Essential Medical Physiology, Third Edition

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money.
Review: As a doctoral student in Toxicology, I am fairly well experienced in recognizing a good book... And this is not one of them. Compared to other areas such as classical biochemistry and gene regulation, physiology should be a pretty straightforward, "common sense" topic. Unfortunately, this text is riddled with riddles; even on intensive study, there are areas in this book with unexplained apparent contradictions. There is much explanatory text that I find incomprehensible-- "so what is this trying to say?" I ask. I have been learning science and doing well at it for a good while yet. If I can't get it, something is wrong. I am glad I didn't spend money on it... But I know why it was still on the library shelf when I sought to borrow a physiology book.

Rating:
Summary: Clear and Concise
Review: Most students will find that learning physiology from a textbook can be quite a chore. Pure physiology books are usually so packed full of tiny text and incomprehensible diagrams that most people will be either beside themselves with panic or comatose after just a few pages. The authors of Essential Medical Physiology seem to have realised these facts and have produced a book which differs significantly from others in the field. The text is marginally larger than in comparable books and the chapters are thoroughly indexed and summarised. In short, the authors seem to be refreshingly in tune with the medical student's needs. Explanations are written in an almost informal manner and reach the level of complexity exactly appropriate for a medical degree. Processes students traditionally struggle with (such as the countercurrent exchange system in the nephron) are presented clearly and lucidly with extremely accessible accompanying diagrams that take you through the arguments step-by-step. Essential Medical Physiology also tackles any feelings of apathy towards the preclinical teaching by continually supplying the reader with 'Clinical Notes' which flag-up the importance of understanding the physiological mechanisms to the practise of clinical medicine. The figures are extremely clear and lucid throughout, despite being presenting in a two-tone blue and black format. Diagrams of this quality, however, require a large amount of space and areas slightly off the beaten track of core medical physiology have been cut to a minimum. The reader will find explanations of intracellular processes, such as protein synthesis, extremely brief - but it is not a medical physiology book that one would immediately turn to for this information. In summary, when lost in the jungle that is preclinical physiology, it is depressingly often that the book you turn to for guidance is not only ignorant of the direction you should take but doesn't even seem to speak your language. Essential Medical Physiology will not only point you in the right direction, it will draw you a map and advise you on the best guest houses for when you get out. It is a refreshingly clear book in both text and diagrams.

Rating:
Summary: A Mediocre Book at Best
Review: The number of typographical errors in this textbook is utterly astounding. This is completely unacceptable for a text that many medical students will use as gospel for physiology. In addition, much of the book goes into excruciating and unecessary detail, making it extremely slow to read. There are only a few positive things to say: (1) the renal and endocrine sections are quite good and (2) the clinical vignettes provide important information. There are far better texts available, try Guyton's "Textbook of Medical Physiology," already in its ninth edition.

Rating:
Summary: Not worth the paper it's printed on
Review: This textbook was our "required text" during first year medical school. I always assumed that bribery of some sort resulted in this situation, as I cannot find any redeeming qualities of this book except that it makes an excellent doorstop. Why is this book a waste of your time? Under the assumption that you are a medical student, let me tell you: it's way too detailed for any medical student to dream of ever learning during first year physiology. Let's face it- we have a lot to learn in an extremely short amount of time, and the time must be rationed wisely. Most students will never have the time or patience to sit and spend hours reading about the mathematics of diffusion (example). Some great, useful physiology textbooks are "Principles of Physiology" by Berne and Levy (the thinner paperback) and Guyton & Hall as a reference book. Don't waste your time with the Johnson.

Rating:
Summary: Desperate Students Only!!
Review: While not the avid "reviewer" type, I thought it necessary to warn others about this text. Purchasing this book as an "optional" text for my undergraduate physiology course, I expected that it would provide clear explanations of the processes being covered in lectures. I was first disappointed in flipping through to discover that the book only includes a few diagrams all of which are entirely composed of blue and or black ink. Then, hoping to find clear explanations inside the small type, journal style, marginless and endless paragraphs, I was again disappointed.

Halfway through my full year course I am searching for more options as this book fails to help me in those desperate moments when lecture notes just don't seem to make sense. This book goes into lengthy detail with mediocre summaries, such that the reader gets lost in details (and the neverending sentences) long before any understanding of the topic occurs. The lack of diagrams leaves no other option other than finding another source.

Any students out there?? Find another book! Any GOOD text will get you through, with all the essential information you need for both personal interest and for exams.

Rating:
Summary: Not worth the paper it's printed on
Review: While not the avid "reviewer" type, I thought it necessary to warn others about this text. Purchasing this book as an "optional" text for my undergraduate physiology course, I expected that it would provide clear explanations of the processes being covered in lectures. I was first disappointed in flipping through to discover that the book only includes a few diagrams all of which are entirely composed of blue and or black ink. Then, hoping to find clear explanations inside the small type, journal style, marginless and endless paragraphs, I was again disappointed.

Halfway through my full year course I am searching for more options as this book fails to help me in those desperate moments when lecture notes just don't seem to make sense. This book goes into lengthy detail with mediocre summaries, such that the reader gets lost in details (and the neverending sentences) long before any understanding of the topic occurs. The lack of diagrams leaves no other option other than finding another source.

Any students out there?? Find another book! Any GOOD text will get you through, with all the essential information you need for both personal interest and for exams.