Download Software.org

 

Biology Cliffs AP

5 stars (The Perfect Study Aid) - Cliffs AP is the perfect study aid for the AP Biology Exam. It covers all the material you need to know for the exam, at the level of specificity expected. At the end of each chapter there are questions that are similar to those you would encounter on the AP exam and an explanation given for each answer. Also possible essay questions from each section are given with a detailed summary of what information is important. If you know everthing in this book it is very easy to obtain a 5, just like I did. *Note that the exam has changed and there are 100 multiple choice questions and not 120 as mentioned in the guidebook. 5 stars (An absolutely amazing review.) - Just go and buy it. The other books in the contest aren't even worth talking about. If its in this book, it might be on the AP test. It's also a godly review for regular tests. 5 stars (Great AP Bio book-- Not just for review, but it can teach too) - This is a great AP Bio book--all the information is plainly laid out, along with practice questions at the end of each topic. It really helped on free-response. This book will help on SATII bio too--seriously. I just wish I had gotten this earlier in the year so I could have really studied everything more in-depth instead of just skimming (my class completely skipped plants and kingdoms), but I was still able to get a 5. I credit this book for that. ...
Cliffs Notes :: Study Aids & Advanced Placement :: Biology :: Life Sciences :: Science&Mathematics :: Life Sciences - Biology - General :: Examinations :: questions :: etc :: Examina :: Biology (Cliffs AP)

 

The Basic Practice of Statistics- Third Edition

1 stars (A jumble of deviations) - This book was poorly planned. To a student learning statistics, this book can be very confusing. Contrary to traditional textbooks with a review problems section at the end of each chapter, the problems in this book are intermingled throughout the chapter! Therefore meat of this book - explanations of concepts - gets disbursed over many pages. This makes it difficult to outline the important concepts for reviewing. Margins and empty spaces are cluttered with irrelevant photography and trivia, making it difficult to concentrate. Another annoyance is that the author stuffs "cursory information" that doesn't apply until later chapters. A person trying to grasp the main points is suddenly confronted with an incomplete and unfinished idea followed by a tiny footnote saying "you can skip this page until Chapter 22." It would be a great help if the author included more graphs and pictorial representations so that the reader can visualize the concepts. If this book is required for a class, you should get the most from the professor's lecture or else you're in serious trouble! 4 stars (A Decent Primer for Statistics) - Before you use this book, make sure you understand the author's purpose: "Although the book is elementary in the level of mathematics required and in the statistical procedures presented, it aims to give students both an understanding of the main ideas of statistics and useful skills for working with data" (Preface, pp xiv-xv). The key point here is "elementary in the level of mathematics required." Essentially, this is a math-lite version of statistics. With that in mind, the author did a decent job of passing on a working knowledge of statistics (I'll bet all the math in the book could fit on one 5x8 card). Also, the book has TONS of examples. I'd say that at least half of the text is just the author working through real-world examples. So, if you have trouble understanding the statistical concepts the author...
W H Freeman - Company :: Probability & statistics :: Science&Mathematics :: Probability & Statistics - General :: Mathematics :: David S Moore :: :: The Basic Practice of Statistics- Third Edition

 

Algebra -amp- Trigonometry 7th Edition

1 stars (Never read it, but...) - I'll admit, I have never looked at this book, but Michael Sullivan's other Trigonometry book is very bad. No specific exampels, vauge explanations. If this book is anything like his old one, dont get it!!! 1 stars (Buyer Beware) - The information listed in the "Product Details" section for this book is very misleading. As noted in the other comments, this book is the paperback Student Solutions Manual. It is NOT a hardcover book and the ISBN number is not ISBN: 0130914657 (as listed in the product detail section). This book may prove to be helpful but it was not the book I thought I ordered. 4 stars (Very Good Precalculus Reference) - With the sixth edition of this textbook, Sullivan has made significant strides since the fifth edition of the College Algebra portion. The interval notations used to indicate the regions where the value of a function is increasing or decreasing is so much more clear and concise. In contrast to the former use of frequently displaying number lines with pluses and minuses underneath, in which the readings of them were perhaps more of an exercise for the eyes than for the mind, Sullivan revised this mess using parentheses and brackets to indicate test intervals. As a teacher, I say that this is not the most user-friendly book for an instructor who teaches one hour college algebra classes three times a week. Oftentimes, for me to quickly get the fundamentals across, I have to paraphrase what Sullivan lays out in many of the sections. The language is often too theoretical for several of my students (Many are in non-technical majors but have to complete college algebra as a last mathematics course requirement), and I have to put the symbolic logic sequences into terms that can cross over to applied mathematics. This is not meant to be a criticism, however. Perhaps the main weaknesses lie in the shortcomings of applied problems, particularly in the sections concerning maxima and minima, and especially in th...
Prentice Hall :: Mathematics & Algebra & General :: Elementary geometry & trigonometry :: Trigonometry :: Science&Mathematics :: Mathematics :: Algebra - General :: Algebra :: M :: Algebra -amp- Trigonometry (7th Edition)

 

Essential Biology- Second Edition

5 stars (Depth and Accuracy) - Campbell and Reece are best known as the authors of the hefty and excellent "Biology", now in it's 6th edition used by undegraduate biology majors and AP Biology students. "Essential Biology" uses a different approach. The authors have packed a great deal into this amazingly small textbook. I recently reviewed a huge number of introductory biology texts for adoption in our school district. We use Campbell and Reece's Biology, 6th edition for our AP biology course but were looking for a textbook to use with our 9th grade honors biology students. After a lengthy comparison of textbooks we picked "Essential Biology" based on several things. First we found the book to be accurate, readable, and concise. We felt that it would give the students a depth of understanding in the core biological principles so that they would be ready when they moved on to AP biology later in their high school career. Instead of trying to "cover" everything under the biological sun, "Essential Biology" focuses on four core biological topics: cells, genetics, evolution, and ecology. It's 20 chapters are broken up into these 4 units and does a wonderful job of pulling it all together. Other textbooks certainly cover more material but with less depth. What is the use of having a huge textbook that the students either never finish or rush through with no real understanding? This is a textbook that the students can dig into and throughly understand during one course. It is supported by CD-ROM's and on-line material. The website provides activities, on-line labs, quizes, and other practice. Students can print out results or e-mail them to their teachers. I would recommend this text as one for use in a non-majors biology course or as an advanced high school biology introductory course. ...
Benjamin Cummings :: Science & Biology :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Life Sciences - Biology - General :: Eric J Simon :: Jane B Reece :: Neil A Campbell :: :: Essential Biology- Second Edition

 

Human Physiology - From Cells to Systems with CD-ROM and InfoTrac

2 stars (This is not the paperback edition of the textbook) - This book appears from amazon.com to be simply the paperback edition of the regular textbook, but it is not. Ordering this will get you a paperback "Study Guide" instead. The book is misrepresented or not clearly labeled on this site, and I suppose the phrase "5th sg" is supposed to be enough for us to tell what it is. Don't order this thinking that you will get a paperback edition of the textbook. 3 stars (Don't confuse the hardcover with the paperback) - One problem (maybe I'm just stupid): don't confuse the hardcover, which is the actual textbook itself, with the softcover, which is the supplemental answer key/review book. I bought the softcover thinking it was a cheaper, more flexible version of the 912 page text, which is cumbersome, and it's not. Maybe I'm just a lightweight at purchasing textbooks online. BB 5 stars (excellent text) - The text material is superbly organized and illustrated with great models, comprehensive tables, and wonderful photographs. It is a thorough work and, although not easy reading, explained about as clearly and completely as humanly possible. P.S. The review above does not seem to pertain to this book, but to a teacher's manual? ...
Brooks Cole :: Science & Human Physiology :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Physiological Processes :: Life Sciences - Human Anatomy & Physiology :: Life Sciences - General :: Human Physiology - From Cells to Systems (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac)

 

Technical Communication

5 stars (Owner's review) - This book is in awesome shape, I used it for an online course, so i have never carried in a book bag. No markings, and very very minimal corners bent. 5 stars (Interesting and real world scenarios) - I teach technical writing at a community college and frequently switched textbooks until I discovered Mike Markel's. It is well organized, gives 8 measures of excellence in technical writing that students quickly grasp, has very up-to-date scenarios that prompt critical reading and writing and the online quizzes and resources are the frosting on the cake. This book is a great tool for educators, students and absolutely anyone who wishes to write in a professional manner. 3 stars (Well written, over priced common sense.) - The information in the book as well as the scenarios presented are well put. The writing is adequate for the subject. Overall, though, I feel the cost of the book exceeded the value. Much of the information in the book is common sense. ...
Bedford-St Martin-s :: Language Arts & Disciplines & Composition & Creative Writing :: Telecommunications :: Technology :: Technical Writing :: Science&Mathematics :: Language Arts & :: Technical Communication

 

Astronomy- A Beginner-s Guide to the Universe- Fourth Edition

5 stars (good condition and speedy delivery) - item arrived in 2 days and was in perfect condition. completely satisfied. would recommend to others! 2 stars (Way too expensive for a paperback) - Attractive book but not a good value. All the information is available for free on the internet where it is periodically updated and can be referenced for free without wearing out. 5 stars (Astronomy Text Book) - Text book arrived in excellent condition (brand spankin' new) and in a timely manner (about 3 business days). I got a great deal too! No problems whatsoever. Thanks a bunch! ...
Prentice Hall :: Science & Physics :: Astronomy :: Space & Time :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Astronomy - General :: Astronomy (General) :: Astronomy :: Steve McMillan :: Eric Ch :: Astronomy- A Beginner-s Guide to the Universe- Fourth Edition

 

Intermediate Algebra with CD-ROM- Third Edition

1 stars (not great) - well like the title says it suppose to be hardcover, have a CD-ROM with it and be titled INtermediate Algebra... none of it applied... i didn't get the CD it was not hardcover and the book i got is called STUDENT COLUTIONS MANUAL for tussy and Gustafson's ELEMENTARY AND INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA! totally not the same freaking book.....! ...
Brooks Cole :: Mathematics & General :: Science&Mathematics :: Mathematics :: Algebra - Intermediate :: Algebra - General :: Algebra - Elementary :: Algebra :: R David Gustafson :: :: Intermediate Algebra with CD-ROM- Third Edition

 

Chemistry- An Introduction to General- Organic- and Biological Chemistry 8th Edition

5 stars (Great introduction to chemistry...) - this is an excellent introductory chemistry textbook.... it is great for the last year of highschool.. or for bridging from highschool to unviersity.. it isn't that deep enough for most first year chemistry courses... but reading through this book before OR while you are in ur first year course will greatly help you understand the material... because this book doesn't assume u know a lot about the subject already... cuz face it guys... nobody tries to remember stuff in highschool.. i personally just wanted to get it over with... therefore I forgot everything ...... but in university ur mentality changes.. u actually want to learn.. not just get 90 and get it over with.. that's why I bought this the summer before my classes started.. and went through it a little everyday... well my First Year class used Raymond Chang's CHemistry book (more advanced than this one) ... but I found it much easier, because I reviewed during the summer... and when I hit a topic that was hard.. i would reference this book.. read it.. then go back to Chang's and read the material... this helped a lot because this book assumes no previous knowledge.... so it's good for ppl like me.. for the few out there who actually cared in highschool.. and remember nething... this book is a waste.. because it isn't deep enough for first year chem courses (it is deep enough for non science major chem courses.. but not the hardcore first year general chem course) hope this helps 5 stars (Life saving personal tutor) - I recently took chemistry part II after not having chemistry for several years. This book was a life saver. I was able to pull many examples from it to guide me when I did my homework. Chemistry is tough enough by itself, but this book really helped. All the answers are there so you can test yourself on one part, and then see the answers with explinations on another part. Everything was easy to understand in this book. I highly recommend this...
Benjamin Cummings :: Science & Chemistry & Organic :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Chemistry - Organic :: Chemistry :: Karen C Timberlake :: :: Chemistry- An Introduction to General- Organic- and Biological Chemistry (8th Edition)

 

Quantitative Chemical Analysis- Sixth Edition

5 stars (Get Ready for Titrations!) - Quantitative Chemical Analysis is a text intended for the first semester of Analytical Chemistry, which is known as Quantitative Analysis at my school. It is a course that is usually required for chemistry, chemical engineering, and biochemistry majors, as well as chemistry minors. This course follows second semeter general chemistry and broadens on the topics covered in that course. It is heavily based on calculations, however the calculations do not require any mathematics beyond basic algebra but do require extensive use of the quadratic formula for equilibrium problems. The book is not visually very impressive because it is in black and white with orange highlights, but this is understandable considering the small market for a text like this one. Chapters 0 - 5 of the text cover introductory material like stoicmetry, error, and statistics, and probably will not be covered in class. Chapters 7 - 25 are the heart of the material for most Quant classes. These chapters can be grouped into a few categories: chemical equilibrium, titrations, electrochemistry, and instrumental techniques such as chromatography and spectrophotometry. The book treats these subjects well and devotes enough material to specific concepts to make the information clear to the reader. Many useful examples and problems are given, and the excellent solutions manuel contains detailed answers to ALL of the problems in the text book. Harris also gives several shortcuts for solving problems. In particular, his explanation of the streamline equation for titration problems was very useful and made these problems much less tedious. He also includes information about topics of interest to biochemistry, and features textboxes about the applications of analytical procedures. I'd say that this is a great text for analytical chemistry. The main problem with a first semester analytical chemistry class is not that the problems are very difficult, it is that they are V...
W H Freeman :: Science & Chemistry & Analytic :: Quantitative analytical chemistry :: Technology & Industrial Arts :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Quantitative :: Engineeri :: Quantitative Chemical Analysis- Sixth Edition

 

Organic Chemistry with Learning by Modeling CD-ROM

Organic Chemistry with Learning by Modeling CD-ROM ...
McGraw-Hill Science-Engineering-Math :: Science & Chemistry & Organic :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Chemistry - Organic :: Francis A Carey :: :: Organic Chemistry with Learning by Modeling CD-ROM

 

Organic Chemistry- Fourth Edition - Structure and Function

5 stars (The best book for chem majors) - After one term of having this book, I decided to become a chemist. It grabbed me really hard and made me realize the complexity and wonder of chemistry (something I hadn't experienced with freshman chem.) If you are a chemistry major, this is definitely the book you will want to use. If your prof is using a different text, I'd definitely keep a copy of this one to use as a second opinion, at least. It is extremely well-written and it's written at a high level. In other words, it doesn't just string you along and give you the basics... it delves deeply into reaction mechanisms and what is actually happening in each reaction. Product yields for many reactions are included, and this is quite useful. The writing style makes you learn a new way of thinking - that of a scientist. At times, the syntax is a little "brainy" (they refer to acetone by its IUPAC name, "propanone", for instance, and they refer to ethylene oxide as "oxacyclopropane".) I had an earlier version of this book in class when I took organic many years ago, but the revisions are mostly in presentation and in the problem sets. True, the problems in each chapter are not always good. If your instructor is good, they will provide their own problems to supplement the book's. But my suggestion is to go ahead and just do a web search for old exams and problems given by profs at other schools. Many of these are great and will give you tons of insight. For those who have already graduated, this is a good and up-to-date book to keep with you in your graduate studies or in the lab if you work in such a capacity. 5 stars (I Love Vollhardt) - After perusing several other texts at different colleges, I have come to the conclusion that the Vollhardt book is indeed a well done text. Although more examples would have been nice, I feel that the reactions are done in a straightforward manner and the Chemical Highlights provided are fantastically interesting. The Via...
W H Freeman :: Science & Chemistry & Organic :: Organic chemistry :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Chemistry :: Organic :: Chemistry - Organic :: Neil E Schore :: K Peter C V :: Organic Chemistry- Fourth Edition - Structure and Function

 

Biology - Life on Earth 7th Edition

2 stars (Book for high school, not worth the money) - This book goes into explaining Hardy-Weinberg principle and doesn't even have the equation for it! Nor does it mention two important words in the same chapter - dominant and recessive. If you want to look at pictures of animals and read over-simplified explanations then buy it. If your are looking for a scholarly book, then I would suggest to look elsewhere. 3 stars (Too much "fluff") - The major problem with this book is that there is so much unnecessary paragraphs which can just be said in a couple of sentences. This book is only good for those who have major trouble grasping the concepts and are in need of a mass amount of analogies and metaphors. If you are looking for a Biology book straight to the point, this is not for you; a better book is "Inquiry into Life" by Sylvia S. Mader. Once I read "Inquiry into Life," I found that "Biology: Life on Earth" was too drawn out. It is also not as detailed as I had expected it to be. 4 stars (An excellent introduction to biology!) - (Note: This review refers to the fifth edition of this book.) The authors of Biology: Life on Earth have written a beautiful, fairly comprehensive but not overwhelming introduction to the subject of biology. Although I have a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in botany and found the book to be straightforward and clear, it is written so well and in such an engaging and conversational style that it should also be straightforward and clear to anyone who is new to biology. The colorful photographs and detailed diagrams add to the beauty of the book. I also like the feel of the pages. Many introductory biology books nowadays are quite heavy and bulky, and there is so much information in them that it is sometimes hard to get the "big picture." But this particular book is able to get the main aspects of biology conveyed in a more compact size. ( Some biology textbooks can be upwards of 1200 or more pages long, but this book gets...
Prentice Hall :: Science & Biology :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Life Sciences - Biology - General :: Biology (General) :: Biology :: Bruce E Byers :: Teresa Audesirk :: Geral :: Biology - Life on Earth (7th Edition)

 

Human Biology - Concepts and Current Issues 3rd Edition

5 stars (All Of The Biology Of The Human Body) - This wonderful book gives the reader a comprehensive presentation of the biology of the workings of the human body. The book comes with a CD ROM inside the cover and a free registration number for the tutor center which offers the learner internet and telephone support. ...
Benjamin Cummings :: Science & Biology :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Physiology :: Medical & Nursing :: Life Sciences - Biology - General :: Human biology :: Michael D Johnson :: :: Human Biology - Concepts and Current Issues (3rd Edition)

 

Beginning Algebra 4th Edition

4 stars (Great student text) - This book supports students by offering examples that are clear and easy to understand. I enjoyed using this text as it offered students the opportunity to successfully solve challenging exercises. Math textbooks are extremely difficult to read and interpret. Martin-Gay took her book to a level of simplicity that most math texts simply don't have. 1 stars (Daylight robbery) - I had to have this course for my general education credits at OSU and this book sold for 86.00 USED (I emphasize USED and you'll read why later). Today when book buy-back was open, I was informed that they weren't buying back the 3rd edition because a new one was coming out for fall, the 4th edition. I have just looked thru the book and THERE IS NOTHING DIFFERENT BUT THE COVER. For this they can stop buying the old books and sell the new one for 100.00 or more NEW?? This is ridiculous; students have no choice but to buy their books for their classess. Then they are told they can't sell them back or if they can, they get the rock bottom price. All because publishers have to sell the newest and best thing of the moment. Just because they change the cover doesn't mean it gives license to jack up prices. Get real!! 1 stars (waste of $ and time) - This book was the required book for my college class. It is nothing short of pure torture. Thank God my professor is excellent!! The examples in this book are very hard to interpret and the problems are not much good either. Also, the answers to the chapter problems in the back of the book contain only the odd-numbered problems. Good luck! ...
Prentice Hall :: Mathematics & Algebra & General :: Science&Mathematics :: Mathematics :: Algebra - General :: Algebra - Elementary :: Algebra :: K Elayn Martin-Gay :: :: Beginning Algebra (4th Edition)

 

Chemistry - The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change

5 stars (My Story with Chemistry and Silberberg) - I am a chemistry major, that does not translate to "I like chemistry" but more along the lines that it was the only feasible premedical degree major. I never did chemistry in High School and suffered tremendously with the thought of majoring in a science that I was unfamiliar with. What if I hated it? What if I wasnt any good at it? these were questions that haunted me prior to starting my degree. When I did commence, I found textbooks to be very costly and wanted the best for my money. I realized that the price of a textbook does not make it good, nor the length of it. In saying so I started my chemistry studies with two books, one known as Basic Concepts of Chemistry by Malone, published by Wiley and the second was this. Chemistry the Molecular Nature of Matter and Change by Silberberg, published by Mcgraw Hill. The first book helped establish an understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry, it was an excellant transition from the layman's english into the scientific paradigm. However when one is doing undergraduate chemistry especially in a premedical degree, it ends up not only being a study but a competition. I found both these books to take me, an Individual who knew absolutely nothing about chemistry without any prior education in the science to someone who is now relaxed even with Organic Chemistry. My liking and my understanding of chemistry came directly from these two books. I still treasure them to this day and would suggest anyone in my position to get these books. I have seen and in detail read over 13 general chemistry books from Cheng to Atkins and even Zumdahl. I would deem these two (Malone and Silberberg) to be the best of all of them. However I do suggest that you peruse through various textbooks in a library prior to buying as an author's writing style matters a lot. Most people who have an issue with Silberberg see him as being too pleonastic however I would think that he gives substan...
McGraw-Hill Science-Engineering-Math :: Science & Chemistry & General :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Life Sciences - Biology - Molecular Biology :: Chemistry - General :: Martin Silberberg :: :: Chemistry - The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change

 

Bergey-s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology - Volume 2 Set- The Proteobacteria Bergey-s Manual of Sy

Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology : Volume 2 Set: The Proteobacteria (Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology 2nd Edition)...
Plenum US :: Science & Biology :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Life Sciences - Biology - Microbiology :: Life Sciences - Biology - General :: Life Sciences - Bacteriolo :: Bergey-s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology - Volume 2 Set- The Proteobacteria (Bergey-s Manual of Sy

 

Basic Technical Mathematics 8th Edition

Basic Technical Mathematics (8th Edition) ...
Addison Wesley :: Mathematics & General :: Science&Mathematics :: Mathematics :: General :: Algebra - General :: Allyn J Washington :: :: Basic Technical Mathematics (8th Edition)

 

Chemistry for Changing Times- 10th Edition

5 stars (Great for understanding all that is "Chemistry") - Chemistry can be interesting and it can be difficult to understand. This book addresses both of these areas quite well. This is a book that you study from, as well as read. For anyone who is preparing to take a Chemistry class, this book is well worth investigating, because this book, in its 20 Chapters, covers every principle, formula, idea, and topic that will be covered in class. My CHEM 100 course used this as our text, and we covered only half of the book (at a Community College in Maryland). I learned a lot from the course and from this book. I heartedly recommend it! For grandmom to read on your drive to DisneyWorld???? Oh, maybe not. Especially if she's driving. 4 stars (Best of the liberal arts texts) - There are two people that would be interested in this book - those that are enrolled in a liberal arts chemistry course, and those that are just interested in learning about chemistry. This book suits either type of person admirably. While setting up a liberal arts course in chemistry (i.e., Chemistry for Non-science Majors), we previewed a number of possible texts. This one, in my mind, stood above all the others that I looked at. There are a number of reasons why: 1. The scope - this book covers a vast number of topics, from basic structure of the atom to environmental chemistry to toxins and drugs to combustion and energy. We are designing a survey course, and this spread is ideal. Other texts tended to focus too much, especially on environmental issues (e.g., the ACS's Chemistry in Context). 2. Descriptive, non-mathmatical. Since this course has no prerequisites, not even grade 10 math, we needed a book that minimised mathematics. Other books, such as Kelter/Carr/Scott's Chemistry: World of Choices, was too mathematical for this type of course. 3. The pictures - this book simply looks good. Thus, if you're looking for a text for a liberal arts chemistry course, or i...
Prentice Hall :: Science & Chemistry & General :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Chemistry - General :: Chemistry (General) :: Chemistry :: Doris K Kolb :: Doris K Kolb :: John W :: Chemistry for Changing Times- 10th Edition

 

Horizons - Exploring the Universe with TheSky CD-ROM- Virtual Astronomy Labs- and InfoTrac

3 stars (So, so...) - The delivery time was very quick, that was good, and the price was great. The condition of the book was very used and they said it was like new. Other then that I guess it was O.K. 5 stars (Superb textbook - beautifully illustrated, clearly written!) - This is the Eighth Edition of a truly superb textbook for an introductory astronomy course, or for anyone (amateur astronomers?)who is looking for a great and beautifully illustrated general reference source on astronomy. I've been teaching intro astronomy for many years and keep my eye on all the textbooks. Aimed primarily at non-science majors, Seeds' book is a hum-dinger and really the best I see out there at this time. The author has a very clear and quite intertaining writing style, and each edition of the book is even more beautifully illustrated than the last. The artwork especially in the last two editions is simply super, and clearly illustrate many phenomena that students often have trouble with. This textbook covers every topic needed in a survey course from the nature of light, a bit of astronomy history and telescopes, properties and formation of stars and galaxies, the planets, and very current data on cosmology, dark matter, life in the universe and so on. Very up to date! Mike Seeds' book goes fairly easy on the math (although all important concepts are covered)compared to some other "intro astronomy" books. Overall, I find this book ideally suited to a survey course for non-science majors. For science majors or a textbook that might also be useful in somewhat higher level astronomy courses, I would recommend Kaufmann/Freeman's "Universe" as an excellent choice. Seeds' book is comprehensive and about 500 pages in length - similar to almost all intro astronomy textbooks. To a great extent, literally all these 500 page textbooks are way too lengthy for a one semester survey course. It is difficult to get students to read this much for each class. I keep hoping that Mike Seeds, a...
Brooks Cole :: Science & Astronomy :: Science&Mathematics :: Science :: Astronomy - General :: Astronomy :: Michael A Seeds :: :: Horizons - Exploring the Universe (with TheSky CD-ROM- Virtual Astronomy Labs- and InfoTrac)