-
Biology: The Science of Life
- Narrated by: Stephen Nowicki
- Series: The Great Courses: Biology
- Length: 36 hrs and 38 mins
- Lecture
- Categories: Science & Engineering, Science
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $59.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Origins of Life
- By: Robert M. Hazen, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert M. Hazen
- Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Four billion years ago, the infant Earth was a seething cauldron of erupting volcanoes, raining meteors, and hot noxious gases, totally devoid of life. But a relatively short time later-only 100 million to 200 million years-the planet was teeming with primitive organisms.What happened? Now you can find out-in a series of 24 vibrant lectures from a leader of the NASA-supported team studying the origins of life in the universe and also one of the nation's foremost science educators.
-
-
An Excellent Lecture of Life's Origins
- By Kevin on 07-06-15
By: Robert M. Hazen, and others
-
Chemistry and Our Universe
- How It All Works
- By: Ron B. Davis, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ron B. Davis
- Length: 30 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chemistry and Our Universe: How It All Works is your in-depth introduction to this vital field, taught through 60 engaging half-hour lectures that are suitable for any background or none at all. Covering a year’s worth of introductory general chemistry at the college level, plus intriguing topics that are rarely discussed in the classroom, this amazingly comprehensive course requires nothing more advanced than high-school math. Your guide is Professor Ron B. Davis, Jr., a research chemist and award-winning teacher at Georgetown University.
-
-
Great Companion to the Video Course
- By Kevin K. Owens on 12-08-19
By: Ron B. Davis, and others
-
Plant Science: An Introduction to Botany
- By: Catherine Kleier, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Catherine Kleier
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dr. Catherine Kleier invites us to open our eyes to the phenomenal world of plant life and to the process she calls “Natura Revelata”, the joy of celebrating and learning from the secrets of nature. As Dr. Kleier shares her knowledge with contagious excitement for her subject, she emphasizes the middle ground: Instead of focusing on cell microbiology or the study of ecosystems and habitats, she stresses the basic biology, function, and the amazing adaptations of the plants we see all around us.
-
-
Needs accompanying documentation and visual aides
- By Ryan on 04-04-19
By: Catherine Kleier, and others
-
How the Earth Works
- By: Michael E. Wysession, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Michael E. Wysession
- Length: 24 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How the Earth Works takes you on an astonishing journey through time and space. In 48 lectures, you will look at what went into making our planet - from the big bang, to the formation of the solar system, to the subsequent evolution of Earth.
-
-
Excellent course
- By Doug B. on 05-23-19
By: Michael E. Wysession, and others
-
Neuroscience of Everyday Life
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Sam Wang
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Your nervous system is you. All the thoughts, perceptions, moods, passions, and dreams that make you an active, sentient being are the work of this amazing network of cells. For many centuries, people knew this was true. But no one was sure how it happened. Now, thanks to the exciting new field of neuroscience, we can chart the workings of the brain and the rest of the nervous system in remarkable detail to explain how neurons, synapses, neurotransmitters, and other biological processes produce all the experiences of everyday life, in every stage of life.
-
-
Release date!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-03-19
-
Medical School for Everyone
- Grand Rounds Cases
- By: Roy Benaroch, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Roy Benaroch
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There's an art and science behind how doctors diagnose and treat medical patients. Where do doctors get these skills? The Grand Rounds experience, where they practice how to make accurate diagnoses by examining real patients. And with Dr. Benaroch's 24 unique lectures, you'll explore how a master physician solves medical problems just like a detective.
-
-
Patients' Guide to Empowerment
- By Debbie on 06-16-14
By: Roy Benaroch, and others
-
Origins of Life
- By: Robert M. Hazen, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert M. Hazen
- Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Four billion years ago, the infant Earth was a seething cauldron of erupting volcanoes, raining meteors, and hot noxious gases, totally devoid of life. But a relatively short time later-only 100 million to 200 million years-the planet was teeming with primitive organisms.What happened? Now you can find out-in a series of 24 vibrant lectures from a leader of the NASA-supported team studying the origins of life in the universe and also one of the nation's foremost science educators.
-
-
An Excellent Lecture of Life's Origins
- By Kevin on 07-06-15
By: Robert M. Hazen, and others
-
Chemistry and Our Universe
- How It All Works
- By: Ron B. Davis, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ron B. Davis
- Length: 30 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chemistry and Our Universe: How It All Works is your in-depth introduction to this vital field, taught through 60 engaging half-hour lectures that are suitable for any background or none at all. Covering a year’s worth of introductory general chemistry at the college level, plus intriguing topics that are rarely discussed in the classroom, this amazingly comprehensive course requires nothing more advanced than high-school math. Your guide is Professor Ron B. Davis, Jr., a research chemist and award-winning teacher at Georgetown University.
-
-
Great Companion to the Video Course
- By Kevin K. Owens on 12-08-19
By: Ron B. Davis, and others
-
Plant Science: An Introduction to Botany
- By: Catherine Kleier, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Catherine Kleier
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dr. Catherine Kleier invites us to open our eyes to the phenomenal world of plant life and to the process she calls “Natura Revelata”, the joy of celebrating and learning from the secrets of nature. As Dr. Kleier shares her knowledge with contagious excitement for her subject, she emphasizes the middle ground: Instead of focusing on cell microbiology or the study of ecosystems and habitats, she stresses the basic biology, function, and the amazing adaptations of the plants we see all around us.
-
-
Needs accompanying documentation and visual aides
- By Ryan on 04-04-19
By: Catherine Kleier, and others
-
How the Earth Works
- By: Michael E. Wysession, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Michael E. Wysession
- Length: 24 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How the Earth Works takes you on an astonishing journey through time and space. In 48 lectures, you will look at what went into making our planet - from the big bang, to the formation of the solar system, to the subsequent evolution of Earth.
-
-
Excellent course
- By Doug B. on 05-23-19
By: Michael E. Wysession, and others
-
Neuroscience of Everyday Life
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Sam Wang
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Your nervous system is you. All the thoughts, perceptions, moods, passions, and dreams that make you an active, sentient being are the work of this amazing network of cells. For many centuries, people knew this was true. But no one was sure how it happened. Now, thanks to the exciting new field of neuroscience, we can chart the workings of the brain and the rest of the nervous system in remarkable detail to explain how neurons, synapses, neurotransmitters, and other biological processes produce all the experiences of everyday life, in every stage of life.
-
-
Release date!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-03-19
-
Medical School for Everyone
- Grand Rounds Cases
- By: Roy Benaroch, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Roy Benaroch
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There's an art and science behind how doctors diagnose and treat medical patients. Where do doctors get these skills? The Grand Rounds experience, where they practice how to make accurate diagnoses by examining real patients. And with Dr. Benaroch's 24 unique lectures, you'll explore how a master physician solves medical problems just like a detective.
-
-
Patients' Guide to Empowerment
- By Debbie on 06-16-14
By: Roy Benaroch, and others
-
The Evidence for Modern Physics
- How We Know What We Know
- By: Professor Don Lincoln, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Don Lincoln
- Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this 24-lesson course aimed at non-scientists, noted particle physicist Dr. Don Lincoln of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory covers more than a century of progress in physics, describing exactly how scientists reach the conclusions they do. He starts with the atom, which was long hypothesized but wasn’t definitively proven until a paper by Albert Einstein in 1905. That was just the beginning, as researchers probed ever deeper into the atom’s complex structure, leading to the weird findings of quantum mechanics.
-
-
Strongly Recommend for Everyone
- By Liam Ackerman on 05-23-21
By: Professor Don Lincoln, and others
-
The Origin and Evolution of Earth
- From the Big Bang to the Future of Human Existence
- By: Robert M. Hazen, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert M. Hazen
- Length: 25 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This course chronicles the history of Earth and life on Earth from the point of view of the minerals that made it all happen. A major theme is how minerals and life coevolved, leading to the unprecedented mineral diversity on our world compared to the other planets in the solar system. Professor Hazen tells this epic story in 48 action-packed lectures that take you from the big bang to the formation of the solar system to the major milestones that marked the evolution of Earth and life.
-
-
"I know geology!"
- By Aslak on 07-24-16
By: Robert M. Hazen, and others
-
Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos
- By: Steven Pollock, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Pollock
- Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Would you like to know how the universe works? Scientists have been asking that question for a long time and have found that many of the answers can be found in the study of particle physics, the field that focuses on those impossibly tiny particles with unbelievably strange names - the hadrons and leptons, baryons and mesons, muons and gluons - so mystifying to the rest of us.
-
-
Demystifies particles
- By Gary on 05-19-15
By: Steven Pollock, and others
-
Thermodynamics: Four Laws That Move the Universe
- By: Jeffrey C. Grossman, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jeffrey C. Grossman
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nothing has had a more profound impact on the development of modern civilization than thermodynamics. Thermodynamic processes are at the heart of everything that involves heat, energy, and work, making an understanding of the subject indispensable for careers in engineering, physical science, biology, meteorology, and even nutrition and culinary arts. Get an in-depth tour of this vital and fascinating science in 24 enthralling lectures suitable for everyone from science novices to experts who wish to review elementary concepts and formulas.
-
-
This is good but.....
- By Bookish Me on 02-03-19
By: Jeffrey C. Grossman, and others
-
Zoology: Understanding the Animal World
- By: Donald E. Moore, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Donald E. Moore III
- Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In these 24 lectures, The Great Courses teams up with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, to take you behind the scenes of the animal world. Dr. Moore has crafted a wonderful introduction to zoology that brings you up close and personal with a breathtaking variety of animal species through the eyes of a trained zoologist.
-
-
America Centric
- By Joe van Rensburg on 04-28-20
By: Donald E. Moore, and others
-
Law School for Everyone
- By: The Great Courses, Edward K. Cheng, Joseph L. Hoffmann, and others
- Narrated by: Edward K. Cheng, Joseph L. Hoffmann, Molly Bishop Shadel, and others
- Length: 25 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the span of 48 lectures, four experienced lawyers and teachers recreate key parts of the first-year law student experience, introducing you to main areas of law most every beginning student studies. Enriched with famous cases from the annals of American law and powerful arguments by some of history's most successful lawyers, these lectures offer access to an often intimidating, surprisingly accessible, and civically important field.
-
-
What Law School Should have been like!
- By Laser on 04-15-18
By: The Great Courses, and others
-
Your Best Brain: The Science of Brain Improvement
- By: John Medina, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John Medina
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Your Best Brain, Professor John J. Medina - an award-winning scientist, New York Times best-selling author, and leading advocate for brain research - delivers 24 exciting lectures that probe the origins of consciousness, memory, emotion, attention, intelligence, and beyond. He focuses on five key areas of study in neuroscience: the brain’s physical structure and function, and how it enabled us to become the planet’s apex predator.
-
-
Beautifully Clear and Entertaining
- By Charles on 07-22-15
By: John Medina, and others
-
A Short History of Nearly Everything
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Richard Matthews
- Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bill Bryson has been an enormously popular author both for his travel books and for his books on the English language. Now, this beloved comic genius turns his attention to science. Although he doesn't know anything about the subject (at first), he is eager to learn, and takes information that he gets from the world's leading experts and explains it to us in a way that makes it exciting and relevant.
-
-
A complete breakfast
- By Julia on 07-25-05
By: Bill Bryson
-
The Science of Energy
- Resources and Power Explained
- By: Michael E. Wysession, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Michael E. Wysession
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To better put into perspective the various issues surrounding energy in the 21st century, you need to understand the essential science behind how energy works. And you need a reliable source whose focus is on giving you the facts you need to form your own educated opinions.
-
-
Great Course on Energy
- By Bruce A. Nelson on 07-17-17
By: Michael E. Wysession, and others
-
Big History: The Big Bang, Life on Earth, and the Rise of Humanity
- By: David Christian, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David Christian
- Length: 24 hrs and 26 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How is it possible for the disciplines of cosmology, geology, anthropology, biology, and history to fit together? These 48 lectures answer that question by weaving a single story from accounts of the past developed by a variety of scholarly disciplines. The result is a story stretching from the origins of the universe to the present day and beyond, in which human history is seen as part of the history of our Earth and biosphere, and the Earth's history, in turn, is seen as part of the history of the universe.
-
-
A History Course Like None You've Ever Taken
- By Tommy D'Angelo on 02-05-17
By: David Christian, and others
-
The Learning Brain
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Thad A. Polk PhD Carnegie Mellon University
- Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most complicated and advanced computers on Earth can't be purchased in any store. This astonishing device, responsible for storing and retrieving vast quantities of information that can be accessed at a moment's notice, is the human brain. How does such a dynamic and powerful machine make memories, learn a language, and remember how to drive a car? What habits can we adopt in order to learn more effectively throughout our lives? The answers to these questions are merely the tip of the iceberg in The Learning Brain.
-
-
A good choice for learning how to learn
- By Kindle Customer on 07-23-20
-
The History of the United States, 2nd Edition
- By: The Great Courses, Allen C. Guelzo, Gary W. Gallagher, and others
- Narrated by: Allen C. Guelzo, Gary W. Gallagher, Patrick N. Allitt
- Length: 43 hrs and 23 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This comprehensive series of 84 lectures features three award-winning historians sharing their insights into this nation's past-from the European settlement and the Revolutionary War through the Civil War, 19th-century industrialization, two world wars, and the present day. These lectures give you the opportunity to grasp the different aspects of our past that combine to make us distinctly American, and to gain the knowledge so essential to recognizing not only what makes this country such a noteworthy part of world history, but the varying degrees to which it has lived up to its ideals.
-
-
Hard to be fair with three different providers.
- By RockyToTheMoon on 06-24-19
By: The Great Courses, and others
Publisher's Summary
One of the greatest scientific feats of our era is the astonishing progress made in understanding biology-the intricate machinery of life-a progress to which the period we are living in right now has contributed the most.
As you read these words, researchers are delving ever deeper into the workings of living systems, turning their discoveries into new medical treatments, improved methods of growing food, and innovative products that are already changing the world.
The 72 lectures in this comprehensive exploration of living systems at all levels-from biological molecules to global ecosystems-will give you all the information you need to grasp this fascinating field and its impact on both our own lives and our understanding of the life that surrounds us.
Professor Nowicki presents his subject in a conceptual format, emphasizing the importance of broad principles. Though facts and details are offered in abundance, it is always in the context of developing a context listeners can readily absorb.
Your newfound mastery of the fundamentals of biology will serve you in many ways-whether you want to read the headlines with greater insight, update a subject you studied long ago, view the natural world with new appreciation, become a better-informed voter and consumer, or gain the intellectual stimulation of understanding the basic principles that unite all living things.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
What listeners say about Biology: The Science of Life
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Patricia
- 04-25-14
Great purchase even for a bio major!
Any additional comments?
I am using this audiobook to review some of the concepts I learned during my time as a Biological Sciences major. Although I am already familiar with most of the material being covered, I have been using this audiobook to review for the MCAT. I would totally recommend this to anyone looking for an easy way to review major concepts. He does an excellent job of describing mechanisms and processes in a way that is easy to comprehend. I typically listen to this while driving or on the bus. However, I should mention that this may not be an easy listen for someone who has never taken an introductory biology course at the university level. For those people, I would suggest getting a general biology book containing related figures and diagrams or better yet getting the video version of these lectures because it may be difficult to visualize certain processes just by his description.
113 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kimberly
- 03-08-16
PDF images in black & white
Any additional comments?
Colorful images are a powerful tool to learn many scientific concepts, and help to retain information. Audio-only is rather difficult for so much information; thus, the workbook. The images were clearly created in color but converted to black & white for the PDF, diminishing the value considerably. Of course, the book cover on the PDF is in color, just nothing else. I will now need to search the web for each concept, where the book includes images, for a better learning experience. How very disappointing,
62 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Linnie Kate Schmidt
- 02-16-14
Engaging and Edifying
If you could sum up Biology: The Science of Life in three words, what would they be?
Science is awesome
What about Professor Stephen Nowicki’s performance did you like?
This could be terribly dry material in other hands, but Nowicki is a very good speaker, and makes things seem alive.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, I'm listening to it on daily walks. Today I listened to the episodes about the discovery of DNA, however, and it was so gripping I walked an extra half mile to get to the end.
Any additional comments?
This is really helping me with the biology class I'm taking. Everything is explained thoroughly, but Nowicki doesn't get bogged down with details that aren't pertinent at the moment. I've been recommending this series very highly to my classmates!
25 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kristi R.
- 06-22-16
Great Overview of Biology the Science of Life!
“A great and growing volume of facts about life as it goes on about us
and within us becomes available for practical application … [But] this
new material is still imperfectly accessible to ordinary busy people.” H.G. Wells in The Science of Life.
1 The Scope of "Life"
2 More on the Origin of Life
3 The Organism and the Cell
4 Proteins—How Things Get Done in the Cell
5 Which Molecule Holds the Code?
6 The Double Helix
7 The Nuts and Bolts of Replicating DNA
8 The Central Dogma
9 The Genetic Code
10 From DNA to RNA
11 From RNA to Protein
12 When Mistakes Happen
13 Dividing DNA Between Dividing Cells
14 Mendel and His Pea Plants
15 How Sex Leads to Variation
16 Genes and Chromosomes
17 Charles Darwin and "The Origin of Species"
18 Natural Selection in Action
19 Reconciling Darwin and Mendel
20 Mechanisms of Evolutionary Change
21 What Are Species and How Do New Ones Arise?
22 More on the Origin of New Species
23 Reconstructing Evolution
24 The History of Life, Revisited
25 From Cells to Organisms
26 Control of Gene Expression I
27 Control of Gene Expression II
28 Getting Proteins to the Right Place
29 Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
30 How Cells Talk—Signals and Receptors
31 How Cells Talk—Ways That Cells Respond
32 From One Cell to Many in an Organism
33 Patterns of Early Development
34 Determination and Differentiation
35 Induction and Pattern Formation
36 Genes and Development
37 Homeostasis
38 Hormones in Animals
39 What is Special about Neurons?
40 Action Potentials and Synapses
41 Synaptic Integration and Memory
42 Sensory Function
43 How Muscles Work
44 The Innate Immune System
45 The Acquired Immune System
46 Form and Function in Plants I
47 Form and Function in Plants II
48 Behavior as an Adaptive Trait
49 Energy and Resources in Living Systems
50 How Energy is Harnessed by Cells
51 Enzymes—Making Chemistry Work in Cells
52 Cellular Currencies of Energy
53 Making ATP—Glycolysis
54 Making ATP—Cellular Respiration
55 Making ATP—The Chemiosmotic Theory
56 Capturing Energy from Sunlight
57 The Reactions of Photosynthesis
58 Resources and Life Histories
59 The Structure of Populations
60 Population Growth
61 What Limits Population Growth?
62 Costs and Benefits of Behavior
63 Altruism and Mate Selection
64 Ecological Interactions Among Species
65 Predators and Competitors
66 Competition and the Ecological Niche
67 Energy in Ecosystems
68 Nutrients in Ecosystems
69 How Predictable Are Ecological Communities?
70 Biogeography
71 Human Population Growth
72 The Human Asteroid
Professor Nowicki of Duke University starts out his first lecture with this quote from 75 years ago. He wants to make Biology more accessible to ordinary people also and that is what this course is. I have to be honest and say this was the toughest course I have taken yet in the Great Courses I own. There are a total of 72 thirty-minute lectures and a 460-page book that also comes with the course to get through. I probably retained about a third of what the Professor was teaching and will definitely listen to this again and again until I can absorb it all.
What I really loved about this book was the in depth study of how life begins, what each part of a living being does and how it is determined. My other favorite parts were about Mendel and his Peas that he studied and how they differ from Darwin and his Evolutionary theory.
I also was fascinated by the Professor talking about how many Humans the Earth can sustain and what is the next step when we finally reach that threshold. I am retired and have tried to keep my brain active by learning something new every day and this course really helped to stretch my mind.
I highly recommend this course to anyone who loves science and Biology especially as this is a great overview of the subject. I certainly was entranced by everything the Professor taught.
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Douglas
- 04-17-16
Surprisingly more biochemistry-focused
It was good enough to keep me listening, but didn't stir the "soul". There are long periods of dry and cold material that leave you wanting a bit more inspiration. Otherwise, it was good and I appreciate the subject matter so I have bias towards this audio book.
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lars
- 09-04-15
Good place to start but outdated.
If you could sum up Biology: The Science of Life in three words, what would they be?
A great place to begin even for laymen, but the fact that this audiobook is from 2003 shows. This audiobook deserves a 2nd edition.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Biology: The Science of Life?
When Junk DNA (via retro viralesque means) was talked about as a viable possibility, BTW Junk DNA has been proven wrong.
This does not mean that this audiobook is useless, as there are a lot of relevant stuff in there as well.
What about Professor Stephen Nowicki’s performance did you like?
calm, clear, and easy to understand.
I would petition Stephen for a 2nd edition.
The way Stephen talks about the various subjects, as well as the way he structures his lessons, does credit to the initial goals, stated in lecture 1, that this is meant to be the layman's entry to the world of biology as well as useable by students seeking to get a college degree.
Any additional comments?
The title and intro (the opening lines of chapter 1) of this audiobook suggests that this is made for non-scientists as well. You cannot expect non scientists to be completely up to date on current scientific literature. Genetics happens to be an interest of mine(and i have Sadava's understanding genetics from the great courses), therefore i knew about junk DNA.
But the average curious Georges and Janes are not necessarily going to have my interest, and they will most likely not appreciate the 41$ price-tag (15 if they subscribe to audible), just to get outdated teaching material.
Now i know i have just blitzed this audiobook, but i still encourage you, dear fellow layman consumer, to at least consider this audiobook.
My tirade about junk DNA is about 5 sentences in one lecture, and junk DNA is served as a hypothesis and not as a theory, There are 72 lectures and most of this (at least to my knowledge) is still correct.
The course guidebook even comes with several graphs and models. so you get lectures as well as what is basically a biology book.
45 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Siddy Glenn
- 03-28-16
My new addiction
I love all things science, so go figure this is in my top lectures. If you don't have a basic understanding of organic chemistry, this could be a bit overwhelming. For those that want to know more about biology or want to dust off their knowledge in general, this lecture is great. I will be listening to this lecture again.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dwayne the Luddite
- 10-11-19
More for a second year Biology student than 1st yr
Nowicki knows the subject well, unfortunately he doesn't know how to communicate what he knows.
First thing he tells you is that while the majority of Biology courses (including the one you're likely studying for...) proceed to teach in a general order of A, B, C, D, etc... he is going to instead teach us in his own special, special, special way in order of 1, R, Blue, %, etc. Basically - he recategorizes biology to suit his view then teaches 'beginning to end' in each category... and those categories do NOT follow along with most Biology 101 & 102 class texts. He moves up into some advanced ideas before even covering the basics but hey - it's his own very special, special, special way of teaching.
You can't even jump around to follow by going to the various categories he's set up as each of them start with the assumption that you understood everything that he tossed into the prior category.
You'll also find yourself ready to scream as he subdivides a thought three or four degrees before actually making a point he started to make.
Useless to help study for Bio 101 & 102 but would be helpful for advanced students.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Hermano
- 09-28-15
Outstanding
If my college Biology course covered this same content, I might have even considered a career in molecular Biology! While there are some lectures that didn't interest me, about 75 percent of them were fascinating. Prof. Nowicki does a masterful job of providing motivation for each lecture, then guiding the listener on a logical path to the goal. Considering the cost of tuition at Duke, getting these 72 half-hour lectures for a single credit is a steal. It takes focus to keep up at times, and it might take a couple of listens to sink in. However, there are several great stories and anecdotes that are easy to take and you'll the newly learned facts to your friends.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Helena R.
- 06-07-16
Lost me in the last part.
I wanted to refresh my knowledge of biology just for personal enrichment. I hadn't had biology since high school. That said, I enjoyed the first two thirds of the course and was following along fairly well. Then the very technical biochemistry in the last third of the course quickly overwhelmed me. I found myself listening but not really paying attention any more. You could say my ears glazed over. However, the professor was fantastic and engaging enough. I'm sure if I were majoring in biology I'd enjoy his lectures more.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Deelite
- 08-08-13
Biology brought to life!
What made the experience of listening to Biology: The Science of Life the most enjoyable?
This series of lectures is written and read in such a lively, engaging manner, its a pleasure to listen to and promotes effortless learning. I have been hoping in earnest for a series like this to appear (vast improvement over the lacklustre modern scholar title I tried previously) and I can't wait to sample other courses in the series.
The professor - whose performance is bright and bouncy enough to carry you the distance with his enthusiasm- gives an extremely well structured overview of the life sciences, pitched at about A level. I am fairly familiar with the material but It is suitable for those with limited knowledge of the subject- however such a reader might need to supplement their learning with diagrams from books to gain a more complete understanding of some topics.
22 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- wamjam
- 09-08-19
High calibre education
I have completed my under graduate degree in biochemistry, a masters in protein engineering, and am about to begin my PhD in protein engineering of biopesticides. I have had a love for biology my whole life and have read Darwin, Gould and Dawkins. And yet not a single part of this audio book was mundane or over simplified. The level of complexity covering molecular biology and genetics, organismal development and homeostasis, the cell, immunity, evolution, biogeography and geology and so many more areas is brilliant. I have listened to it multiple times and the excellence of this series still baffles me. Not only is it scientifically heavy, but the stories of scientists through out history and today is told so well!
This is perfect for anyone with a keen interest in biology. It may however be starting at too advanced a level for anyone with no prior knowledge in biology. But by no means is that restrictive. If you want to learn and have any schooling at all, get this audio book!
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Igor Zeds
- 12-07-18
Content good, music bad
I've reached chapter 5'ish so far and the subject and narrator are brilliant, excellent actually, but, the music and fake(?) clapping between each lecture can be a little much, whether through headphones or a fairly decent Hi-Fi.
Although it's not too loud or longer than a few seconds, the brass instrument is high pitched and completely pointless; it feels like someone left their phone on and sat next to you :D and why the introductory clapping?
All-in-all, brilliant content and well worth it if you're ok with distractions
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Santiago
- 07-05-16
Thorough and well structured course
Amazing listen for the knowledge hungry. As a scientist in a totally different field, with no education in biology beyond high school, this audiobook gave me so much useful material, in a very approachable way and following a nice structure to retain all the key concepts.
Arid at times, skip through if a particular chapter doesn't interest you. Great knowledge lays ahead.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Frustrated customer!
- 09-19-15
More than a superficial introduction to biology
Author is very enthusiastic and very good at explaining complex subjects without dumbing down. 72 lectures is a lot, but I miss listening to them now that it is over.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Tom S
- 08-18-19
Stay focused
Generally a good course. However, listening to it casually, it is difficult not to lose the thread in the molecular processes. Best to have the pdf handy.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 12-05-19
um er, er um, umer. n'OK.
Nowicki has produced a facinating introduction / revision for biology from the atom to global ecosystems. The course is cleverly structured and is well suited to audio only format. Unfortunately Mr. 'one take' Nowicki's mouth works much faster than his brain so the narration crashes every few sentences. What ever you do don't start comparing the number of ers to the number of ums.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Florence Delaney
- 09-29-14
Brilliant lecture series
Any additional comments?
This is a really enjoyable and engaging series of lectures. The information is clear and it gives a great in-depth overview of the subject. I was worried it would be too dumbed-down - not so.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Michael
- 03-25-21
Very detailed but doesn't work as an audio book.
The lecturer is fine and the information is excellent. However, unless you are already a biology graduate and use this for nostalgia (as I have personally with physics courses), you will need to be making notes and using reference material. A lot of the content in the first half would only really be followable with diagrams etc in front of you. The last third of the lecture series is more straightforward and easy to follow. For some people this would be fine but for me it wasn't great in audio book format for what I wanted.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- ryan gatley
- 06-10-19
the audio is bad
the audio is unbearable if you are listening with ear phones, I've tried redownloading twice and three different ear/headphones so it must be the audio.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Malcolm
- 05-26-17
Brilliant
Everybody on this planet should listen to this before they die. It's a wonderful summary of our current knowledge of life and how it works. I believe science is the greatest of mankind's achievements and the beauty of it should be shared with everybody. it was a privilege to listen to.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anand Manu
- 08-26-16
Great Detail but do need some background.
Very detailed course. Does at times require some background knowledge. The 3 part organisation is good and the general strucutre of the course.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Ethan
- 11-13-20
Great course from The Great Courses
As someone who didn’t take biology in high school I’m happy to have found a series of lectures that gets me up to speed on knowledge I’ve missed out on.
Only criticism is that the accompanying PDF should have more diagrams, especially in the sections that cover microbiology.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 06-10-20
excellent!
I was riveted for the whole 36 hours, and learnt so much. Ridiculously good value.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 08-14-18
Great supplement to my current studies, very happy
loved it, very easy to listen to. Shame he doesn't narrate more audio books because I would definitely buy them
1 person found this helpful