levitybooks's review
5.0
In my opinion, having studied MSci Neuroscience and now being a PhD student, this is the best general neuroscience textbook for undergraduate/graduate neuroscience students.
That said, while it excels for molecular neurobiology and systems neuroscience, it is weaker at computational, cellular and behavioural neuroscience. I think it beats Kandel in its content layout and structure: Kandel reads like an electronic manual with little emphasis on what is functionally important detail and also lacks in wide level reflection. If you want a directory of neuroscience facts get Kandel, if you want a more coherent understanding of important concepts and where they might lead get this.
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One can never really be 'done' with a science textbook insofar as they become outdated by the time you finish them and you forget what you read at the beginning by the time you have reached the end.
But I felt like reviewing this in case someone actually came on GoodReads looking for textbook recommendations. Ultimately, if you are good at science, you will rarely if ever need to buy a textbook, as you needn't use it after the first year as your work will become more dependent on original research (readin papers). This is because one cannot really be critical of textbook information without consulting the original source information, and part of the point of science education is to demonstrate ways in which you can perceive and pursue your own scepticism of knowledge.
That said, while it excels for molecular neurobiology and systems neuroscience, it is weaker at computational, cellular and behavioural neuroscience. I think it beats Kandel in its content layout and structure: Kandel reads like an electronic manual with little emphasis on what is functionally important detail and also lacks in wide level reflection. If you want a directory of neuroscience facts get Kandel, if you want a more coherent understanding of important concepts and where they might lead get this.
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One can never really be 'done' with a science textbook insofar as they become outdated by the time you finish them and you forget what you read at the beginning by the time you have reached the end.
But I felt like reviewing this in case someone actually came on GoodReads looking for textbook recommendations. Ultimately, if you are good at science, you will rarely if ever need to buy a textbook, as you needn't use it after the first year as your work will become more dependent on original research (readin papers). This is because one cannot really be critical of textbook information without consulting the original source information, and part of the point of science education is to demonstrate ways in which you can perceive and pursue your own scepticism of knowledge.
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