biochem is far behind me, yet I have a strong desire to brush up on it, and I should add, that I'm detail oriented--therefore I need a detailled textbook. I've browsed Amazon for such books, but the wide array of them makes it a real hassle for me to pick one out--Ineed some help in picking one, given some are expensive, I want to make sure I pick a very good one--I don't mind shelling out some $$ as long as the book, is top-notch.
I'm convinced that among you all, some can guide me through buying one of the best, or who has gotten the most positive feedbacks. I ask because some books are obviously better than some others, in any given field.
Depends upon what your focus is. You can read some free Ray Peat newsletters that are interesting, blending theoretical and physiological issues. I got a book called The Molecular Basis of Human Disease a few years back for about $4 (used). Although there are a few bogus claims, they are the usual bogus claims. Peter Duesberg's Inventing the AIDS Virus is much more than about AIDS - he covers several issues, such as nutritional deficiency diseases, and he also talks in general terms, as if an overall framework for biology and biochemistry exists. In my upcoming book, I'm going to further simplify the issues, in order to present such a framework in an unambiguous form. If you find a really good book, please post the title and author here for those of us who are also looking for one.
one of the great standards i would recommend is "biochemistry" by Lubert Stryer, Jeremy Mark Berg, John L. Tymoczko
this is, in my opinion, one of the best written and most comprehensive biochemistry textbooks. Its not cheap, but it's well worth every cent of the money.
Glad to know that ! So far my choices are narrowed down to either Lubert Stryer, Jeremy Mark Berg, John L. Tymoczko, or Lehninger, which are the two author's names that come up the most--they appear to be the university standards. I thank you for your input.
"montygram" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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Depends upon what your focus is. You can read some free Ray Peat newsletters that are interesting, blending theoretical and physiological issues. I got a book called The Molecular Basis of Human Disease a few years back for about $4 (used). Although there are a few bogus claims, they are the usual bogus claims. Peter Duesberg's Inventing the AIDS Virus is much more than about AIDS - he covers several issues, such as nutritional deficiency diseases, and he also talks in general terms, as if an overall framework for biology and biochemistry exists. In my upcoming book, I'm going to further simplify the issues, in order to present such a framework in an unambiguous form. If you find a really good book, please post the title and author here for those of us who are also looking for one.
When I decide on one, I'll buy and then post my review of the book and numbering the up and downsides of it. My focus is on health, therefore towards disease prevention, maintencance of all boldily functions as well as organs etc... I could simply use the supplements that I have and continue having a healthy diet, yet I'm a detail freak, so I need to understand about ROS, singlet oxygen and the likes. These last are often mentioned in abstracts where they assees the safety of any given subtance.
There's also The Modern Nutritional Diseases or something like that, by Ottoboni and Ottoboni. I think you're missing the forest because the trees are getting in your way. I've read more than a few biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, etc. textbooks, as well as nutrition textbooks, and you really just get a bunch of facts, figures, formulae, etc., but not much common sense, and much of what they claim is not even supported by credible evidence! Did you read the reviews of Stryer's book on amazon? Sounds like a boring and useless book, unless you want to be a biochemistry professor.
to someone who just likes to quote a few pubmed papers, yes- it is useless. as is any chemical, medical or other scientific education.
opinions always depend on the one who is giving it. that i liked the book does not mean someone else will like it- but i at least read it before giving my opinion.
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etc., but not much common sense, and much of what they claim is not even supported by credible evidence!
On 29 Mar 2005 15:09:35 -0800, [email hidden] (mark boucher)
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Glad to know that ! So far my choices are narrowed down to either Lubert Stryer, Jeremy Mark Berg, John L. Tymoczko, or Lehninger, which are the two author's names that come up the most--they appear to be the university standards. I thank you for your input.
For biochemistry those are ok, but for nutrition, the book Modern Nutrition in Health and disease by Shils, Olsson & Shike is the bible. (Formerly edited by Shils &Young I think)
I'll admit to you that I'm after disease prevention the most. I like reading abstracts, however I at times have a hard time to what it is I read, so I thought a good biochem book would be of much help in this regard. I admit that most of them appear to be somewhat boring books, except a maybe one or two whose authors, can make the reading enjoyable.
When you say that what's in those books is not backed by solid evidence or something along that line, what I don't understand is ; how can they teach it in universities if it's not evidence backed ?
I may appear like arguing your point, but rather i'm trying to understand--you definately have a head start on me about science, I'm sure you can shed some light on it all--the points you have raised that is.
The oncogene stuff, but I'm not going to get into those kinds of debates here, because this is a nutrition NG. Did you read what the amazon critics wrote? They didn't write that about every biochemistry textbook, just this one and a few others.
Anyone who has read my posts knows that I've cited many, many books, but the books are based on the papers on pubmed. Or didn't you know that?
They teach "models" that, after the old scientists died out, became something more than models. In one molecular biology book I have, they talk about the "lipid bilayer" being held together by "weak forces," then they talk about the incredible shearing forces some cells must endure. This is physically impossible - a violation of the basic laws of phyics. Another example is that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for adult humans who don't want to, or can't get pregnant. Most people don't realize that this is based on a flawed study done in 1930 on rats, not humans (Burr & Burr). Go to google, search for "ray peat newsletter" or "raymond peat newsletter" and you'll get to ray peat's web site. Read some of his free newsletters. Read Gilbert Ling's "Life at the cell and below cell level." This is the place to start if you already have a little science background.
You've said this for years Alf, and I told you, probably a year ago, that after a few years avoiding dietary PUFAs, my cuts heal much better than ever, even deep ones. If what you say is true, I should be dead by now. And if the tiny amount of PUFAs in things like coconut oil is the only amount one needs, then there is no reason to tell anyone that they are essential. It would be like saying that you have to eat food with some amount of calories. My granparents do not eat any foods that contain omega 3s, and they are doing quite well, considering how "unhealthy" their diet supposedly is. They drink plenty of coffee and eat quite a bit of chocolate, which probably protects them from lipid peroxidation to a large degree (from the omega 6s they consume). If dietary PUFAs are essential is more than trace amounts, then where is the evidence? There is none, absolutely nothing, except a mountain of evidence showing how dangerous it is to have the prostanooid system, with arachidonic acid in the sn-2 position, functioning as the textbooks say it should. I now have the Mead acid in the sn-2 position, as well as cholesterol well over 200 (but not oxidized), and a low iron diet - that is the healtiest way to live, all other things being equal.
"Alf Christophersen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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On 29 Mar 2005 15:09:35 -0800, [email hidden] (mark boucher)
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Glad to know that ! So far my choices are narrowed down to either Lubert Stryer, Jeremy Mark Berg, John L. Tymoczko, or Lehninger, which are the two author's names that come up the most--they appear to be the university standards. I thank you for your input.
For biochemistry those are ok, but for nutrition, the book Modern Nutrition in Health and disease by Shils, Olsson & Shike is the bible. (Formerly edited by Shils &Young I think)
Shils book has grave faults. As with all nutrition texts it is rather more shallow than I'd like though not as bad as the other texts that are available. Further, it is has a strong propagandistic element that I consider to be unforgivable.
I also wanted to add that I'm not really interested in pure chemistry, but more about human biochem--though still biochemistry, it applies to the human body. Reading abstracts is fine by me, but I have to understand most of what I read, which is not the case right now, thus the need of a good biochem book, plus likely a physiological/anatomical textbook.
"mark boucher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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I also wanted to add that I'm not really interested in pure chemistry, but more about human biochem--though still biochemistry, it applies to the human body. Reading abstracts is fine by me, but I have to understand most of what I read, which is not the case right now, thus the need of a good biochem book, plus likely a physiological/anatomical textbook.
You are better off with a human physiology book that comprises anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. Basic biochemistry books deal in detail with the chemistry of biology such as enzyme kinetics. You will never find one single book that deals with everything you want to know. Sometimes you have to look in a book of histology. Sometimes a biochemistry book for nomenclature. Sometimes you need a book on human physiology that deals with hormones etc. There is no single good book but many small ones is the better way to go.
"Robert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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You are better off with a human physiology book that comprises anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. Basic biochemistry books deal in detail with the chemistry of biology such as enzyme kinetics. You will never find one single book that deals with everything you want to know. Sometimes you have to look in a book of histology. Sometimes a biochemistry book for nomenclature. Sometimes you need a book on human physiology that deals with hormones etc. There is no single good book but many small ones is the better way to go.
I totally agree with you--I've come to the same conclusion after talking to many people as well as from common sense and experience in other fields (I say other fields, as the same applies in any given field--that is, one needs many books to fill in each other's holes so to speak).
No kidding? Propaganda? I would have never guessed!
Seriously, these books are mostly garbage. Start with understanding the physical basis of life - Gilbert Ling's "Life at the cell and below cell level." If you get that, you'll be able to separate the nonsense from the reality better.
It has a chapter by Stephen Barrett and his now dead side kick Victor Herbert. Some of which is off topic.
Though it is the other articles that I find most disappointing as the various authors give only shallow overviews. If I was the editor the book would likely be four volumes and a CD.
My edition of Modern Nutrition is getting a little dated and is likely as old as Alf's copy. Note I am missing volume one.
"montygram" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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No kidding? Propaganda? I would have never guessed!
Seriously, these books are mostly garbage. Start with understanding the physical basis of life - Gilbert Ling's "Life at the cell and below cell level." If you get that, you'll be able to separate the nonsense from the reality better.
"montygram" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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Marc:
They teach "models" that, after the old scientists died out, became something more than models. In one molecular biology book I have, they talk about the "lipid bilayer" being held together by "weak forces," then they talk about the incredible shearing forces some cells must endure. This is physically impossible - a violation of the basic laws of phyics. Another example is that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for adult humans who don't want to, or can't get pregnant. Most people don't realize that this is based on a flawed study done in 1930 on rats, not humans (Burr & Burr). Go to google, search for "ray peat newsletter" or "raymond peat newsletter" and you'll get to ray peat's web site. Read some of his free newsletters. Read Gilbert Ling's "Life at the cell and below cell level." This is the place to start if you already have a little science background.
*Thanks Montygram, I'll do just that.*
I suggest you do a search on montygram (and/or monty) in this newsgroup first, and make up your own mind on how factually based his arguments are. Alternatively ask him to explain what the flaw is in the Burr & Burr study.
As for Biochemistry textbooks, Stryer is a standard textbook, but nothing special. Lehninger is IMO more user-friendly and readable, but one book I personally like is Principles of Medical Biochemistry, because it combines the molecular detail of biochemistry with the body scale effects of a physiology textbook. It has good coverage of diseases, as you might expect from the title, as well as nutrition. It's also cheaper. The only downside (depending on taste) is that the diagrams aren't multi-coloured, but they include things not often shown in other textbooks.
On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 16:46:03 +0100, MattLB <[email hidden]>
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one book I personally like is Principles of Medical Biochemistry, because it combines the molecular detail of biochemistry with the body scale effects of a physiology textbook. It has good coverage of
The books by Metzler is my big favorite. (Hm. When do I have money for an update?? Price is the bad side:-()
