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Which is the best biology textbook ?

plumjam

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I'm looking to buy a general biology textbook, and am wondering what people here would recommend.
I spent half an hour in a bookshop today looking through about half a dozen. The one that seemed best to me was Biology by Solomon, Berg, and Martin:

http://www.amazon.com/Biology-Eldra-P-Solomon/dp/0030335035

Seeing as these things are like 1300 pages long I'd like to make the right choice.

(It's also a good lesson in waiting to get home before you buy. It was £45 in the shop, but I find I can buy a brand new one online for £10 delivered)

So, folks, what do you reckon?
 
plumjam said:
I'm looking to buy a general biology textbook, and am wondering what people here would recommend.
I spent half an hour in a bookshop today looking through about half a dozen. The one that seemed best to me was Biology by Solomon, Berg, and Martin:

http://www.amazon.com/Biology-Eldra-P-Solomon/dp/0030335035

Seeing as these things are like 1300 pages long I'd like to make the right choice.

(It's also a good lesson in waiting to get home before you buy. It was £45 in the shop, but I find I can buy a brand new one online for £10 delivered)

So, folks, what do you reckon?
Click to expand...

I can't comment on the book you list, the last biology textbook I have is from about 20 years ago. I would recommend finding the reading list for a good college or checking out some of the on-line used college textbook stores, you can usually find a text that is in current use on the cheap.

Also, there is an on-line textbook for free: http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookTOC.html

I personally prefer books for things like this, but its nice for a quick free reference.
 
richardm said:
(Sorry I don't have anything else to offer - it's been years since I picked up a biology textbook)
Click to expand...

Hahaha on the book you linked to!

To plumjam - I also haven't picked up a basic biology book in a while. I would think that looking through the selection at a university's book store is a good place to start - and I recommend that you choose one that suits your background - too shallow and it might be boring, too advanced and it might be overwhelming.

I would also suggest that you try to audit a biology course and follow their text. Many instructors are ok with people auditing, but you have to clear it with them. Sometimes there's a fee, sometimes not.
 
skeptical said:
I can't comment on the book you list, the last biology textbook I have is from about 20 years ago. I would recommend finding the reading list for a good college or checking out some of the on-line used college textbook stores, you can usually find a text that is in current use on the cheap.

Also, there is an on-line textbook for free: http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookTOC.html

I personally prefer books for things like this, but its nice for a quick free reference.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Skeptical
 
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Lilith said:
Hahaha on the book you linked to!

To plumjam - I also haven't picked up a basic biology book in a while. I would think that looking through the selection at a university's book store is a good place to start - and I recommend that you choose one that suits your background - too shallow and it might be boring, too advanced and it might be overwhelming.

I would also suggest that you try to audit a biology course and follow their text. Many instructors are ok with people auditing, but you have to clear it with them. Sometimes there's a fee, sometimes not.
Click to expand...

Thanks Lilith. I'm not sure what you mean by auditing in that context.
 
plumjam said:
Thanks Lilith. I'm not sure what you mean by auditing in that context.
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In the States, you can either register for a course, or just audit it (sometimes, though, you need to register to audit!). The difference is that when you audit a course, you attend class, are invited to participate, and can even take quizzes/exams (sometimes required of auditors, sometimes not) - but you don't get a final grade in your official record. If you register to audit, it will be noted in the transcripts, but without a grade.

I don't know if there is an equivalent where you live.
 
At the high school level (US) Modern Biology is a pretty constantly well updated text.
(Holt,Rinehart,Winston pub.).
Not teaching college right now, so not sure for that level.
 
Lilith said:
In the States, you can either register for a course, or just audit it (sometimes, though, you need to register to audit!). The difference is that when you audit a course, you attend class, are invited to participate, and can even take quizzes/exams (sometimes required of auditors, sometimes not) - but you don't get a final grade in your official record. If you register to audit, it will be noted in the transcripts, but without a grade.

I don't know if there is an equivalent where you live.
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I see.
No, here in the UK we don't have a two-tier education system based on ability to pay.

...oh, hang on..

No, at Unis here everyone on the course is doing the full course plus the exams, and gets the full qualification.
 
plumjam said:
I see.
No, here in the UK we don't have a two-tier education system based on ability to pay.
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Just to clarify - auditing a course is not part of a two-tier system regarding financial ability. There are several reasons to audit (and to officially audit, you often pay the full cost of the course). Some reasons include: sheer interest in a topic that doesn't count toward your major/field of study; for a returning-adult-student, a chance to brush up on a course you had many years ago; as a graduate student or other university affiliation other than undergraduate student, one might audit a course that is relevant to their field, but not required for whatever reason.

A reason to officially audit would be to satisfy some requirement, or because the instructor or university doesn't allow unofficial auditing.

At the university I am affiliated with, many professors allow people to unofficially audit their course as long as there are seats available. Not many people audit.
 
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