Rating: 
Summary: A picture book for children that is entirely unreal.
Review: Review by Dr Giovani Bassi, Rome/Torino, Italy. [M.A. Music, B.Sc. Physics, M.Sc. Chemistry, Ph.D. Physical Organic Chemistry (thesis: general theory of synthesis of kinetically stabilized high-energy compounds). Lecturer on graduate-level quantum mechanics, applied maths, enzyme mechanics (my chief research area), relativistic biophysics etc.]The 8th edition of this well-known textbook - which is the first edition of the text I personally encounter, why no (rather useless) comparisons can be made with other editions in this present review - belongs in the now widely accepted (apparently) category of (especially biology-oriented) textbooks that have replaced all responsibility for our students' development as critically thinking, independent individuals with presenting an arbitrarily composed array of "particulate" bits of information, that students' can memorize and then use in completing multiple-choice exams. These bits of information (not worthy to be called facts) are particulate in the sense that they cannot be broken down into more fundamental components; unlike some "particles", though, the bits presented here fail to cohere or make visible those very simple and elegant threads (they are all man-made, after all!) that bind together the present paradigm on biological genesis, evolution and maintenance. I personally cannot think about Any course for which I in good conscience could recommend this textbook! Critically minded students will refuse to use it, so they are safe, as long as they can find better books to use for their coursework (no recommendations, sorry, other than to go via biophysics and obtain your own analytical machinery). But those that are Not so critical, they will, if they desire understanding, be distressed by the difficulty in connecting related facts, or - even worse - forget, or loose belief in, that facts at all Can be connected in biology. Many in the last category eventually "progress" to "working lab rats" in pharmaceutical companies, and since there is always a need for these relatively low-paid, obedient individuals, publishers, greedy authors and some colleges - observing the market need for them, or perhaps even acting in response to market-expressed needs - consider producing brain-washed, unthinking automata in our colleges justified. (I personally would never sponsor a college that uses books of this variety, or recommend it to a child of mine, since I believe that our world would be a better place if its inhabitants were more independent thinkers.) The book is filled with colourful flow charts, question boxes, tables etc., all meant to assist you in engraving the information into your memory. Organizing that information (which of course is the best route to long-term "memorization") is impossible, however, not least since the information given is of different varieties for each of the organisms and complete comparisons between different organisms thus cannot be made. The molecular basis of disease is of course mentioned heavily, but only rarely is it actually demonstrated explicitly. The chapters and paragraphs on chemistry, energetics and mathematics of bacterial multiplication (not "growth", an archaic term) etc. as well as the boxes on lab techniques etc. seem to belong in illustrated books for the kindergarten. Rarely have I seen anything so sloppy, incoherent and grossly misleading. The information given of cell biology, cell structure and genetics is identical to that given in junior high-school, which seems odd to me, as the average person found in a microbiology class has had general chemistry (possibly organic and bio too), and a heavy course on general cell biology. A thousand-page, multiple-semester textbook that fails so badly in outlining the "laws of biology" that More information has to be presented in whole-page "exception boxes" (without explanations, that should make students wonder if we really know Anything at all in biology!) on so called "funny" organisms - with "strange metabolism" etc. - should be taken off the shelves. Finally, the book has far too small margins, and pages drop out quickly. But the index is absolutely excellent. If you feel trapped as a student in the fuzzy pedagogical world of college biology - then drop it now and study physics instead, graduate on biophysics and then begin a fruitful carreer in biology! The molecular approach is the only one for the future (not least since, 1) physicists are beginning to look far more at applications, now that the Accelerator Era is over; 2) supramolecular chemistry and nanophysics/technology is exploding; 3) computer systems allow increasingly efficient design of specific, molecular locus-targeting drugs). It is likely that a large number of biologists will soon, within the present decade, be forced by their employers to study computer science, maths and physical chemistry. I wish you luck!
Rating: 
Summary: A window to the real diversity of life
Review: Since the solving of the genetic code, the priesthood of molecular biology has stressed animal biology, usually the complexities of development or neurobiology or immunology, as where the important science is going on. But microbiology has continued to find out amazing things, from the diversity of metabolisms that microbes use to live, to the molecular mechanisms of how microbes infect other organisms. I am a research scientist, working in molecular genetics, with shelves full of books. The Biology of Microorganisms is my very favorite textbook. I read it from cover to cover and was very impressed with its exposition of what I know, but even more with what I learned from reading it. I continue to reread chapters as my journal reading triggers questions about microbes. The chapters on microbial diversity, on what has been learned about how microbes live on iron oxidation reduction gradients, on the probable metabolisms 3.5 billion years ago, on the antiquity of photosynthesis, etc. There has been a renaissance in the study of diverse microbes. It is a huge field now and very difficult to understand its many strands. This book does an outstanding job of making it understandable. Anyone who thinks about the origin of life must read this book, for the diversity of microbial metabolism speaks volumes about early life. In addition, though the book does not stress it, anyone interested in life on other planets should read this book carefully, because of the diverse microbial ecosystems it describes. The book is written for an advanced undergraduate, but I found that after the introductory chapters, it had just the right mix of explanation and detail to keep me engaged. A must buy.
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Summary: The best written and illustrated edition of BBOM yet!
Review: The latest edition (9th) of Brock Biology of Microorganisms contains an all new art program, the best photos and photomicrographs available in ANY textbook of microbiology, and the authority needed to be used as both a textbook of microbiology in colleges and universities as well as a reference source for professional microbiologists and undergraduate/graduate students in the biological sciences. Previous users will find the same breadth and depth of coverage as in earlier editions, with all of the hot topics in microbiology (for example, microbial phylogeny and the use of molecular probes in microbial ecology; microbial genetics, gene regulation, and biotechnology; metabolic/bacterial diversity and the activities of microorganisms in nature; practical and molecular immunology/medical microbiology) thoroughly discussed. Creative and consistent use of color in art, up-to-the minute research data in art and tables, and exciting specialty boxes help guide the reader towards a strong foundation in the principles of microbiology. In a nutshell, authority, coverage, and clarity make for a great combination in this latest edition of a classic in microbiology.
Rating: 
Summary: not a lot of pictures
Review: The pictorial elements in this book does not demonstrate the concepts really well. reading the book is ok, but having descriptive graphics will be easier to understand.
Rating:
Summary: not a lot of pictures
Review: The pictorial elements in this book does not demonstrate the concepts really well. reading the book is ok, but having descriptive graphics will be easier to understand.
Rating:
Summary: Good for amateur microbiologists
Review: This book does a great job in reviewing the basic tenets of microbiology, however, it doesn't delve into near as much detail as needed for any micro major or graduate student. Sections on molecular bio of bacteria are particularly bad, and metabolic pathways are given only a brief overview (entner-doudoroff has less than 2 pages). That being said, the book does do an excellent job in surveying the vast numbers of microbes, and it virology section is above average for a bacteriology book. Decent intro book, but anyone going into detail should buy something else.
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Summary: A STUDENTS VIEW
Review: This book has been one of the most absorbing and grasping books that I have ever come across while studying Microbiology. The excellent collection of photos and illustrations have made even the most confusing concepts easy to understand.
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Summary: biochmistry & microbiology
Review: this book is realy designed for bocbiology student but it is indead very valued book for biochemist since tyhey will have the chance to know a huge amount of details about bacteria which is offcourse part of their course .......... good luke guys
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Summary: This book is just awesome plain awesome. Excellent !
Review: This great textbook from Michael T. Madigan and his collegues is an excellent microbiology textbook. It has great and colorful illustrations that explain the concepts such as DNA transcription, RNA synthesis, various biological tests, viruses(especially the operation of HIV virus. He did an EXCELLENT JOB on that topic), and other topics. Besides the microbiology aspects this book excellently illustrates it also gives you an EXCELLENT biochemistry aspect of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, viruses and other microorganisms as well. It is EXTREMELY well written to the point that ANYONE can understand clearly what Michael T. Madigan and his colleges are trying to explain. Heck, it even has a little bit of genetics as well. I mean lets be serious here. What more do you want? He gives everything in a high-quality manner! Overall this is a great book with great color illustrations, review questions, and is VERY CLEAR in its explanations of the concepts of microbiology, biochemistry and genetics. This is a great referance manual as well. I'm in pharmacy school and I still use this book as a handy referance to perk up any forgotten concepts in biochemistry, microbiology or genetics. Anybody who criticizes this book don't know jack-squat of what a high quality textbook this is. I'm very happy that my microbiology professor at University of Missouri-St. Louis(my former school) chose this book as our class textbook. I usually sell my school textbooks back but I'm not selling this one back due to its high quality. This book is too good. Bottom line this book has everything you want. This is a top-notch book that will make learning microbiolgy fun, fun and more fun. I take my hats off to Michael T. Madigan and his collegues for working hard in writing such an excellent textbook. I hope the publishers keep publishing this book for the next 100 years.
Rating:
Summary: Good general reference
Review: This is probably one of the best general overviews of the various facets of Microbiology. As a student, it was probably the best book I could save as a reference. Subjects delineated in a clear, concise fashion; as well as being fairly detailed in most areas. The diagrams are well done, and helpful. The writing also flows well and makes it a easy to read, unlike some texts. All in all, one of the best textbooks I have seen and used, also one of the few I'll keep.
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