Customer Reviews

Microbial Physiology, 4th Edition

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

 

 

While some comment that this is the best text for the field, I reply that the best just isn't good enough.

I have just finished an upper-division undergraduate course entitled Metabolism and Biochemistry of Microorganisms, for which nearly all chapters of this 700-page text were prescribed. As a fourth year Cell and Molecular Biology major, I have encountered several texts written on the 'hard' sciences and I must say, this is - without question - the absolute worst text I have come across thus far. No other text comes to mind that even comes close to such poor quality as Microbial Physiology (4th edition - Moat/Foster/Spector).

First, and most importantly, the chapters are LACED WITH ERRORS! My professor for the course is an extremely knowledgeable microbiologist, and he pointed out several errors each week in lecture. Some errors are blatant, others more obscure, but the editors of this text owe it another go (or two, or three).

Second, the text is poorly written. One sentence and the next often have nothing in common, paragraphs don't use introductory or conclusion sentences, and sentences are very blunt and rarely elaborate for clarity. This is a fourth edition, but it reads like a (very rough) first draft.

The often captionless figures and tables are sparse, confusing, and look as though they were drafted with early editions of MS Word - generally next to useless. I suggest a flip through the pages before making a purchase - you'll see what I mean. Additionally, images are of low resolution and sparse as well. Not a spot of color can be found in this text, save the paperback cover.

Final thoughts: The content might be here (when accurate), but the presentation renders it more of a chore than a tool. If this really is the definitive text on Microbial Physiology, you'd probably be better off combining two or more related texts that are of higher caliber. Or, just ask the PI down the hall.

This goes without saying, but this text held a temporary place in my library. For these efforts, I award Microbial Physiology with the Toilet Bowl Award.

Whlie the other reviewers comments were poor on this item I want to point out they were both undergraduates who had, according to one reviewer, a very good microbiologist as a professor. I recently received my PhD and this book was invaluable. That said, it is invalubable from a practicing or learned microbiologist. There are errors but if you keep up with current literature you know these and can cite accordingly. If you are a graduate student or higher I strongly recommend this book.

Good book. Flows well and fairly easy to read. The price was good on Amazon. Overall happy with purchase.

This book is very good for reference. It has good chapters with some updated information from the litterature, but I don't think it is the most complete book in the area.