Customer Reviews

Medical Virology, Fourth Edition

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

 

 

As I have made out in my title, this is the best way I can describe this book. Its small size contradicts its vast amount of information within. With respect to the other reviewer the book I find is excellent at delivering highly detailed information in the fewest words - cutting to the chase - however like the other reviewer comments, its detail can be off putting without sufficient back up by other texts. In this respect the book is probably best thought of as reference material for instant access to cutting edge information on viruses. The book also has sections that individually deal with the virus families and allow the reader to quickly access information regarding viruses belonging to each family, which is particularly useful considering the quagmire of virus names.

While at first approach I backed away from this book, I later went back to it and found it to be the book to learn virology from. I've tried other books and they fail in comparison. This book teaches you a great amount of information on virology and has a special part for information on the different virus types. This book is highly recommended to students or hobbyists - though beware some information on genetics, chemistry and regular biology might be useful and come in handy, it is not required - just skip any technical parts in the book.

Medical Virology is not an ideal book for students new to virology. It is currently the prescribed text for an undergraduate course that I am taking, and unfortunately, the book is not well done. Fortunately for me, I've had other courses that provided the background that this book doesn't present in a coherent manner. The book introduces a topic, starts to explain it, and then just drops it. While it might be a good overview for people familiar with virology, students just starting out would be better served by buying Fundamental Virology.

Although some of the viral taxonomy is a bit out of date (4th edition was published in 1994!), David White and Frank Fenner's text is an absolute classic, as evidenced by the fact that the figures one will find in this book have been shamelessly adapted by many more modern (and usually lesser) textbooks, often without crediting the source. I used this book to get a strong, classical view of viral pathogenesis whilst preparing some lectures for 2nd year medical students. The authors do a great job explaining the pathogenesis of viral diseases in succinct, to the point language. I hope to see an updated 5th edition someday.

I am very satisfied with my purchase. I already had the Animal Virology from these authors, from 1974. This Fourth Edition of 1994- which I think is the latest, not sure - includes Viruses of Humans, with clinical features,pathogenegis,Immunity, vaccination control, laboratory diagnosis, Epidemiology and control.
The authors are very didactic - very clear understanding.
The book arrived much faster than I expected, and is really brand new.