Biology Books

We find ourselves reaching for this book on a regular basis so we keep it on the coffee table where its easy to find. When you spot an interesting bird out your window you can quickly find it and read all about it. This would be really great to take with you on outdoor adventures too.

What a beautiful, colorful and descriptive study book for the birds of Washington state! Using it I identified three birds I was having trouble finding using a North American Bird Field Guide. The Oregon Junco for one! Seems they come this far to the eastern borders of Washington. This book is a treasure and a learning tool for any new birder in the Pacific Northwest.

We have bird feeders in our garden. They attract a large variety of birds and this terrific book identifies them for us. It also contains interesting information on the varying habits etc. as well as beautiful pictures of the different varietys.

It is very user friendly.

I moved to Washington a few months ago. Locating target birds has become a challenge in this new environment. The comprehensive continent-wide guides (sibley, peterson, golden, NG, etc...) are all wonderful, but are too vague when it comes to locating birds in a state with extremely diverse habitats (such as Washington!) This book has state range maps that are excellent, and I've found very accurate. Whereas the comprehensive guides give you mostly vital statistics about each bird, this guide has a different approach: There is usually a few interesting (and some obscure)facts about each bird. The artwork is nice, but if you're a visual learner, won't suffice for learning field marks so you'll have to supplement this book with another guide that has more artwork/photos. I've been birding for seven years now, and I find these new Lone Pine guides a breath of fresh air. They are easy to page through quickly, locally-oriented, and oddly enough have a really pleasant smell! They've also helped me become a better birder. I've used the Lone Pine Birds of Northern California guide as well while living in the SF Bay Area a couple years ago. I'd recommend this book for beginners and advanced birders. They really cover the bases that the other guides don't.

We purchased this book as a supplement to our homeschool library prior to relocating from Georgia to Washington. We have not been disappointed.

My seven-year-old daughter has become a budding naturalist, thanks in part to these books. I can typically find this book on her nightstand - accompanied by a flashlight for late night reading!

The book is slim but hefty, with lovely sketches of both male and female examples of each bird. Color-coded maps show where the bird species can be found (and when) and a very thourough introduction gives information on the best birding sites, materials to gather prior to "birding" and excellent resources for further study.

My daughter would prefer photographs of the birds, but these are exceptionally beautiful drawings. This is in contrast to the smaller, less expensive "Golden Guides."

HIGHLY recommended.

"The notion of tabu as connoting both 'danger' and 'power' belongs in fact to a venerable tradition. One source of this is the work of Durkheim...a pioneering article on menstrual symbolism published in 1898...Durkheim argued that women established the exogamy rule by periodically BLEEDING so as to repulse the opposite sex...[women] were the immediate agents of religious ideology's segregating action."

"...But of course, the model of cultural origins advocated in this book would lead us to trace the underlying abstract logic of the Rainbow Snake...much further back into the Aborigines past--indeed, right back to their first entry into Australia [from central Africa]..."

"It would be interesting to study the ideological and political factors which led to Durkheim's insights being virtually ignored for a hundred years."

Chris Knight, BLOOD RELATIONS
Chapter 11: "The Raw and The Cooked" and
Chapter 14: "The Dragon Within"

" At Yirkalla, in...north-east Arnhem Land [aboriginal Australia]...women's solidarity is still very strong, menstrual blood is regarded as 'sacred'... It is only when this snake power of the women themselves has been established that the conditions are felt appropriate for the climax of the ceremony...

'...really we have been stealing what belongs to them (the women) for it is mostly women's business... Women can't see what men are doing...This is because all the Dreaming business came out of women--everything...In the beginning we had nothing...we took these things from women.'

"It is one of the severest indictments of 20th Century anti-evolutionist anthropology that its models have led ethnographers to dismiss such profound Aboriginal insights as scientifically valueless."

Chris Knight, BLOOD RELATIONS
Chapter 13: "The Rainbow Snake"

This is a five star, paradigm-shifting treatise on human cultural origins if there ever was one. Chris Knight's rendering of the four plus million years of primate and proto-human history in BLOOD RELATIONS, right up to the latest 200,000 years that begin true humankind and human culture in central Africa and along the Nile, through to the psychic/motivational bedrock of our conflicted modern society, becomes more impressive, more inclusive--and more impregnable with every chapter and every turn of the page.

My test for the far-reaching influence and power of any theorist--particularly of the wannabe revolutionary kind--is three-fold. One, their theory must be completely plausible; i.e. not needing simple revolt from detractors and complimentary but poorly explained aspects of ITSELF to proclaim and rationalize its essential relevance. Two, they must have the ability to completely encapsulate the foundational principles, concepts and findings of the other historical and competitive theories within its discipline as an integral part of its own new perspective; showing their ideas to be the great quantum leap beyond our sense of reality and the all inclusive step toward truth. And third, perhaps most important of all, it has to excite me. There may be things my mind will not be specifically educated enough, multi-lingual enough or quick enough to pick up, but you cannot fool my heart. All these three are BLOOD RELATIONS's great achievement and great contribution.

Chris Knight, the brilliant and controversial London anthropologist, does this all in BLOOD RELATIONS with such remarkable clarity and erudition, in fact, attempts to disagree with his findings becomes pointless. His unified field-theory of the prehistoric African woman's role in the formation of human culture is so incredibly well done, and so profoundly earth shattering in its implications, that I read the book twice to fully soak in all the sacred pre-verbal intuitions I have had that it reveals to be historical fact and obvious science.

So far the only complaint of BLOOD RELATIONS I could have is the only one possible: he seemingly focuses too much on the Marxist avatar of revolutionary cultural ideas while using it as the lens via which the origins of culture could be best understood. This at times seems to ironically minimize the revolutionary spirit of humankind that produced them. None less than the great Picasso was once quoted in saying "today's artists are tomorrow's politicians;" focusing more on the *artistic* power of the creative human spirit (my bias) may have put his new paradigm in an even more inclusive perspective. Yet even there he establishes, to my knowledge, the first credible dialectic between the devolved, political diseases of 20th century Stalinism/Maoism and the philosophical/scientific postulates of the 19th century Marxism upon which their regimes were originally based. So powerfully, in fact, that the Marxist perspective he examines and explains driving his reevaluation of 20th century anthropology--and, in turn, our entire view of human culture--need not (and in his book does not) come with the kind of intellectual apologies that would otherwise signify an inherent lack of validity.

Chris Knight with BLOOD RELATIONS shows unquestionably that women, via sex and the rhythm of menstruation, nurtured the primal creative impulse of civilization and they essentially created human culture. And he shows it to be made up of communal solidarity against oppressors and oppressive situations (be it prehistoric animals or alpha males), symbol-driven creativity, and achieving a certain oneness with the rhythms of nature. This primal social movement that is the womb of human culture, told in every ancient culture's foundational myths, could naturally just as easily explain the birth of democracy and/or capitalism in the historical ages of feudalism as it does the advent of Marxism in the age of capitalism...and what is next for human kind.

This is another of the great books of our time whose far-reaching influence in modern culture has not even begun to be felt. One can only imagine what anthropological works throughout history that have been ignored because of intellectual biases will now be reexamined and redeemed through his paradigm shifting work. I would combine this with Barbara Ehrenreich's 1995 work BLOOD RITES, and the 19th Century Gerald Massey's ANCIENT EGYPT, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD as an anthropological trinity of monumental, paradigm shifting proportions that will change your view of humankind-our true past, present and potential-forever.

BLOOD RELATIONS is beautiful.

This book may be the most important book ever written on the evolution of human social organization. It brings together observation and theory from social anthropology, primatology, and paleoanthropology in a manner never before equalled. The author, Chris Knight, who teaches social anthropology at the University of London is up to date on all these fields and has achieved an extraordinary synthesis. His critiques of Claude Levi-Strauss on totemism and myth are a sheer tour de force. The basic premise can be summarized, though only in an extremely cursory fashion, as follows. The basis of primate social organization is predicated on the distribution of food resources and how females array themselves around these. Males array themselves around females. Over the course of human evolution, the acquisition of animal protein came to be of critical significance. Proto-human females acquired this valuable resource from males via a collective bargaining agreement which formed the basis of human kinship organization and social exchanges. This accomplished through a systematic "sex-strike" cycle which ran according to a lunar based schedule of menstruation/hunting following by ovulation/feasting. Human females evolved concealed ovulation and a cultural system of sexual advertisement based on menstruation that guided this cycle. Females could now say 'yes', but they could also say 'no', depending on the success of the hunting venture. The author explores evidence for this thesis both in the ethnography of currently existing non-industrial societies as well as in the paleolithic in the use that anatomically modern humans' made of red ochre and other pigments to signify and exploit the menstrual event. A number of previously incomprehensible myths, such as the 'Rainbow Snake' of the Australian Aborigines, receive a new and revealing interpretation in this light.

Dr.Chris Knight was one of my lecturers at university and without fail I would come away from my Anthropology lectures with my head blown away by all the amazing knowledge transfer that occurred. It was all fantastic stuff and all totally confusing until one of those "aha" moments, when all of Chris's and the other anthropologists theories suddenly all fell into place and began to make real sense.

The book itself was a key text during our studies with various chapters needing to be read at various times. For that reason I shall not break down the book, rather I shall say that it will be one of the most illuminating and eye-opening books that you will ever read. Maybe not the easiest to read but definitely one of the best. Oh, and you can always impress your friends in the pub of an evening with your knowledge of Marxist paleo-anthropological theories pertaining to the emergence of human culture!

This book was a revelation for me. Having struggled through numerous turgid anthropological works by the likes of Levi-Strauss, Roheim, etc., it was thrilling to read such an ambitious clear-sighted and compelling account of the origins of human culture, together with an excellent critique of much current anthropological thinking.

It's worth mentioning that Chris Knight is a marxist, and by that I don't mean vaguely left-wing in the manner of, say, Eric Hobsbawm. He's a real believer...dialectic materialism, the whole works. Clearly Knight believes his marxism is essential to his thesis. I would argue that although this maybe enabled him to see through other anthropological schools - structuralism, functionalism, what-have-you - and to develop his own theories, in the end it's irrelevant to his conclusions. So, wade through the marxist stuff, you can ignore it, it's not to my mind necessary to agree with his ideological beliefs (I don't) to appreciate his arguments, and to agree with much of what he says - or at least to find this a wonderfully stimulating book.

The many words used to describe Chris Knight's "Blood Relations" include, monumental, encyclopedic, brilliant, original, ingenious, and a tour-de-force. It is all of these and more! This work is simply the most brilliant and imaginative book about human cultural development ever written. Its range is astonishing. Its arguments are cogently made with great detail. Its synthesis of primatology, socio-biology, and anthroplogy are compelling. Where others have depicted women as the victims of a dominant male hierarchy, Knight reveals how the sex roles and behavior of both men and women developed together in a dialectic relationship. Where others have stressed the loss of oestrus and continuous sexual receptivity in the female, Knight spotlights menstruation and its associated marital and other cultural taboos. Where others stress man the hunter and woman the gatherer, Knight envisions paleo-women as evolving an increasing solidarity to shape the structure of both hunting and gathering. Women are not the passive creatures that are so often depicted by the radical feminists who have an interest in portraying women as the victims of dominant males. Females have been active participants in shaping culture, behavior, and human destiny. As Knight says, "symbolic culture involves very widespread levels of synchronized co-operative action."

Somewhere between 40,000 and 100,000 years ago, Knight believes, a massive social, sexual, and cultural explosion occurred and he does an ingenious job of providing us with insight into how this may have happened. A major change in reproductive strategy had to take place before males could take off as hunters and leave their women behind. Women synchronized their ovulatory cycles with one another; the concept of the "sex-strike" is the heart of the book. Blood as a symbol of menstruation provides a key to much of human culture and Knight uses it to explain the inner logic of many of mankind's myths and taboos. Because the disruptive effects of sex can be enormous, these controls have played an important role in the development of human culture.

The riches of this deeply learned book cannot simply be conveyed in a brief review. It is a work to be read over and over and contemplated. The many insights into human culture and the relationships among the sexes will surely provide any open minded person with a new perspective as to why we are the way we are.

I purchased this book hoping to get a consolidated overview of the characteristics of bottlenose dolphins, and that's exactly what I got! I appreciated the concise descriptions of the dolphin's physical and behavioral adaptations that lead to a better understanding of the animal overall. I would recommend this book to anyone with a genuine interest in dolphins, conservation of the species, or anyone in the position of caring for this animals as a good resource to keep in their library.

Good to see Samantha successful in life. I knew her back when she was a struggling student at Eckerd College.

She is very smart.

I have read through this book while doing some research on dolphins and marine mammal conservation and must say that this has some information that I could find nowhere else. This book hits on such a large variety of information relating to dolphin biology and conservation that I cannot believe that they fit it all into one book.

The collaborators who put this book together are dedicated scientists with years of experience in the field. I admire their work. But I find on thing missing from the discussion of brain versus body size. They establish ratios of brain to body size and declare this is one method of measuring the intelligence of the animal, i.e. the larger the brain is in relationship to the body, the smarter the animal is. But they do not explain why a large body needs a large brain. After all, whale sharks of the same size as sperm whales have brains smaller than your fist while the sperm whale brain is six times larger than the human brain. Perhaps it is the large brain which requires the large body. The laws of physics would prohibit a brain developing in a very small body. Necks breaking and cortical sheering would be a problem.

The commercial use of honeybees has diverted attention from their generally larger and wilder cousins, the bumblebees. Overcoming the suspicions of his Maine neighbours, Heinrich applied modern technology and immense patience to learn about bumblebee lifestyles in local bogs and fields. What he learned overturned many assumptions about how these insects deal with the environment. He soon concluded that the life of the bumblebee is tied firmly to issues of dynamic energy balance. That balance is, in turn, related to the pollination needs of the plants they forage. In this illuminating and thoughtful presentation, the author provides a captivating picture of the bumblebee's role in Nature. In so doing, he demonstrates the interaction of different species to explain the process of co-evolution of different species.

As a "social insect", the bumblebee reflects its evolutionary roots. It also seems to provide many "lessons" humans express the wish to emulate. Being in nearly constant motion during daylight hours, it appears "industrious". It also appears "frugal" in the acquisition and preservation of resources. Heinrich stresses how evolution has conditioned these behaviour traits, using human economic scenarios to explain the seeming parallels. In order to survive a variety of environmental conditions, the bumblebee must engage in various cost-benefit scenarios. These include the individual bee's energy regulation, as well as the transfer of resources to meet the colony's needs. From the outset, the author notes how the lessons derived from bumblebee studies may be applied to broader ecological questions.

He opens with the colony cycle, with a single queen launching a new brood-site. Development of the colony follows with individual bees making specific contributions. Bumblebees, unlike their honeybee cousins, perform their role as individuals. There's no "bee dance", which would be a wasteful exercise. Instead, the bumblebee, starts its day with a self-generated "warm-up" exercise, giving it the advantage of an earlier start than honeybees, which must be warmed by sunlight. Heinrich learned about these energy-related activities through precise measurements. Bumblebees were studied in free and tethered flight, their thermoregulatory mechanisms revealing surprising new forms. He further determined how bumblebees locate prime resource providers and how the insects can identify the best nectar producers. Heinrich ably combines tightly detailed evidence with its implications for the broader scope of Nature's mechanisms.

Bumblebees are sometimes fooled by plants that have learned how to entice them to the pollen stalks without expending energy in generating a nectar reward. This revelation leads to a discussion of the likely path of bumblebee-plant coevolution. Plants, like the insects, must expend the minimal amount of energy to achieve pollination. The result is two, highly complex, interactive lifestyles each struggling to achieve the same end - reproductive success. Plant-bumblebee interactions have granted the insects a range that surpasses that of the honeybee. Bumblebees are found within 900 km of the North Pole and south into Tierra del Fuego. While the plants found in these sparse regions are few and far between, the efficient flight energy budget of the bumblebees provide the means for nectar recovery and plant pollination. It's a finely balanced system, the author notes, but works sufficiently well for both parties even in harsh environments.

Heinrich's long experience in tracking, measuring and analysing bumblebee life cycles is carefully and expressively presented in this book. The exhaustive details are smoothly integrated into the larger picture of Nature's panorama. He has no illusions about this volume being "the last word" on this fascinating creature. Much remains to be learned, and threats to bumblebee resource areas are increasing, particularly as a result of the onset of rapid climate change. An Appendix explaining how to raise bumblebees is an aid to those wishing to contribute enlargement of the information on them. Excellent graphics, including maps of foraging patterns are a useful guide for those wishing to study bumblebees in their own areas. With a list of species and their ranges, illustrated with wing and body shapes, and colouration indicators, the student of these fascinating creatures is well-launched. Maintaining the continuity of his study is the greatest compliment this author could receive. And he deserves many for this book and the work underlying it. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

The bumblebee spends its days gathering the resources needed by the hive -- honey for energy and pollen for protein. This endeavor requires expenditure of nearly all the energy resources that the bee is capable of acquiring. Living on the edge as they do, energy requirements inform every aspect of the bees' lives -- from the way they choose flowers to harvest all the way to the way that blood flow may be redirected between the muscles of the thorax and the lower abdomen. It may sound as dry as an economics text when I tell it, but the author transports you to his summer home in Maine, where he sits and watches the bees and then devises simple but elegant experiments to tease out the subtle relationships between energy, anatomy and behavior, and the energy balances between the individual and the hive, and between the adults and the newborns.

The author explains that Bumble-bee queens (which are not accompanied by a swarm of workers as are Honey-bees), must by themselves select and furnish a nest site, lay eggs and brood the resulting larva and then forage for pollen and nectar - whose sugar provides the energy needed for flying and nest warming. Heinrich brilliantly contrasts the foraging strategies of the bumble-bees with those of the plants which provide nectar and pollen and are in return cross-pollinated. He also explains how the bees control the heat flow from their thorax which contains the flight muscles, depending on whether they need to fly which requires a relatively high thorax temperature, or need merely to crawl, which allows them to dissipate less energy. The book concludes with a large set of references to the entomological literature at the time of publication, and a set of color plates to help in identifying about fifty North and Central American species of Bumble bees.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Heinrich presents relevant and well-considered research and experimental design in an accessible and easy-to-understand fashion. Having come off a bio class in which we did an extensive lab portion on population structure and evolution, I really enjoyed seeing such fascinating data on social insects. I was not, until having read Heinrich's book, familiar with the very major differences between honey and bumblebees. This book not only presents an excellent overview of how bumblebee's function (thermoregulation of flight muscles and suchforth) but also the economic factors (in pollen and nectar) that form the trade-offs that dictate behavior. Heinrich's observation that bumblebees develop 'major and minor' flower specialties that they exploit preferentially is a fascinating bit of information that synthesizes two commonly concieved as different fields.

I'd highly recommend this book as not just beach reading for scientists but as a brilliant and accessible book on a very common pollinator.

This study of the bumble bee was fascinating. (For a moment I wanted to go back to school and study entomology.) It may be of particular interest to those interested in native bee-keeping. Instructions for building a bumblebee nesting box, and how to get a colony started, is included in the appendices.

Outstanding! This is the best and most interesting book on fungi. I highly recommend it to anyone with any interest in the subject. One of the best books I have ever read on any subject.

All things black and slimy. I loved your book Dr. Money. Lets add the nasty Chaetomium next time also neurogenic fungus.
How about the politics of the wood industry and Dr.Jeff Morrell who appears to be teaching that "mold and mildew do not cause wood rot". Is this related to the wood industry and building industry not wanting mold reported in inspections and promptly forgetting about soft rots while endangering occupant health? I have this in print from the State of Washington Department of Agriculture- what fun we could have with them.

A well written book .Vary interesting and easy to understand .Great picture of Hunter The Mold Dog .

If Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) were reincarnated as a mycologist, he would have written this book. Dr. Money's liberal dose of irreverent humor makes his very detailed, erudite book on toxic mold easy and enjoyable to read.

In the preface, Dr. Money says, "Widespread fears about black-mold toxins are a product of the new millennium and deserve a critical, balanced, scientific inquirty. Though I cannot promise anything that boring, I do hope I can dispel some of the media myths about these microorganisms while identifying the real threat that can be posed by a few of these fungi."

Stachybotrys plays a key role in this book. In Chapter 5, Dr. Money discusses the 1993 outbreak of pulmonary hemmorraging (bleeding lungs) in poor children living in Cleveland. When Dr. Money began his book, he first thought that stachybotrys might be an innocent victim of media hype. However, he discovered that stachybotrys chrtarum can produce highly toxic spores. Along with the Cleveland outbreak, he discusses an outbreak of stachybotryotoxicosis in the Soviet Union in the 1940's, and illnesses linked to Stachybotrys among horticulture workers in Europe. Dr. Money also talks about the science used to evaluate the links between Stachybotrys and illnesses, and some of the political issues at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that caused the CDC to soft-pedal Stachybotrys.

This book has a thorough, although daunting, discussion of how allergic reactions are triggered in individuals. The body's allergic reaction is, as Dr. Money points out in Chapter 3 -- Carpet Monsters, an intricate mechanism. Until I read this book, I didn't realize that four types of cells primarily respond to allergens - dendritic cells, T lymphocytes (T cells). B lymphocytes (B cells) and mast cells. Dr. Money talks about each cell type's responses to allergens, and the creation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.

"Your Verdict, Please" (Chapter 6) is an overview of mold litigation. It has a very thorough discussion of what happened to Melinda Ballard's home, the resulting litigation, and a breakdown of what the jury awarded Ms. Ballard - and why. Dr. Money also discusses the reduction of the $32 million award to $4 million. This chapter also has a good discussion of how the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Daubert affected the Ballard case.

Dr. Money also discusses mycological warfare -- and he is not using the term as an analogy to what happens in a house with mold. He is discussing the development of mycotoxins as a weapon in armed conflicts.

Nicholas Money is an amazing writer who manages to entertain and instruct at all times. I found myself learning and laughing from cover to cover. "Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores" is a book for everyone. Not only does it provide a wonderful introduction to the study of fungi; it explores the way our lives and destinies are inextricably linked to those of the fungi. Homeowners, attorneys, and people in the insurance industry will find much to enjoy (and fear!) in this book, as will biology enthusiasts, naturalists, and readers of all persuasions.

As Money explores the "black molds" that have received so much attention in our news media, he also explores the cultural event surrounding their reception. The book is fascinating not only as a biological work, but also as a sociological study. Thorough research and diligent attention to detail provide Money with a unique, scientifically grounded perspective, and his quirky humor will have you laughing out-loud all the way through.

Importantly, Money does not provide any easy answers to the pressing questions raised by black molds. Instead, responsibly, he shows us what science knows and what it does not know, giving us a sound, factual basis for interpretation of the many wild claims we see in the media. The only negative factor involved with this book is the fact that readers everywhere have had to spend many hours (and dollars) cleaning their bathrooms like maniacs and replacing moldy shower curtains after reading it!

Good introduction for kids of all ages to viruses, germs, the body's immune system and consequently, the importance of good hygiene.

My 3 1/2 year old son loves this book! I'm forced to read it to him every day, and he now tells me: 1. "Lymphocytes are the smartest cells and make antibodies that knock out the germs...I want to be an antibody!" 2."Macrophages are garbage collectors" 3. "Virus turn my cells into virus machines" 4. "Fibroblasts pull my cut together"

He is still a little confused about the whole "blast" part of the fibroblast...thinking that they should somehow makes something explode...

I read this book for the first time when I was 3 or 4 and adored it. I explained to all of my friends how vaccines worked (because after it knows about the threat your immune system can build an to fight the real virus). It has fun and accessible metaphors.

However, don't assume that this is just a kid's book! I'm now a medical student, and I find this book useful to explain immunology to my classmates and patients. It is full of accurate and detailed information.

I bought this book for my ten year old son. He read it through in one sitting. Actually, he reread it 3 times on the same day. The simple yet interesting text and excellent drawings captured his imagination. It kept him thirsting for more! He wants me to order all of Dr. Balkwill's books which I did. What an excellent way to introduce science to the uninitiated. I hope Dr. Balkwill will continue to write more of the series!

Cell Wars is a great way to introduce science. It is written in a straightforward manner using easy to understand vocabulary. It describes, in a fun manner, the way the human body fights off bacteria and viruses and tells why we get vaccinations. The illustrations are colorful and fun. The pictures and the story make it fun for both young children and grade school students

As both an author and reader of fiction, I was impressed with details and imformation in the book "Cloning: A beginner's Guide". Maybe it is because I have always enjoyed a book that could hold my attention and make me think at the same time. Give this book a try.
The Christian fiction book that I have written main story theme is about ten years in the life of a little girl who was "chosen by God" to be the next Madonna in the second coming of Christ. Yes, it has cloning in it.
Tommy Taylor
Author - The Second Virgin Birth

"Cloning: A Beginner's Guide" is more than just a mere introduction to the contentious issue of cloning. It is the best, most concise, and clearly written, summary that I have encountered (Indeed I am so impressed with Aaron Levine's skill in handling this subject, that I've recommended to a friend who teaches introductory biology at his college to consider using excerpts from Levine's book in his class.). Levine is also a fine writer who does an admirable job in discussing the issue of cloning from virtually every perspective, without clearly demonstrating any bias - pro or con - for some of its more contentious aspects. Much to my amazement, Levine has covered succinctly in less than 171 pages of text, not only the history of cloning, but its moral, and technological, implications too. In eight terse chapters, Aaron Levine discusses the history of cloning, the importance of embryonic stem cell research as a valuable new means of human therapeutic healing, the ethics of cloning, and its future. Truly, in the best sense of the term "primer", it functions admirably as such, giving readers a superb resource on cloning that they may return to frequently.

The first half of "Cloning: A Beginner's Guide" is devoted to the origins, history, and current status of (vertebrate) animal cloning. In Chapter 1 "What cloning is and why it matters", Levine explains the importance of cloning as both a future reproductive and therapeutic tool, dispelling many of the myths and misconceptions associated with it (The most notable example is one popularized by recent Hollywood films like "Multiplicity", in which adult clones are shown performing daily tasks; a fictional depiction which Levine notes correctly is biologically incorrect for obvious reasons related to normal human growth and development.). The chapter which follows is a brief introduction and history of genetics, cell biology and developmental biology. The third chapter traces the history of successful cloning of vertebrates by embryologists, culminating with the announcement of Dolly's birth in 1996. What follows next (Chapter 4) is an excellent discussion of both actual and potential usage of 21st Century cloning in animals, covering controversial issues such as the usage of cloning in preserving (or reviving in the case of extinct) species perilously close to extinction and in cloning favorite pet animals.

The second half of "Cloning: A Beginner's Guide" is devoted to the technological aspects of human cloning and stem cell research; their potential therapeutic benefits, and, of course, their ethical implications. Chapter 5 is devoted exclusively to stem cell research and the potential therapeutic benefits of human cloning. It is followed by an elegant, admirable survey on the ethical debate over human cloning itself (Chapter 6), covering every aspect, including religiously-oriented opinions expressed by leaders of several of the leading Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. The role of governments in affecting cloning - including stem cell - research is discussed in Chapter 7, comparing and contrasting American government rules and regulations with those in other countries, including the United Nations. Finally, in Chapter 8, Levine offers an eloquent exploration on cloning's future, ending on a somewhat hopefully optimistic note.

Anyone seeking a balanced, terse, yet still extensive, introduction to cloning will find Aaron Levine's book essential, required reading (The book concludes with an excellent, exhaustive glossary of terms and definitions immediately after Chapter 8; it itself is almost worth the price of the book.). Ths fine little book is one which does belong on the bookshelves of anyone - indeed everyone - interested in cloning. I know that mine will occupy an important space on my bookshelves for a long time to come.

This is a very nicely packed description of the topic. Very well written: includes all the basic information plus a thorough exploration of related issues all delivered in an easy to read, enjoyable, conversational tone. I'm impressed by the amount of information within and the accessibility of its presentation. Not only a great way to access information on the science behind cloning, but a guide to the potential cloning shopper. Read within to see whether you should plan on counting on cloning to provide a repeat pet, a customized kid, or a replacement liver.

Great information for everyone - beginner, policymaker, or scientist looking for insight into the latest on cloning science. A great choice!

This is a very carefully written, amazing piece of work and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to keep up with this fascinating issue of cloning science. It is easily accessible to those who have zero knowledge of cloning, but it is also a fun read to those who have had some courses in biotechnology. You will be amazed how many questions you had in the past will be answered in this book. Levine navigates the readers extremely well through the basics of the cloning science to the hot topics including Dolly the Sheep to the recent ethical debate over human cloning. It is also very user-friendly in that he provides a good list of further reading for those who would like to explore more. The notes, glossary as well as index at the back are also extremely helpful for quickly refreshing your memory.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants a clear description of the complex subject of cloning. Levine's account of the historical advances that eventually led to the cloning of Dolly in 1996 is highly informative and entertaining. While the common myths about cloning perpetuated in Hollywood movies are dispelled, Levine presents a balanced view of the ethical issues surrounding cloning and how various governments have responded to the potential benefits and risks associated with this research. I highly recommend this book!

I found this book to be extremely helpful in my Molecular Diagnostics course and other courses as well that dealt with genetic concepts. Includes a really interesting time line and the history of genetics and genetic procedures. Does not go into a lot of detail, but simply gives definitions, procedures and concepts in a easy to follow way. If your regular genetics text is too much, try this book to supplement the text. Jammed full of information in a straight forward manner that is easy to understand, full of diagrams, and photos. I love this little book! I would never have gotten through my course without it! Also suitable for someone, not a student, just someone wanting to understand a bit more about genetics.

This book is a very good desk reference of genetic terminology. There are useful illustrations and references after each section, and wonderful "quick reference" tables in the back of the book.

The book is a concise, up to date review of medical genetics. Those of us that love to see a picture along with an explanation will enjoy this book. Certainly, you won't get everything from it ... I personally used it for review. There are several more extensive books out there for your reading and learning pleasure, like Thompson & Thompson. Nonetheless, for a quick overview, or a brush up of info, this book is just great.

As a Ph.D student in biochemistry, I found this book to be a very useful and comprehensive review. Also, I found it to be an excellent source for people who prefer reading diagrams and figures over long and boring texts. Over all, I recommend it for any one involved in biomedical studies or research. Other excellent books from the same publisher include color atlas of biochemistry and color atlas of physiology.

This is a great book for both beginners and experts in the field of medical genetics. It is well illustrated that makes it very easy to understand one of the advanced and rapid growing field of medicine.
Nithiwat

This book is very helpful if you are interested vitamins. I knew a decent amount before reading this book, but learned a lot more. It'll tell you what the max dosages are, the dangers of overdosing on certain ones, what each vitamin does and the myths surrounding some of the vitamins, minerals etc. Cancer runs in my family, so I'm looking to avoid that problem. I learned that soy products inhibit breast cancer. More importantly (since I don't like soy products) I found out that I can find soy tablets at the store! A lot of really good information in this book, and as I said, it's extremely easy to read. I read it within a few days

Part 1: The Vital Keys to Good Health
Part 2: The A to K of Vitamins
Part 3: Minerals: The Elements of Good Health
Part 4: Exploring Other Supplements

Appendix A: A quick reference chart for common health problems such as acne, colds and insomia
Appendix B: Resources (includes addresses and phone number of that company/organization) for Finding nutritionally oriented physicians and other health care professionals in your location, Nutrition and the elderly, Testing labs, Supplement manufacturers, Supplement infomation and regulation, Federal Regulation and Industry association & help for medical problems
Appendix C: Includes a in-depth glossary of the terms throughout the book.

This book is packed with infomation and I found this book very useful.

In its introduction, the author explains briefly on why vitamins and minerals are so important for us to stay alive. Throughout the book there are plenty of charts, including many that list good food sources for the various vitamins, minerals, and other supplements. The book also gives tips on how to get the most from your foods and supplememnts, how to avoid problems like overdoses or bad interactions with other drugs or supplements. It also includes a sidebar with a duck character letting you know what supplements don't work or what to avoid because it dosen't work.

Anyone interested in learning about nutritional supplements should read this book!

It covers all of the basics about supplements, why we need them, and what benefits they can provide us with for optimum health. You'll see all of the popular vitamins, minerals, herbs and antioxidants and a whole lot more.

I strongly recommend "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vitamins and Minerals" to anyone that has wanted to learn more about supplements, but didn't know where to find reliable information.

This book helped me to get seriously involved in the nutritional supplement field, and I make sure that I keep a copy of it readily available at all times!

It was all I expected and more. Very simple to use and yet with extensive info if you are seriously interested in health.

The book helped me to make an informed decision about what vitamin supplements to buy suitable for my personal circumstances. Took me just 4 hours of reading. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to get too bogged down in this vitamin stuff, but just wants a quick overview of how all these vitamins can help you be more healthy.

I homeschool my elementary age children and we used this book when studying our body. It is a fun book to read and the information provided about each of the bones is suitable for elementary age level.

As an elementary school librarian, I used this book with my classes. We sang the song as we turned the pages. Then, at the end we laughed about the names of the bones and practiced ways of using the "real" names. 1) Go to the nurse after you skinned your knee on the playground and ask for a bandaid to put on your patella; 2) You stub your toe and grab it and moan, "Oh, I stubbed my phlanges", etc.

Kids from K through 5th grade enjoyed this! Lots of fun.

This book offers a wonderful introduction to the bone structure of the human body, even for very young children (my 3 year old daughter and niece just love this book). The use of fun, bright skeletons appeals to the reader and balances the use of scientific language in the text. Even mom and dad will learn a thing or two while reading it! You'll have your kids singing Dem Bones (the foot bone connected to the ankle bone, etc.) before you know it.

We bought this book because my boys thought it would be "Scary". They were delighted to find out it was about the bones of the human body. My kindergartener can't wait to share it with his teacher! The text has to be simplified at times for younger children, but the scientific names are a GREAT learning experience (even for older children). Look closely-you'll see more in the illustrations each time you look at the book.

I picked up this book for almost three year old daughter because we loved Bob Barner's Fish Wish. My daughter learned so much about the ocean from that book and I thought Dem Bones would give her an introduction to the body. The book follows an old African folk song called Dem Bones. "The ankle bone is conneced to the foot bone, the foot bone is connected to the leg bone" and so on. Since my daughter is so young I just sing the song to her and point out the bones on her body as we see the corresponding ones on the skeletons in the book. If you have an older child there is much more in depth information about the bones provided on each page. That is why I love Bob barner's books so much. My daughter can follow along the simple to read stories now and when she gets older I can go over the more informative parts with her later. She has already learned a great deal from this book and she really loves it. Bob Barner really makes learning fun.