Book Review
An Introduction to Biophysics with Medical Orientation
Gy. Rontó, I. Tarján (Eds)
Akadémia Kiadó, Budapest, 1999
ISBN 963-05-7607-4, 447 pages, US$ 82
Well-written textbooks have the potential to contribute significantly to the development of emerging scientific disciplines. In addition to the education of the new generation of scientists, they may also promote a general acceptance and appreciation of a discipline by the general public.
Biophysics, like biochemistry, is an interdisciplinary science. Its introduction has followed the same path that biochemistry trod a few decades earlier. Although in many universities and specialised institutes biophysics is taught as an independent discipline, the variety of the supplementary educational material is generally insufficient when compared to what biochemistry can offer. The aim of the book edited by Ronó and Tarján: "An Introduction to Biophysics with Medical Orientation" is to alleviate this shortcoming. The editors and co-authors of the book are all members of the Institute of Biophysics, Semmelweis University of Medicine (SOTE), Budapest, Hungary. The Hungarian version of the book is already in its eighth edition, while during the last ten years several English and German editions have been published. The foreign-language editions have proved to be a great asset to medical education conducted in these languages at the University. The book reviewed here is the third English edition, based on the eighth (revised) Hungarian edition. Although the book has been aimed primarily at medical students, its readership could be much wider than that. First of all, it could be recommended to those physicians whose training in the subject has been deficient or to those who want to refresh and/or extend their knowledge. It is also recommended to physicists, biologists, engineers, teachers, high-school students and indeed to all those fascinated by the extensive applications of the principles of physics to living systems.
The authors, who have decades of experience in education and research in the field, provide clear didactic composition thoroughly supported by concrete scientific evidence. The fact that biophysics education for medical students is a delicate compromise between different scientific and medical fields is well reflected by the structure of the book and the emphasis placed on its components. It is particularly commendable that the physical basis of modern medical diagnostic and therapeutic methods is discussed in great detail. The authors are well aware of the fact that the basic course in biophysics is the first encounter with these methods for those who later commit themselves to working in the field of life sciences. It is therefore at this stage that the most lasting impressions can be made. The book pays particular attention to modelling as one of the strongest and most efficient tools of biophysics for describing life-processes. The examples taken from different fields are excellent in demonstrating the advantages as well as the limits of modelling. The chapters on radiation are well written and accurate. The intention of the authors is clearly to get the readers familiar with the basis of the most modern methods in microscopy, optical spectroscopy, diffraction, etc. The basics of thermodynamics are described in a clear, well illustrated and in some aspects unique way. The revised chapter on medical electronics chapter is especially pleasing.
Obviously, as is the case with everything, the book has its share of shortcomings. A section dealing with the mechanical description of the human body is conspicuous by its absence. This may be in line with the authors' intention to deal mainly with the basic structures of the living matter. Therefore, fields that may belong in the field of medical physics rather than in biophysics have been omitted intentionally. Some of the books mentioned at the end of each chapter are really outdated, as they were published 20 or more years ago. Although some of them could justifiably be considered 'classics', more recent references would also be welcome.
The book is well presented and easy to read. It contains about 270 well-thought-out and clear figures and 28 photographs. Unfortunately, the latter only show obsolete medical equipment and as such are unlikely to be the source of additional information and inspiration.
In conclusion, one can safely state that 'An Introduction to Biophysics with Medical Orientation' is an excellent book for the professional and the layperson alike. We would therefore recommend it whole-heartedly for a wide audience.
Peter Maróti - Nándor Richter