Principles of Molecular Virology, Second Edition 2nd Edition

As a neuroscience student, I took a class on virology that I wasn't required to take. However, since I was working on AIDS and rabies, I decided I needed the background. Between the bad teaching and the horrible textbook, I ended up taking an audit in the class and came away from it very confused. This book managed to simply clarify everything that those supposedly distinquished professors of virology and the writers of the textbooks for the class couldn't do. Now as a science educator I am always horrified at how scientists take simple ideas and subjects and make them difficult for students or laypersons to understand. That isn't the motive for teaching science or at least shouldn't be. This text on virology is understandable to everyone, especially if someone like me who is deaf and therefore has English reading skills that are different from the norm can comprehend what the author is saying. All I can say to this author is Bravo, and why aren't you writing more! Karen L. Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh

I'm not a biologist, but having developed an interest in virology, I searched for a book that would explain the basic principles in an understandable manner without too much jargon and too detailed illustrations or explanations (or too high a cost!). This book provides an overview of the field and sufficiently detailed but understandable information on virus structure and processes. Written well, it is a readable text with numerous illustrations that enhance understanding of important principles. Frankly, it was also enjoyable to read. The chapters in some detail cover the viral processes like attachment and replication, the genome, and infection and the immune system responses. Both plant and human viruses are studied, and specific examples such as the picornaviruses (polioviruses), TMV, adenoviruses, retroviruses, and HHV/HIV are specifically mentioned in each chapter, adding example to observation. The author is also not shy about telling us where molecular virology is lacking information, which should provide clues for graduate students looking for research topics. What info the author does include (and this book is wealthy in facts) is presented clearly and understandably, so that a beginner like myself or even an intermediate student would find this a useful reference. This is a great book for anyone who has a working level of scientific training in any field. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for more understanding of the microbial universe -- based on the text, I have a better perspective on the competition and cooperation between microbes. What fascinated me most is that the book details, without specifically stating it, the intelligence at work in creating and sustaining the viral structures, in helping them become a success even though their success is a detriment to humans.

Alan Cann's textbook is laid out in an odd order, but his description of general mechanisms of viral gene regulation is wonderfully done. The only thing that could have made this book better is the illistrations. They are pretty bad, but that is what one gets for only $30. Good job Cann!!!

Well, let's see, molecular virology is definitely a hard-to understand science. Fortunately, for begginers like me, A.J Cann wrote this book. I think it is an awesome one, but it has its drawbacks.
Pros: Easy to read ( i mean, critical concepts, especially genetics, come up very clearly ), relatively easy to understand, and final review questions that really stick concepts in your mind. Also excellent prospective view about why molecular virology is important.
Cons: Not enough pictures. Imagination is a useful tool, but not that much ! This is why this superb book deserves only 4 stars. Still, it is worth the money, and belongs to the shelf of every virologist or infectious disease expert/fan/student.

I took virology while in med school, and it made less sense to me then neuroscience did at first. Part of that was the presentation methods of the professors, and part of it was their refusal to use or even recommend a decent textbook to refer to. I found the monster books on virology they place in the reference section of the medical school library, but trying to afford those books on your own is impossible. And they were so technical and so detailed, that it did not give a decent overview of the field and you had to use the index to find what you wanted. Too big.
This book by Cann is a good addition to anyone interested in the field of virology. Since the emergence of new or at least never seen before diseases, more people are wanting to familiarize themselves with viruses, and now prions. I was a little disappointed at the short chapter on prions, but since this was on viruses I was expecting more than he needed to deliver. The text is well-written and concise, but limited in historical background which I think adds to understanding and interest. Placing discoveries of science in context of social and cultural background helps to tie primary information in with other memory, so that that information can be recalled. Since there are other books which provide the historical overview of the discovery of viruses and means to control them (vaccinations, etc.) it isn't absolutely necessary for this text to explain it. It just a personal preference I have where I think science should be placed in context of social and cultural norms, and the public health history aids in understanding why developing vaccines for some diseases was given priority over others.
This is a good and inexpensive book which can be referred back to for papers.Read more ›