Emma Jackson, University of Manchester

I reviewed the new updated third edition of this book:- Immunology is a subject that I have always struggled with and didn’t really fully understand its importance until I started my clinical years. This book is both detailed and precise, but perhaps not the best place for someone with limited knowledge of immunology to start. I think if you have a good grasp of the basics then this book is an excellent aid to improving your knowledge. There are good diagrams to explain the major points. At the end of each chapter there are clear, concise summary points which are good for revision followed by review questions to check your understanding of the chapter. However the information is very detailed and there is probably too much information for general medical students. However if you have a special interest in immunology or you just want to find out more, I think that this is an excellent book for that. In terms of PBL I think it requires supplement with lectures as it is sometimes easier to understand a concept if it is explained orally as opposed to reading it. To conclude this is a detailed and interesting book, possibly above the level of general medical students.

Posted 18th May 2010

Adam Moreton, University of Liverpool

Lots of pictures. Lots of tables. Lots of COLOUR. Appealing to the eye and the brain. This book is going to be slightly too detailed for the PBL student, but does make a rather difficult area appear simpler. I struggle to see how medical students would need to know the topic in more detail than is presented here. Anything bigger is going to depress you. This book is the third bowl of porridge (just right). Supplemented with 'clinical cases' it reminds the pre-clincal student just why you are studying this.

Posted 26th Jan 2009

Kayte McCann, University of East Anglia

This review refers to a previous edition of this book

A more concise version of the Abbas textbook on the left of this page, this book is a nice and digestible reference/revision guide for a complex subject. I’ve hated immunology text books for as long as I can remember, yet this one didn’t fill me with dread. The images and layout are clear and simple, and the wording is easy to understand, despite the content matter. I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with immunology, although it may be too simplistic for some people. It works fine for me.

Posted 1st Jun 2007