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.

114 people found this helpful

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

Good place to start but outdated.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

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

Learn to Talk to your Son

Would you listen to Biology: The Science of Life again? Why?

I periodically return to lectures to see what I missed. The course is a tour-de-force. My son is taking AP Biology and plans to make a career in biology. I thought, as a lawyer and programmer who never took a college science course, that I should meet him half way. Perhaps, if I had taked a course with Prof. Nowicki, my career path would have changed.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Biology: The Science of Life?

I finally understood what the fuss was over "creation vs.evolution" and why the creationists are driving real scientists totally crazy. The classes on the origins of life, and on Darwin were fascinating and explained why treating the 2 schools of thought as "absolute truths" are completely incompatible. As an ethical guide and parable, maybe, ... but as absolute truth, modern man, committed to the scientific method finds that approach an anathema.

Which character – as performed by Professor Stephen Nowicki – was your favorite?

This was a science lecture. The discussion of the discovery of DNA was a great story.

25 people found this helpful

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

Excellent book for Biology lovers

Would you listen to Biology: The Science of Life again? Why?

The book has a lot of scientific information helpful in getting a good grasp in introductory Biology. It has been helpful in repeating and revising the material learned in a university class and a great addition to the regular text book. I would recommend it to students, especially those who commute to school as a supplemental material.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Biology: The Science of Life?

The course is both wide and deep, and presents a good review material.

What about Professor Stephen Nowicki’s performance did you like?

Very knowledgeable and passionate, carries the listener away into the scientific world.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Emotions are not a part of scientific approach.

Any additional comments?

Best use of your time if you are into the material presented.

12 people found this helpful

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

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

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