Biology [with ConnectPlus Biology with LearnSmart Access Code]

by Peter H. Raven

Committed to Excellence. This edition continues the evolution of Raven & Johnson’s Biology. The author team is committed to continually improving the text, keeping the student and learning foremost. We have integrated new pedagogical features to guide the student through the learning process. This latest edition of the text maintains the clear, accessible, and engaging writing style of past editions with the solid framework of pedagogy that highlights an emphasis on evolution and scientific inquiry that have made this a leading textbook for students majoring in biology. This emphasis on the organizing power of evolution is combined with an integration of the importance of cellular, molecular biology and genomics to offer our readers a text that is student friendly and current.

Our author team is committed to producing the best possible text for both student and faculty. The lead author, Kenneth Mason, University of Iowa, has taught majors biology at three different major public universities for more than fifteen years. Jonathan Losos, Harvard University, is at the cutting edge of evolutionary biology research, and Susan Singer, Carleton College, has been involved in science education policy issues on a national level.

Genres: Science, Biology, Textbooks, Reference, School, Nonfiction, Biography

1279 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1942

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book with alot of details

[Chris Duval · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this was an okay text. I read it not for a course but to update my personal knowledge of the subject originally gained in the 1970s and only supplemented in a piecemeal fashion.

A problem: The authors/ editors do not seem to have a consistent view of their audience, which seems a problem for a textbook. Some parts of the book are moderately challenging, requiring one to bring to active use material learned in earlier chapters; this is particularly so in the coverage of biochemistry and cytology.

Another inconsistency, not unrelated to the first, is in the rigor of the science. For example, the chapters on ecology seemed more loosely reasoned then the book's earlier chapters. My retained knowledge gained from Scientific American articles and from economics showed up gaps in these chapters.

Finally the tone was inconsistent, ranging from dispassionately descriptive to preachy.

Minor point: the glossary needs expansion. It misses terms, not common outside the field, that are used in widely separated parts of the text.

[Alex Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable to read and has been a useful reference/refresher when needed. Very large quantity of information covered. Goes into a good amount of depth for an introductory textbook, but stopped before I felt bogged down or overwhelmed.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only gotten through the first portion of this book, using it as teaching material, so take my rating and review with a grain of salt. I'm finished with it for the foreseeable future though so marking as complete. This is a very comprehensive and detailed biology text that does a fantastic job of laying out intro information and then going one step further into that subject's processes. It might be a bit too detailed for someone's first glimpse at these subjects, but is ideal for someone who has had an intro and wants a bit more, or someone revisiting these subjects after a long break away from the material to keep it interesting.

[Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-read/use:
I thought the previous edition of this book was pretty good. I think this book should be largely similar to the previous edition, but with some better instructor resources. I'm going to ask my students to rate it at the end of the semester and I'll post their rating here with my review.

Post-read/use:
Still good. Not as many updates as I thought there would be. The publisher caught me on this one.

[Modboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic textbook that explains biology in terms of time, energy, evolution, behaviour and ecosystem. The scope is utterly amazing. A good teacher should be able to take this book and show how life scales from the single-cell to the biosphere for each of the many physiological processes we depend on.

[Munkhbat Itgel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best in my opinion for high schooler or college student

[Haresh Kumar]

i wants to read because it is interesting books

[Kalman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read every word of an earlier edition of this book at least three times.

[Jennifer Pennell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really comprehensive. It covered a lot of different areas of study in biology. I used it for two classes and have read just about all of it. The graphics are helpful in explaining concepts. I liked that there were quizzes at the end of each chapter with answers in the back of the book. The topics were explained in such a way that somebody new to biology or someone who hasn't studied it in a long time (like myself) can understand it. The book also goes in depth on many topics so even someone versed in this field of study will be able to learn something.

[Cara · Rating 1 out of 5]

cannot wait to read a non biology text book. haha

[Laura Petto]

Finals. Ugh. Ugh again.

[Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff for everyone here. Too much fun. Again, McGraw-Hill did an excellent job with the teaching/learning resources that accompany this text.

[Kathely · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading for Ecology is finished...two classes, 1 paper, and 1 final to go!

[Mimiue · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

[Sohey · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to download this book how i can download it

[Maqsood]

i think this book.....

[Cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a tear causing book so many tears shed

April 12th 2025:
Just because I had to read it again doesn’t change my opinion

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to buy for biology class. Reads like a textbook but I still enjoyed reading it. Definitely keeping for my library