Life: The Science of Biology

Rating:
Summary: An excellent introduction to all facets of biology
Review: I've used this book all throughout college, from Introductory Biology to studying for the Biology GRE. It's never ceased to be useful. It's well-written, and goes into sufficient depth while remaining readable. If you need a general reference for biology, buy this book!

Rating:
Summary: A dissenting opinion!
Review: In reviewing this text for possible adoption, I have come to the opposite opinion from other reviewers. I found the book to be written mostly for the faculty and not for the students. It is filled with details totally unnecessary at an introductory level and which will serve only to confuse the students. This is particularly true of the section on evolution and classification which seems to follow every fad and goes so quickly that few will be able to keep up. The beautiful overall picture is totally lost. Although there are fewer pages (a good thing) they have achieved this partly by reducing the size of the print, making the text more difficult to read. The figures are great, but this does not make up for the basic defects in the book.

Rating:
Summary: A dissenting opinion!
Review: In reviewing this text for possible adoption, I have come to the opposite opinion from other reviewers. I found the book to be written mostly for the faculty and not for the students. It is filled with details totally unnecessary at an introductory level and which will serve only to confuse the students. This is particularly true of the section on evolution and classification which seems to follow every fad and goes so quickly that few will be able to keep up. The beautiful overall picture is totally lost. Although there are fewer pages (a good thing) they have achieved this partly by reducing the size of the print, making the text more difficult to read. The figures are great, but this does not make up for the basic defects in the book.

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed using this text
Review: Life: The Science of Biology was a great text that I read during a cell biology course. Unlike lots of other science textbooks, this one did not read like a checklist of various theories and models. Purves et al developed their ideas throughout the text and presented them in clear terms which made learning easier. Difficult cycles and mechanisms were meticulously explained without becoming dull or esoteric. The helpful figures, which were well integrated into each topic, brought the minute details of the smallest organelles to life. Life: The Science of Biology was a wonderful companion which I still refer to time and again as the final word on issues of biology.

Rating:
Summary: missing pages
Review: Like many of the other reviewers have already stated, this is a great book for intro biology. If you pick it up be certain that it is not missing pages though. I read through it into Chapter 34 before finding some info missing! While reading Chp 34 pp. 673 I see that the intro to "Primates and the Origin of Humans" is repeated again on the following page. Also, on pp. 674 where this info is repeated, the info suddenly stops, and is not continued on pp 675 (which is understandable since it is all photographs), nor on pp. 676. Instead, pp. 676 begins with "Human ancestors
evolved bipedal locomotion", therefore, leaving out the connection between anthropoids and hominids. This is crucial info because it is the info that tells us where humans came from! It is some of the most critical info in all of the textbook! If you pick this book up check these pages. If it is missing this info return it immediately for a corrected copy.

Rating:
Summary: Very clear, well written bio text
Review: Purves et al do a great job balancing the concept of an introductory text with the true complexities of biological systems. Although some of the text is intimidating, I found that it was easy to abstract the salient points from the chapters I was not enamored of, and the book offers sufficient depth for a more thorough exploration of the chapters that did interest me further. This is a very rare trait for most intro texts -- usually I find that if I'm interested in further study, I must do quite a bit of research to do so. This book makes it much easier to delve deeper into those topics that do intrigue the reader.

Rating:
Summary: the details of biology in "life" are descriptive.
Review: the details of biology in "life" by purves, are descriptive. the pictures are also descriptive and tell a lot of information needed to process biology.

Rating:
Summary: ++Excellent textbook studied by students in UCLA
Review: There's a reason why this textbook is used at one of the top public universities in the nation. It is clearly written, lots of pictures that has step-by-step comments, a concise chapter summary and discussion questions. Chapters are relatively short at 16-26 pages each, full of detailed pictures and fairly easy reading for the scientific individual. Compared to Scientific American, it is easier to read.
The CD-ROM has flashcards, animated tutorials (videos and sound), games, self-quizzes (small) and large chapter quizzes (multiple choice) with explanations for every answer you got incorrect or correct. The animation videos are very helpful in picturing abstractions such as molecular formation.
Study guide has a more in-depth chapter summary notes and more multiple choice questions with explanations to the answers. Many if not all chapters related to current news updates on science, so the book is a very recent infusion of current science developments with past biology.

UCLA students have used books from these authors for a few years now in their Life Science 1,2 courses (biology). Excellent text.
I had a fun time in the class both because of my outstanding professor Dr. Kubasak and the outstanding textbook!

Rating:
Summary: An excellent introduction to all facets of biology
Review: This text is used for the International Baccalaureate Program's Higher Level Biology at Palmer High School. As a student, I find the text extremely readable with helpful diagrams and appreciate its completeness. Our school has used this textbooks for several years and we have one of the strongest High School Biology programs in the world.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book For International Baccalaure Biology
Review: This text is used for the International Baccalaureate Program's Higher Level Biology at Palmer High School. As a student, I find the text extremely readable with helpful diagrams and appreciate its completeness. Our school has used this textbooks for several years and we have one of the strongest High School Biology programs in the world.