Immunobiology 6 - Churchill Livingston Edition [Paperback]

Janeway (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0443073104 | ISBN-13: 978-0443073106 | Publication Date: June 18, 2004 | Edition: 6th

The central thesis of this book is that the immune system exists to protect the host from infection and that its evolutionary history was shaped by this challenge. Other aspects of immunology (for example allergy, graft rejection etc) are variations on the basic protective function. The first part of the book summarises the basic immunological concepts and introduces the main 'players'. The middle three parts deal with main aspects of adaptive immunity. The last part integrates the material at the level of the complete organism in both health and disease. A major feature of the book are the superb four-colour line drawings depicting the immunological processes. Each chapter ends with an extensive list of references and further reading. The book ends with a 20 page glossary. Unlike some of its competitors this book was written by just four main co-authors (although drawing on expert advice from many colleagues) and so has great consistency and cohesiveness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Of previous editions: "Treats the subject of immunology with freshness and vigor and enthusiasm ... Abundantly illustrated... As up to date as a textbook can be ... clearly written and complete." New England Journal of Medicine "One of the best general immunology textbooks available... This book clearly sets a new standard, and should not be missed by anyone interested in the subject." Immunology Today --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 848 pages
• Publisher: Other; 6th edition (June 18, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0443073104
• ISBN-13: 978-0443073106
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,130,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate, clear and comprehensive immunological knowledge, September 10, 1998

By 

Irma Aguilar, Immunology Department, Mayo Cli... (Rochester, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Immunobiology 3 Pb (Paperback)

Janeway's Immunobiology is probably the best immunology book that someone really interested in immunology should take to the mythical desert island. One can enjoy it by its clarity from the basic graduate courses, and then keep reading it when doing research and pursuing hypothesis on the most advanced immunological topics. Many times I have found better organized and complete information on this book (even the old editions!) than on the latest reviews on specialized journals. The intense and careful work displayed to promote the real understanding on the concepts and the relations between immune components is impressive. Even more, the success in explanation is such that the authour takes the risk to have his book neglected as "too easy" by first time readers. However, immunology researchers in contact with the often chaotic and contradictory immunological literature can really appreciate the incredible amount of critical work invested and the intellectual gift of the author (authors) to abstract complex immune phenomena into nicely designed and biologically precise "cartoons". The focus on the evolutionary and functional consequences/origins of the immune mechanisms and structures makes Janeway's book one of the most refreshing and valuable voices in a sometimes too-technically oriented discipline. An impressive accomplishment never praised enough.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Undergrad, or grad wanting the basics--this is the book !!, November 14, 2002

By 

Angela Demeritt "advilhauer" (Malta, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Immunobiology: The Immune System in Health and Disease (Paperback)

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I'm a graduate student in Microbiology and Immunology, but my undergraduate major was in biochemistry. Having had NO immunology classes before, I felt myself beginning to drown in my first graduate immunology class... I knew I needed help (there was no textbook for this lecture-only class), and went searching. This is the book I eventually bought.

It saved me, big time! In plain language, and with easy-to-follow pictures throughout, this book literally taught me all about immunology--it is the reason I passed my classes; NOT sitting stunned in some lecture hall listening to some guy drone. It took some work, and I had to read the book almost front-to-back, but it is a WONDERFUL text.

This book is not really a graduate caliber text, however. For specific and more technical aspects, books like the one by Paul are going to be the ticket. But even now, when looking to brush up on my basics, design pictures for a lecture, etc. I refer back to this book first. Only 3 years old, my copy is dog-eared, worn, and well-used. I often end up with classmates and professors asking to use it, too.

If you find yourself desperate and failing in an immunology class, BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT. If you are taking any immunology text, and your prof has chosen a really cruddy book you are having difficulty understanding, do the same. If you're a professor trying to teach an immunology class, USE THIS BOOK. Make life a whole lot easier on your students--and you, when grading and evaluations time comes around!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Immunobiology, November 14, 2002

By 

"pmcmeans" (Encinitas, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Immunobiology (Paperback)

Janeway and his co-authors have prepared a masterful text with remarkably clear exposition of the myriad of details in this rapidly developing field. It is replete with illustrations, including cartoon-like diagrams, histological slides, and tables, each of which are used to illuminate the discussion as deemed helpful by the authors. They present an incredible amount of information, and the text, reflecting recent revision, is remarkably current. This volume is suitable as a text for a course in immunology for medical students, or as an introduction to the subject for graduate students requiring knowledge of the immune system. It is perhaps advanced for most undergraduate courses, although the text is sufficiently clear that undergraduates can comprehend the material. It is primarily a question of whether the undergraduate reader has received sufficient foundation in cell and molecular biology to possess the presumed foundational knowledge. This is no "brief" overview. It is stuffed with detail giving students a thorough foundation in this fascinating field. A real tour de force.