Textbook of Medical Physiology (Hardcover)

by Arthur C. Guyton (Author), John E. Hall (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Medical students prefer Guyton's textbook to others... it has the consistent style of a traditional... textbook that maintains students' interest through clinical relevance... Excellent." The New England Journal of Medicine, review of previous edition.

Book Description
Offers access to the full text and other valuable features online via the STUDENT CONSULT website --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1148 pages
• Publisher: W.B. Saunders Company; 9th edition (January 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0721659446
• ISBN-13: 978-0721659442
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #147,615 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Textbook of Medical Physiology, April 21, 2006

By	Darrell Wu (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Textbook of Medical Physiology: With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access (Hardcover)

I agree with the reviewer from Israel, this book is exceptional at explaining physiology. During my first year in medical school I used Berne and Levy as the text for medical physiology and I found it to be a very good text. But reviewing physiology during my second year I used the text by Guyton and I couldn't believe how well written and clear it was. Both texts are excellent and I give both 5 stars, but I would definately recommend Guyton for a first read, and then Berne and Levy.

However, not all sections in this book, like not all sections in Berne and Levy are excellent. I recommend supplementing reading in Respiratory physiology by West or weinburg, Renal Physiology by rose or vander, and GI with Johnson. Cardio use B/L-it's the best. Endocrine, Guyton is good. Nerve and Muscle physiology use Berne and Levy; and Neurophysiology I highly recommend reading Neuroscience by Purves and Essentials of Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology by Gilman.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars being non-concise makes it an easy reader, July 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Textbook of Medical Physiology (Textbook Binding)

I agree with the previous review that this book is quite long and is not at all concise. Concepts repeat themselves everywhere. However, not all students are so bright that they can remember everything in just one go. I am a medical student myself, and I find it frustrating to not being able to understand some important concepts in the later part of a course just because no one reminded me of one or two simple things taught before that I have forgotten. Te secret of the Guyton lies here. Information is repeated continuously, so giving the book consistency throughout the text, as it travels through different areas of physiology. The secret of its lucid explanations lies here too: Guyton likes to hear himself talk. Remember, THIS BOOK IS RECITED. Guyton couldn't write! That's why his text is so similar to a teacher with a voice. You are reading his lecture scripts.
Anyway, I love the book for its explanations where every concept is explained from the very first principles, even though they were taught before in just the page before.
Yes, it is quite a physiology for dummies, but there isn't a lot of students who are not dummies. Being a "dummy" does not mean you are stupid, a "dummy" is just a person who can't memorise and digest everything in one go and needs some reminders here and there to facilitate learning. If you've got a camera memory, don't get this book, or you will feel bored.
However, it's really a long text, so I read it as if it's a leisure book and memorize as much as I can. Don't push yourself!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very complete, but best used as a reference, May 9, 2004

By	D. A Flory (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Textbook of Medical Physiology (Textbook Binding)

You can't really go too wrong with this text, especially as a reference.

My main problem with Guyton is that the writing style is often soporific, tedious, and rambling. Parts of the section on heart action almost sounded like a parody of a really awful college lecture.

For anyone planning to study physiology systematically, I would strongly recommend Berne and Levy's *Physiology* over Guyton. The Berne book is equally comprehensive but has much better layout and genuinely good writing.