Textbook of Biochemistry. Uy I h w . 1 ~SYAUS~YUS ~ WEST, \~ILTJE:RT R. T O D D , I - T O ~ A R DR. lI.isol\., and JOEINT. V.\N ~ { R U G G E N , 1:riiversity of Oregoti. 4th ell. The Alacmillaii Conipaiiy, Yew York, N. Y. 1966. xiv $. 1595 pp. 24 X IS cm. The sheer physical size and weight of t,liis textllouk for medical or students of biochemistry, eniphahizes the volunie of inforIn:tt,ioti such btudenls are supposed t,o acquire. AIost, of them will not be able t'o cope Rith t.his explosively expanding field in one academic year, but they will retain their test book as a reference volume. If they wish t,o read t.he present t~est, most profitably, they will have to he aell-grounded in physical chemistry. Such topics as bioenergetic., based on the experimeiit.al basis of energy concepts as applied to biology, arid the chapters on protein struchre, synt,hesia, and function can no longer be I,reatr:d in a qualitative way. Likes-iqe, a very strong and modern Iiackground in organic chemistry will be needed to appreciate t hr? uiiderstanding of t,he structures, functioiis, mid reactions of !,he innumerable hormones, vitamins, fat,ty acids, steroids, ei.c*. which lie in the mainstream of biochemical interest. Evcii though the first-year medical student i.; 1nuc.h bet ter prepared than his older cousin was 10 year8 ago, he will not find it easy t u understand fully this test, book. Graduate studerits in biocheinistry who are more dedicat,ed to one subject and whose preparation includes more chemistry courses, will find this book more to their liking. Each chapter contain> estensive general :inti sperific reading references, aud this feature again will b~ most useful to the serious reader who r v a n t , ~to follow-up iii morv c1et:til on :I particular topic. Siiicc> the t,itnr has now mnie I I I -unimarize and cornmelit critically on m facet,.: of intermediary Inc+tbolisrn, even :I chemist. familiar w these field; will e,iijo>, :I comprehensive xnd understandable review of t.hew are:i.. 'l%? niolecular biologist arid medicinal chemist will get from thi. tost many up-to-date fact,s arid iiiterpretalioii* t,liat will help hiiii (,o formulat,e thought8s along t,he weakening interdiiciplinary Imuiidaries spanned by biochemistry. S I uilents,
