Microbial Physiology, 4th Edition

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 736 pages
• Published by: Wiley-Liss
• Edition: 4th Edition July 8, 2002
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0471394831
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0471394839
• Book Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 1.4 inches
• Weighs: 2.8 pounds

Product Review
"…a useful addition to the library of any teach or researcher in microbiology." (Biomolecular Engineering, March 2003)

"expanded and reorganized based upon the rapid growth in the field since the last editionhighly recommended" (E-Streams, Vol.5, No. 12, December 2002)

"Microbial Physiology (4th ed.) by Moat, Foster, and Spector is much improved compared to previous editions. The graphics in particular are vastly enhanced, making this a very useful book." (ASM News)

"expanded and reorganized based upon the rapid growth in the field since the last editionhighly recommended" -- E-Streams, Vol.5, No. 12, December 2002

Product Review
"[Microbial Physiology, Fourth Edition] is the best available text in the field today and a must for any microbiologist needing an up-to-date knowledge of the Biochemistry and molecular biology of metabolism in microorganisms. I recommend it highly!" —Alan D. Antoine, Ph.D., Dept. of Biochemistry & Microbiology, Rutgers University

"[Microbial Physiology, Fourth Edition] will be welcomed as a book for teaching at several levels, and as a handbook for reasearchers in various fields of microbial physiology." —Arthur L. Koch, Biology Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Reader Reviews
While somethat this is the best text for the field, I reply that the best just isn't good enough. I have just finished an upper-division undergraduate course entitled Metabolism and Biochemistry of Microorganisms, for which nearly all chapters of this 700-page text were prescribed. As a fourth year Cell and Molecular Biology major, I have encountered several texts written on the 'hard' sciences and I must say, this is - without question - the absolute worst text I have come across thus far. No other text comes to mind that even comes close to such poor quality as Microbial Physiology (4th edition - Moat/Foster/Spector). First, and most importantly, the chapters are LACED WITH ERRORS! My professor for the course is an extremely knowledgeable microbiologist, and he pointed out several errors each week in lecture. Some errors are blatant, others more obscure, but the editors of this text owe it another go (or two, or three). Second, the text is poorly written. One sentence and the next often have nothing in common, paragraphs don't use introductory or conclusion sentences, and sentences are very blunt and rarely elaborate for clarity. This is a fourth edition, but it reads like a (very rough) first draft. The often captionless figures and tables are sparse, confusing, and look as though they were drafted with early editions of MS Word - generally next to useless. I suggest a flip through the pages before making a purchase - you'll see what I mean. Additionally, images are of low resolution and sparse as well. Not a spot of color can be found in this text, save the paperback cover. Final thoughts: The content might be here (when accurate), but the presentation renders it more of a chore than a tool. If this really is the definitive text on Microbial Physiology, you'd probably be better off combining two or more related texts that are of higher caliber. Or, just ask the PI down the hall. This goes without saying, but this text held a temporary place in my library. For these efforts, I award Microbial Physiology with the Toilet Bowl Award.