Customer Reviews

Brock Biology Of Microorganisms 11th EDITION

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is hands down the best general microbiology textbook on the market. Below, I'll explain why. (And I will also defend the book against some of the more ridiculous comments):

1) Let's be honest. Some students who read textbooks aren't too bright or motivated. So you should completely ignore ANYBODY who says the book was worthless. He/She was probably frustrated with the class they were in, and blamed the prof, their TA, the book, and life in general for getting a bad grade or having a bad time. Common sense tells us that a book that has gone through 11 editions is way above average. Most textbooks don't make it past the 1st or 2nd ed.

2) This book is not meant to delve into excruciating detail. While the book does contatin a LOT of detail on some topics, most aren't that detailed. The reason is because it's an introductory text. If you want more information, then buy a book that focuses on that one area. So, criticisms that say the book was "too general" are silly.

3) The book does a great job of overviewing every possible topic under the sun related to microbiology. The book covers basic cell biology, foundations of microbiology, molecular biology, diversity, metabolism, immunology, pathogenesis, disease, and even a little biotechnology.

4) It's true that the book could be organized a little better. In particular, it's frustrating to have to flip back and forth between chapters on metabolic diversity and prokaryotic diversity. However, I can't really suggest a better way to do it.

5) As an undergrad, I used this book in two different courses, and enjoyed it both times. As a grad student, I still find myself referring back to it on occasion.

In summary, if you're looking for a good introductory text to microbiology, you're not going to find anything better than this.

This book works just as well as the 12th edition. Aside from some slight rearrangements and the addition of some pictures, there's not much of a dfference.

The book is very detailed in terms of explaining processes and ideas/concepts. It's one of the books I used for research purposes

This product was exactly as described and arrived shortly after I order it.Biology of Microorganisms

The item is exactly as it said it would be. Delivery was quick, even arrived before I thought it would.

No textbook can satisfy the needs of all its readers, but an introductory textbook in microbiology might reasonably be expected to use modern discoveries in evolution, bacterial energetics and ecology to organize its subject matter. Brock fails on all counts.

For example, are methanogens Archaea, Bacteria or Eukarya, or are they some combination of the above? Brock assures us that many are "prokaryotes."

The methanogens are discussed in three widely-separated chapters. In the first we learn that their substrates include hydrogen and formate. In the second we learn that their substrates are carbon dioxide, methanol and acetate. In the third we learn that they are a major source of atmospheric methane, except of course in termite hindguts, where acetogenesis is much more important.

Nowhere is there a clear distinction of energy sources, electron acceptors and carbon sources in microbial metabolism. Nowhere are the environmental factors which determine microbial ecology (redox potentials, nutrient sources) even mentioned. Nowhere is methane even mentioned as a greenhouse gas.

Nowhere is there a clear distinction among electron transport mechanisms in the Archaea, the Bacteria and the Eukarya. The most fundamental discoveries in modern biology are buried beneath a mass of interesting but largely irrelevant facts which appear to be inherited, piecemeal, from the first ten editions of this archaic and truly worthless textbook.

But let's give the authors and publisher of this $140.00 internet-enabled-copyright-2006 textbook their due. The most enjoyable reading for me was the breathless Preface:

"...the principles stand up and shout, the details are complementary, and the supporting concepts well integrated."

"BBOM 11/e is pedagogically geared towards today's visual learner...Concept checks remain and are now signaled by a bright red 'stop sign!'...the new table design should be a winner with both students and instructors alike...Many other pedagogically useful features will make themselves obvious to the reader as s/he proceeds through this book."

With a product like that, how can you go wrong?

I was quite disappointed with this book, and I believe that I wasted my money. If there is a better book out there I'd like to read it.

The service I received was incredible. Shipment was the next day and I received it within three days. An email was sent with a tracking number, being a student this was great to plan ahead since classes have started.

You do need to question your self about this tutle.
It is a pure gold in the area.
It became the book I ever studied from.