dissolved my fear of mortality; I don't think any book could do that. But after reading it, I felt more sympathy with the lines that end Robinson Jeffers's great poem "Night": "A few centuries/Gone by, was none dared not to people/The darkness beyond the stars with harps and habitations./But now, dear is the truth. Life is grown sweeter and lonelier,/And death is no evil."

"...this valuable book is currently the most complete overview of behavioral procedures available...it is a must have and a must read book..." (Genes, Brain, and Behavior, 2002)

"[T]his volume succeeds as a useful introduction to the realm of behavioral phenotyping for those interested in creating or using the large and increasing number of promising targeted mutant mice." -- TRENDS in Neurosciences (John K. Belknap, Oregon Health Sciences University)

"I would recommend that every behavioral scientist has at least two copies, one for their own use and one that will be on permanent loan to their students, post-doctoral students and colleagues in molecular biology." -- TRENDS in Pharmacological Sciences (Gerard R. Dawson, Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories)

It is a much prized addition... and fulfills a heretofore unmet need for a comprehensive sourcebook of mutant mouse literature and procedures. In addition to its reference utility, Dr. Crawley's text can exert a valuable influence on the future of transgenic and knockout mouse research by standardizing behavioral phenotyping methods according to the present state-of-the-art. --Stephen C. Heinrichs, Ph.D., Boston College

Very timely given the increasingly recognized importance of providing behavioral phenotypes of mutant mice. I would recommend the book with enthusiasm. --Eric Nestler, Yale University School of Medicine

When deciding whether or not to read this book, it would be important for the reader to ask him or herself this question: "Am I in search of the truth?" Why Are We Here? looks at the world and the answers this question that we all have asked ourselves at some point. It offers scientific explainations and insightful life examples to explain why the truth of Christianity and the Bible are the sources of fulfillment in this life. By using simple examples, such as the comparison between using a car manual to operate a car and using the Bible as a users guide for people, this book makes sense. If the reader is willing to embark on a world view spelled out with reason and conversation, this is the right book to read.

This book really does answer the question 'What is the meaning of life?' in a very logically satisfying and inspiring way. And it is also filled with fresh, insightful reflections on all aspects of life that uplift and enlighten the reader... He has done a fantastic job in putting together this extremely valuable book. Obviously I highly, highly recommend it!

Dennis Marcellino's "Why Are We Here?" is a probing and compelling work that merges his scientific,philosophical,
and theological educational background with his musical life experiences to create the answer to this age old question.

Madeline Frank, Ph.D. author of "The Teaching of Science and Math Through Music", how to have brighter children through music and "Musical Notes On Math", teaching fractions and decimals through the rhythm of music. www.madelinefrankviola.com

The writer explains and proves the existance of God using logic and faith. His English is not the most perfect, but his brilliant intelligence and perseverance in helping the reader conquers all his limitations. It is one of the best Christian books I have ever read.

Owen N. Martinez, Leader, Cursillos of Christianity Movement, St. Clare Catholic Church, Deltona, Florida

"Why are We Here?" is a book for everyone. Have you ever wondered what Christians actually believe? Now, you can find out without having to ask anyone. Dennis Marcellino has written a well organized account of why we are here.

Marcellino, who has a wide range of education, has written an organized account with out being overly scientific or overly pushy with his personal beliefs. Interestingly enough, it is his musical abilities that you would most likely know him for, having belonged to the Tokens who had the hit, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

I highly recommend "WHY WE ARE HERE?" to Christians and "Non-Christians" alike will gain information here. Christians will have an organized account of what they believe and why. Others will have an account of what Christians believe and why.

Reviewer name: Deven Vasko of Betsie's Literary Page @ http://betsie.tripod.com/literary/

I thought all this time that seeking old fossil material in some hot dry place would be boring but this book took away that idea. Its really entertaining, besides being full of facts about the part of Africa where we might have started being human.
I would recommend it to any one who wants to chuckle and learn at the same time...

The geology is a bit daunting, but the book is quite readable for anyone with a smattering of earth science background.

The inside poop on competing researchers is funny as hell. Kalb shows SOME restraint in detailing Johanson's efforts to block his (Kalb's) access to the Afar, more restraint than was called for if Kalb's claims are true...

Insights into the politics and history of Ethiopia abound.

Great stuff overall. Well written.

Kalb takes a subject which could be as dry as old bones in a desert and makes it living and fresh. He combines real life drama with an informative tour of the competitive worlds of geology and anthropology. A fellow member of the Texas Coalition of Authors told me, "He is the personification of Indiana Jones."

I have read many books and many soon become a weariness of the flesh (Ecclesiastes 12:12) but not this one. It is fascinating reading; informative and entertaining.

Wow! If you like science, this book has it all. Kalb gives a serious accounting of plate tectonics, geology, anthropology, paleoanthropology and politics. Both the politics of Ethiopia and of hominid anthropology.
This is the second book that I have read where Don Johanson, discoverer of the Lucy fossil, is lambasted. I am beginning to believe that Johanson left alot of people in his wake, including Kalb, on his way to fame and fortune. Kalb even gives details of Johanson's marijuana smoking exploits. Scandalous!
It is Kalb who worked behind the scenes to elucidate the geology of the Afar region of Africa and set the stage for the advancement of many discoveries in the field of paleoanthropology. And he did it while dodging the bullets of a communist revolution! Kalb survives even though he is suspected of being a CIA operative planted in Ethiopia under the guise of his scientific mission. Kalb suspects that it was his falling out with Johanson that caused this little tidbit of doubt to be planted in the minds of the Ethiopian government. Kalb spends alot of effort over a few years fighting this charge, but he eventually loses and is expelled from Ethiopia.
Kalb's story includes his sometimes angst ridden dealings with the Ethiopian government, who it seems are caught in the middle of a struggle of competing groups to exert dominance over the rich fossil beds of the Afar triangle. The struggle is not just between competing organizations of American science, but also between the Americans and a French team that comes close to stealing the show.
The only flaw in the book is the way that Kalb weaves the recent history of Ethiopia into the book. That could have been a book in and of itself. Kalb is best when discussing geology and anthropology. The Ethiopian revolution and subsequent war with Somalia and Eritrea is distracting to the reader. Kalb's first hand journalist account of the struggles of the Ethiopian government is superb, but it would have stood on it's own. Kalb tried to write two books in one and almost pulled it off.
One of the reasons why I read this genre of books is that it always offers surprises. One of Kalb's characters, Doug Cramer, assists in creating a couple of interesting fireside stories. Cramer taught Anatomy at NYU medical school. As an alumnus of NYU medical school, I remember Cramer well. We used to call him "The Viking" for his looks and demeanor. Cramer used to tell us that he was a "pastist", and now, twenty-five years later I understand what he meant. I am sure that Kalb could easily have written a book solely dealing with Cramer's antics.
This is a must read for any armchair paleoanthropologists like myself. I am now inspired to read "Lucy" again given all the information I have about Johanson. The book was a page turner for me and I think that you will enjoy it.
Thank you, Jon Kalb, for your contribution to paleoanthropology. I hope that you can get back to Ethiopia to make some of the discoveries that you say will eventually be unearth there.

This is a book about exploring for humanoid fossils in the Afar Depression of Ethiopia from 1967 to 1976 during the overthrow of the Haile Selassie government and the beginning of the Derg--Mengistu Marxist regime. Rare indeed is the book that gives a good sense of the ambience along with immense readability. It is mostly about the geology and anthropology of the Ethiopian Rift Valley, but anyone interested in science will find this book fascinating because it is really a story about "doing" science: the fun, the people, the jealousies, ambitions, dirty pool, and and an exceedingly fine discussion of why the digging and excitement occurs in Ethiopia.

This book must have caused its publishers agonies of indecision. It doesn't fit usual categories: It is a personal memoir; an account of Ethiopian history; an overview of the geology of the rift valleys and a thorough discussion of the activities of anthropologists searching for human ancestors along with explanations of how they know where to look for these goodies. the whole thing is interspersed with amusing and exciting anecdotes. The geology part of this book is as fascinating as anything you are likely to read. Partly this is because the Afar Triangle is such a formidable place, parts of which are among the lowest and hottest areas on earth. But don't think that this is a geology text book--far from it. I could say a whole lot more in favor of this book, but you get the idea that I think it is superior--well worth a good look.

In 1950s, Watson and Crick established a so-called "central dogma" in molecular biology: DNA makes RNA, and RNA makes proteins. However, around 1970, two groups in US found the first exception of this rule. David Baltimore's and Howard Temin's teams discovered that RNA makes DNA! This unexpected finding of theirs in cancer-causing RNA viruses not only made this field up-side down, but also opened a new avenue called "recombinant technology" a decade later, for cloning genes and transfering any gene from one species to another almost at will. For this reason, Baltimore and Temin shared a Nobel prize in 1975. Baltimore's greatness extended beyond the science. He viewed this world in an "unconventional" manner. He married a highly-talented Chinese biologist, and protested against the highly controversial US wars in Vietnam and Iraq. He has an exceptional wisdom which we could learn from this well-written biography.

I knew of Baltimore's greatness before reading this book, but this book is more than just a biography. Yes, Crotty does give us a glimpse into the life of one of biology's greatest heroes, but complementarily, Crotty's sanctity is so radiant in this work that you can't help but be inspired. In addition to delivering intellectual nourishment and inspiration, more importantly, the book is written so well that biomedical scientists (like myself)and non-biomedical scientists (like my mother) alike can appreciate the important messages in this work. The story of Baltimore's life is unparalleled, but almost as great is Crotty's presentation of it. This book is a must read for all budding biomedical scientists!

I truly enjoyed reading this book on the impressive scientific accomplishments of David Baltimore. I remember being in a relatively informal seminar at MIT when he gave a short introduction to the science that was to be presented that evening. His presence commanded awe and respect---almost always expected from someone with outstanding credentials.

The book is good not just for examining Baltimore's exponential rise to scientific stardom but also for getting a seminal idea on the development of the fields of virology, molecular biology, and immunology. Through his work, Baltimore became a unifying force between these seemingly disparate sciences. The author also writes clearly about the political baggage that comes with having such a high profile in biology.

The author weaves a wonderful overview of the early history of molecular biology with the achievements of David Baltimore's life. We are given a great deal of insight not only about his groundbreaking research and accomplishments but also personal qualities and passion for life outside of science.

This is a great book for both biologists and those with simply an interest in biology. The scientific information is easy to comprehend without being oversimplified.

Some works of non-fiction can take a long time to read, but I finished this book in 2 days as the story flowed very smoothly. I am definitely looking forward to Shane Crotty's future publications.

This is a great book! I really enjoyed the story of Baltimore's life, and I feel that I learned a lot of science along the way. I definitely feel more qualified to comment on conversations about biology now! I actually picked up this book because I really enjoy biographies, but it has gotten me interested in other science books for amateurs. I hope Crotty writes more soon!