5 comments about Molecular Genetics of Bacteria (Snyder, Molecular Genetics of Bacteria).

1. This is an excellent and in-depth presentation of the molecular genetics of prokaryotes. Explanations are crystal clear throughout, and the diagrams are very well done. (Typographical errors are everywhere, but fortunately they are easy to spot and none of them are misleading.) The text can seem long at times, but the extra effort spent reading is repaid in terms of clarity. The authors are careful to insure everything is explained well. The book also covers several areas of prokaryotic biology besides molecular genetics, such as cell division, antibiotics, transport of molecules across the cell membrane, two-component signaling pathways, bacteriophages, and many others.

   This is undoubtedly the best introduction to prokaryotic biology out there. Highly recommended.




2. This book is great in developing the concepts and explaining in an easy but at the same time techinical way just what is involved in bacterial genetics. Teaching from the historical perspective you really get a sense of what these researchers were faced with and just how valuable their breakthoughs were. It doesn't try to be "hip" like so many other undergraduate textbooks out there, and for that they get full credit. The figures are a little simplistic though.



3. This is one of few college textbooks I've used that has actually HELPED me learn the course material. The book takes you from the basics (DNA structure and replication, etc.) all the way through some very complex concepts while never missing a beat. It's surprisingly readable and student-user-friendly whether you're a beginner or a certifiable gene jockey. My only complaint is the quality of the figures; some of them are very small and thus hard to read, and as one reviewer commented, they are sort of simplistic to the point of not being very thorough. Having full-color illustrations would be a big plus.
   
   Overall, this book definitely surpasses other bacterial genetics books I've seen as far as readability and organization goes. It delivers what it promises!



4. If you are a "visual learner," then this is NOT, I repeat, NOT, the book for you- I cannot emphasise this enough!
   
   The text is very well written, however, the font used is rather small, and there are only FOUR colors used throughout the entire book.
   
   The text is done entirely in light brown, black, grey and white.
   
   Students like me -strongly visual learners- will be miserable; everyone else will like the book.



5. This is a great current reference book! The information is presented in a logical easy to read style. Good for beginning and advanced students.

1 comments about Foodservice Organizations: A Managerial and Systems Approach (6th Edition).

1. Need text for course, but actually interesting content. Would recommend to those going into food service/management.

5 comments about Microbiology: Principles and Explorations.

1. It's an okay book. I needed it for a class. There are several mistakes on the diagrams (our professor noted which ones).



2. she really knows what shes talking about and has designed the book to be easy to understand. unfortunately, you guys miss out on the stories that the editors wont allow her to put in that make things even more understandable. anyway, there is a lot of good and interesting information in here.



3. I fell asleep while reading it TWICE. I only gave it a two because i like the cover.



4. I was hoping that buying this Study guide would help me get a more organized view on taking notes from the textbook accompanied by it (Microbiology: Principles and Explorations by Black 6th ed.). The outline was very simple and lack more information about the sections in the book. I am kind of disappointed because I make better notes than the one outlined in the book. On the plus side though, it has numerous quizzes which really help a lot in preparing for the test.



5. I bought this book and never needed it to help me study. It was a waste of my money. I gave it away shortly after I bought it.

5 comments about Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution.

1. The book is not without merit, especially as a historical record of a stage in the retreat of religion from the field of scientific investigation. It has to be said that it is not science, in the respect that it serves to promote a pre-existing agenda rather than representing a search for some truth. It also has to be said that it has been superseded, since it presents an argument that a series of structures cannot be reduced to simpler precursors and in many cases the precursors have now been described as they exist in nature. It has further to be said that it presents interesting descriptions of the allegedly irreducible structures and that one ought to read it to understand the place and failure of "intelligent design" in the alleged controversy over evolution in the USA.
   
   To be read critically, in other words, and not as if it were real science. It argues from an assertion of irreducibility which is not true to a conclusion of design which the author started with, and which does not actually qualify as an explanation, so it qualifies neither as science, nor as properly-conducted philosophy, nor even as particularly inspiring theology. It could convince the unwary non-technical reader, however, so have a care.
   
   As you will note by a glance at the distribution of stars, one tends to fall on one side or the other based on one's agreement with the book's premise.



2. Michael Beehee's work has been discredited too many times to count ranging from a lack of participating in the scientific peer review process or in court cases (see Dover, PA.). This book has more bogus science for those who prefer faith over evidence.
   
   Thanks Mike, we all love being mislead...



3. Excellent book. Not for the faint of heart and has some very technical reading. As I continue my research of creationism vs. evolution it's incredible how our schools continue to teach the wrong history with the mountains of obvious evidence against evolution and the non-existent evidence supporting evolution. A great read!



4. In the Kitzmiller v. Dover decision the Court noted that "Professor Behe admitted in "Reply to My Critics" that there was a defect in his view of irreducible complexity because, while it purports to be a challenge to natural selection, it does not actually address "the task facing natural selection."" [and] "Professor Behe specifically explained that "[t]he current definition [of irreducible complexity] puts the focus on removing a part from an already functioning system," but "[t]he difficult task facing Darwinian evolution, however, would not be to remove parts from sophisticated pre-existing systems; it would be to bring together components to make a new system in the first place." Id. In that article, Professor Behe wrote that he hoped to "repair this defect in future work;" however, he has failed to do so even four years after elucidating his defect."
   
   In other words, the only thing that Irreducible Complexity proved was to be wrong.



5. Very well written book. Despite the impression that some reviews give, the book is quite logical in its approach. There are some very in depth descriptions of cellular mechanics and certain biological functions (such as blood clotting). But the author sets these difficult passages apart from the main text, providing a simpler overview, and a more in-depth analysis for science-minded folks who like to know the finer details. Not for causal reading, but certainly an excellent read to stimulate those synapses.

1 comments about Student Companion to Accompany Biochemistry, 6th Ed..

1. Not what I expected. Though well outlined it could have given more details.

5 comments about Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America (Kaufman Field Guides).

1. This is the best field guide available for the novice or experienced entomologist. The diversity of insects shown are beautifully illustrated and their identifications are accurate. The guide is very user-friendly with different easy ways to access insects by groups, common names, and scientific names. The descriptions, although brief, are very informative and highlight pertinent aspects of the insect groups or individual species being discussed. The authors are to be commended for producing the very first insect guide that enables an individual unfamiliar with entomology to rapidly get at least a good idea of the kind of insect he or she is trying to identify, and with so many common insects illustrated, a specific identification is possible in many cases.



2. Kenn Kaufman and his team have put out another easy to use and beautiful to look at field guide. Unlike many insect field guides out there, the reader does not need any scientific knowledge to use this effectively. It has color-coded pages for the sections, and section sub-headings like "If it's really small or really weird looking, try here". Of course, no insect guide weighing less than a small car can include all the insects of North America, but this one has an impressive number of insects, useful photos of every one, and good information on them.



3. This is a great adjunct to the Peterson Field Guide to The Insects...A serious bug nut should have them both, the Peterson for the text and Kaufman for the many excellent photos.



4. I think this book is perfect. It has just enough of everything so that the book is affordable and light enough to really be a FIELD guide. The pictures are terrific...there are just enough on a page so your eye can easily scan when you are looking for a particular insect.
   
   This guide has about 400 pages and more than 2,350 images so OF COURSE it isn't going to have lots of details about every insect. And since, according to one reviewer, there are about 10,000 insects in North America, OF COURSE it isn't going to have every insect. What it DOES have is enough illustrations so you can find something VERY close if you can't find the exact insect. With that information, you can go to the internet and look up the details without wading through lots of irrelevant material--I was spending FAR too much time on whatsthatbug dot com and bugguide dot net before I got this book.
   
   This is the handiest insect book I have had since I was about 6 and wore out my Golden Guide! If you are debating about getting the book, just do it--it's only about $13 and this is Amazon--you can send it back if you don't like it. I'm betting you won't be sending it back.



5. The strengths of this book are the excellent photos (digitally touched up, that is), good, basic info, and a clear but informative, non-technical writing style. As with any field guide intended for the general reader, the picture method of identification has its pitfalls, but still, insects (at least to the family and genus level) are much easier to identify with a decent field guide than plants or especially fungi and mushrooms, due to their depauperate character suite. So overall, a nice guide to enhance one's knowledge and appreciation of the insect phylum. You can learn a lot from this guide, but I recommend that for every serious amateur naturalist you try to learn enough to some day attempt formal, professional taxonomic keys to the major groups of insects.

No comments about General, Organic & Biochemistry.

5 comments about The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way to Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs.

1. I have to begin by saying that when I first started reading the book I was very put off by a writing style that initially came across as a bit choppy, curt, rude and precociously academic... then suddenly, light began to shine and Jean Donaldson began tossing one brilliant idea, suggestion/method after another. - - My guess is that the book probably came about as a result of cutting and pasting previous writings of hers together... writings geared towards various audiences and appropriate to various situations... however, after this was done, the writings were simply never edited so they'd represent a cohesive whole... As a result, I have to agree with other critics that the book really needs to be edited and organized... still, I give it a 5 star rating... Why? Because as I said, it challenges you to think differently... and many of the pages are gushing with ideas and suggestions for problems facing all dogs... Whether or not you agree with everything, the book gets you thinking - - its not just a rehash of old dog training cliches (as many books are.)
   
   As for Jean Donaldson's basic approach- - basically its text book behaviorism, but with a compassionate twist. The central premise is that people expect their dogs to think and behave in the Walt Disney mold... and fail to take into account that dog's brains are the size of lemons... and further, wired different than people... in particular, dogs are masters at reading their environment... but don't have the abstract and logical thinking abilities of humans. In failing to recognize this, we often expect unreasonable things of dogs... and even worse, punish - - even summarily execute them for this. (Jean Donaldson specifically uses the word "execute" as opposed to euthanize in the case of many dogs who are put to sleep for aggressive behavior, when they were simply being dogs and their humans simply failed to socialize them.) -- - She uses this argument to poignantly argue the importance of socialization and repeatedly says, "Dogs are animals and animals bite..." Dogs who are not properly socialized bite not because they're abnormal... but simply because they were never trained to adapt to a human environment where biting, no matter how tempered can be considered a capital offense..... hence the dog remained dogs... ergo biting when seeing strange humans engage in behavior that any canine would have seen threatening. (Donaldson points out that in the wildnerness "fear of the novel" would have been understanding, as no adult dog would be able to live long enough to pass on its genes if it was programmed to simply walk up to explore anything new and novel. Dogs survive by running away from things that spook them... or making the thing that's spooking them run away... either/or...)
   
   The book covers a wide variety of behaviors which most humans find extremely annoying (barking, chewing and urinating) but Donaldson assures us are NORMAL, however, can be dealt with through proper socialization (and if the window is missed) conditioning. - - Methods typically involve exposure to situations, and reward for desired behavior... no alpha rolls, no choke collars, and no alpha wolf lead or be eaten/hang 'em by the choke collar babble... just time and patience... and a clicker and some treats.
   
   All in all, like some other reviewers, I think it needs rewriting... but that said, there's so much in it, I'd say its worth every buck and then some whether or not you agree with each and every one of her theories or suggestions. To sum it up: this book definitely belongs in your library if you're serious about dog training or behavior...



2. When I read this book the first time, I really enjoyed it and felt that it had changed most of my ideas about dog training. Everything Donaldson says is correct and works for most behaviors, because she uses basic principles that can be applied to any animal. Basically, if you understand positive and negative reinforcement/punishment, there is no need to read this book. Her main point is that you can get dogs to do whatever you wish using positive reinforcement alone, and the use of aversives is unnecessary and a result of expecting our dogs to be smarter than they really are.
   
   She also gives some good insight into the behavior of dogs, such as bite thresholds, and it's very useful for people to know that just because a dog bites doesn't mean it is evil and should be put down - it's NORMAL dog behavior.
   
   Unfortunately, I could only give it one star because her theory is very limited and basic. It is helpful for someone with no knowledge of canine behavior, thought process, or pack mentality, and for the many people who misuse aversives and think it is normal for you to be able to punch a dog in the face and not have him bite you. It is a good starting place, and nothing more.
   
   But for the rest of us who wish to understand the true behavior and potential of dogs, her book is of little value. Clicker training and an endless supply of treats works great for training specific behaviors, but not for achieving harmony and balance in the bigger picture. Not to mention the many breeds who are not food or play motivated, which she never addresses. Also, for those true problem dogs who are aggressive or have other serious behavior issues, she never says how to address these problems, and instead recommends other books!
   
   There are countless better books out there that are much more in depth and educational. This book only detracted from my knowledge of dog behavior and training.



3. 
   
   Ms. Donaldson takes a judgemental moralistic view of owners (like me)who like that their dogs do not bolt through doors before them, or like to eat before their dogs, and like to be their dog's leader. She even goes as far as to call us *stupid*. Okay, I draw the line when I spend $15.00 to buy a book then the author calls me stupid in the first chapter.
   
   I train in AKC competition obedience so I am all for reward based training. Dogs do learn faster when rewarded for doing the right behavior as opposed to being corrected for the wrong behavior. However, it is incomplete advice when Ms. Donaldson tells people that dogs should never receive any corrections. Maybe those highly skilled behaviorists and professional dog trainers have the talent, time, experience to only train with rewards but the average pet owner will never be able to accomplish this without years of trial and error. I am sorry, but I do not want to spend 5 years just to train my dog to not bolt out the door or decide to chase a squirrel and possibly get hit by a car.
   
   She is far to extreme in one direction. Like everythig in life, there needs to be a balance. And by the way, I am not in Cesar's camp either with his flooding methods and overly simplistic dominance fix-all solution either. Like I said, you've got to have balance and adjust with each dog.
   
   If you interested in dog training and learning theory I liked Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor much better. The author uses easy to understand human analagies to illustrate learning theory. I am a very literal and visual person so if I could understand it, anyone can.



4. This is the most significant dog book ever written -- yes, it's that good. Everyone who owns a dog should read it. I'll let you read the other reviews to hear why. But you should know that there is a revised edition (with 11,000 more words) available, though for some reason Amazon isn't selling it.



5. My dog-eared, worn-cover, beaten up copy of The Culture Clash, signed by Jean Donaldson Oct. 5, 1997, is one of my most prized books in my dog training library. I've had the great opportunity to attend her seminars and listen to her speak on a few occasions. It's a book that is required reading for any serious student of dog behavior. It's also great for anyone just interested in learning more about dog behavior and training. Let me explain why:
   
   1. The book opens with "Getting The Dog's Perspective - Walt Disney vs. B.F. Skinner" and goes on to explain that dogs are amoral animals, that they have no understanding of right and wrong. She adds that dogs don't spite us, get back at us or feel guilty for doing "bad behavior." When we believe that our dogs are getting back at us, or trying to spite us, they end up getting a lot of punishment.
   
   Think about it, you come home after a long day at work only to find your favorite $200 pair of shoes chewed to bits. If you think your dog did that to "get back at you" you would dole out a nice big dose of punishment. In reality, your dog was stressed at being left alone and chewed to relieve the stress. The next day you leave for work and your dog feeling stressed again, chews your kitchen chairs. You walk in the house and think, "He did it again to ME!" Severe punishment follows.
   
   If this happens again and again the behavior is likely to get worse. In reality, your dog is not associating the chewing with his behavior. The chewing is a direct result of your behavior. Your dog associates the punishment with your homecoming. You walk in the door and pound him - this sets up a behavioral history. When you walk out the door there is a good chance that when you come back in a beating will follow.
   
   Everyday you leave and your dog learns that when you come home he is going to be punished. It's all very stressful. How does the dog relieve stress - CHEWING!
   
   Jean Donaldson explains this process so well and really gives you insights into why your dog is behaving a certain way.
   
   2. Chapter 2 continues with the fact that dogs are predatory animals, that they are hard wired to search, stalk, rush, chase, bite/hold/shake/kill, and to dissect and eat(prey). This chapter is particularly important because of the writing on tug-o-war, the most misunderstood game in "dogdom".
   
   In addition to tug-o-war, she discusses alone training, chew training and a lot more.
   
   3. Chapter 3 on Socialization, Conflict Resolution, Fear and Aggression goes on to give some of the best advice for new puppy owners. The sections on bite inhibition, timid puppies, dog-dog socialization, food bowl exercises, object exchanges, and the bite threshold model is a must read for any new puppy owner.
   
   4. Chapter 4 - Its All Chew Toys To Them, starts off with the story of The Gorns. The Gorns is an excellent story of putting us in the position of dogs. Humans are kept as companion animals to a more intellectually sophisticated species.
   
   Imagine living on a planet with a Gorn and this Gorn punishes you for doing normal human behavior like: Shaking hands, sitting on couches, eating anything but "Human Chow," etc.
   
   Think about dogs, they get punished for sniffing each others butts (human equilevlent to shaking hands), sitting on the couch, trying to eat anything other than the food from a bag that we feed them. This is a very eye-opening chapter.
   
   5. Chapter 5 is the one chapter that I think makes a lot of people upset - "Lemon Brains But We Still Love Them." The first paragraph of this chapter she states:
   
   "The enmeshment between dog owners and Walt Disney has been too tight to allow behaviorism in. We've been clinging to the wish that dogs might just have big, convoluted, melon brains like humans and have a natural desire to please. The fact of the matter is dogs have little, smoothish lemon brains and are looking out for number one. I personally still like them."
   
   It's an excellent chapter that goes on to explain how behaviors are taught. Much of what has been taught on dog training is false. For years dog owners have been told that when a dog does NOT do the command the dog is being dominant. The dog owner is then instructed to be "The Alpha" and apply appropriate force, setting up a negative situation between dog and owner. If we truly believe that the dog has a natural desire to please, then the dog should want to do it for us.
   
   On the other hand, if we take a realistic view and understand that as Jean states, `They are looking out for number one," we figure out what the proper motivation is to teach the dog to do the command.
   
   6. The final chapter finishes up with instructions on how to teach your dog obedience commands starting with kindergarten levels and working up to PhD levels.
   
   The relationship between dogs and humans is a long one. It's time that we stop expecting our dogs to think like us and learn to think like our dogs.
   
   Is it any reason that we have 56 million dog bites every year in the United States? The only way were going to make that number go down is to read books like Jean Donaldson's book, The Culture Clash.

5 comments about Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cows.

1. With just purchasing our acreage and trying to determine what animals to raise, this book helped tremendously. Alot of info on care and raising these animals.



2. Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cows Is the greatest informational book on learning about raising animals on the farm. It is easy to read with pictures and diagrams that are understandable for all ages. The book is a good size to handle, has margins for notes an excellent book, and a key source for anyone interested is having a few animals on the farm!



3. I read it cover to cover. We will be starting our little farm in 2009,
   so I have been collecting pertinent reference material. It REALLY spurred
   my enthusiasm for raising our own food.
   Now on to "Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game"...



4. This is a good book for those who are just starting out. "Barnyard in Your Backyard" gives good, practical information on how to raise several different types of animals. This book would be perfect for someone trying to decide which animals to raise and it guides you through each step based on the care, size requirements etc of each group. Each animal section covers health, breeds, uses, finances, and more. Excellent resource for the first-time farmer or wanna-be farmer. The book has lots of colorful photographs throughout. The author left out the care and raising of pigs.



5. "Barnyard in Your Backyard" is truly what it claims to be "A beginner's guide" to several species of livestock. Much of the information contained in it is definitely a good place to start if you're thinking about raising any of these breeds in your small or large lawn. While I've found similar information on several aspects of the individual species, it was nice to have them compiled into one "manual" and I thoroughly appreciated the special notes the author made about how these species might get along with each other in a domestic livestock situation, including beneficial and potentially detrimental aspects (such as increased disease risk). Even though it is transparent which species and breeds the author prefers, the information is quite adequate to help you determine what species and breeds you might appreciate. The references and resources provided in this book are excellent pointers to get more comprehensive information on any animal that you wish to research further.
   
   There were only two drawbacks to this book: 1) the assumption that only commercial rations were appropriate to feed your animals (and no references to more organic or free-range dietary resources); and 2) the conspicuous absence of pigs! I'm sure the pigs were left out because many jurisdictions do not allow pigs anywhere near civilization even though they are remarkably easy to care for - the poor pigs are so discriminated against! I was surprised to see such a large chapter on Cattle, since they do require a significant amount of land (not just the average suburban yard) but the information was good.
   
   If you've been thinking about getting livestock to supply some extra food or even a more aesthetic pleasure, this is a great start!

5 comments about The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty.

1. The author is to be commended for making this story so fascinating to read. What a treacherous family!



2. This book was disappointing, if only because with decent editing it would have been much more enjoyable to read. The author appeared to write this as a series of stories, rather than a single work of non-fiction, as evidenced by her insistence on re-identifying many major players and events throughout the story. And like many authors these days, tightening up the book by 75 pages or so would have trimmed the fat yet left the full flavor of a compelling saga.



3. This is a great book to read if you have interest in the Mondavi wine business. My interest was piqued after a recent trip to the Napa/Sonoma wine region and visiting the Opus Winery, amongst others. Mondavi is a legend in the California wine business and after reading Robert Mondavi's book entitled Harvests of Joy: How the Good Life Became Great Business I was further drawn to learn more about the family story. In Harvests of Joy: How the Good Life Became Great Business Robert Mondavi tells his side of the story but in this meticulously researched book the big picture is further explained and goes deep into the demise of the wine empire. The ins and outs of the busines, complete with sordid stories, success and faillures, makes this book an epic tale of a family in turmoil. The conflicts between the elder brothers, the Robert Mondavi heir brothers, Michael and Timothy is given an impartial reporting that is refreshing. The book does focus primarily on the fall of the Mondavi empire but it is done in such a way that the background information on the rise of the empire puts everything into perspective. The contributions to the wine industry cannot be denied and the author acknowledges the innovations and techniques the Mondavi family brought to making wine, as well as making Caifornia wine world renowned and mass consumed. The expansion of the business to other parts of the world is quite interesting. It is a tragic story in the end as big business takes over the Mondavi name but not before many years of drama, which Julia Flynn Siler so eloquently describes. If you are interested in the Mondavi story this book is without question the one to read. The book has two sets of pictures that put faces on the characters in this real life soap opera. It is a very satisfying read that leaves you thirsting for more every time you stop reading it. Check it out, highly recommended, especially if you are a wine enthusiast or a person involved in business.



4. THis is a great book about the early fine wine industry in California. The TV show "Falcon Crest" pales when compared to the real life story of the Mondavis. This book was a best-seller for a reason. Read it an enjoy.



5. An interesting in-depth review of a famous family, from success to downfall. This book navigates the ascendacy of this dynasty to the top of the California wine industry, hindered by the breakdown of personal relations and the final fiasco of the business. Sad, but fascinating.