Books › Animal physiology
Animal physiology
First published 1960 · 715 pages
A masterclass in biological mechanics that transforms complex science into an elegant exploration of how life adapts to survive.
What it feels like
Reading this foundational text feels less like slogging through a standard academic manual and more like being guided through the intricate machinery of the natural world by a brilliant, patient mentor. The pace is steady and methodical, building complex concepts from fundamental principles of oxygen, energy, and temperature. Its mood is deeply intellectual yet accessible, sparking a quiet awe at the elegance of biological adaptation. Because it is single-authored, the prose possesses a rare, cohesive clarity that avoids the disjointedness of typical textbooks. It will delight biology students, zoology buffs, and anyone fascinated by the sheer mechanical genius of animal life, offering a deeply satisfying journey into how creatures are perfectly engineered for their environments.
- Mood
- intellectual
- curious
- structured
- illuminating
- Tone
- authoritative
- lucid
- educational
- objective
- accessible
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- elegance of biological design · environmental adaptation · survival mechanisms · interconnectedness of life and habitat
- The writing
- Clear, cohesive, and remarkably readable for a scientific text, guided by a single unified authorial voice.
- The arc
- Moves from a foundational curiosity about animal life to a profound appreciation for the complex mechanisms of survival.
- Who it's for
- Biology students, zoology enthusiasts, and curious minds who want a rigorous but accessible deep dive into how animals function.
Content notes
- scientific descriptions of anatomy
- discussions of animal mortality in nature
About the book
"Animal Physiology is the acclaimed textbook by Knut Schmidt-Nielsen for all undergraduate and graduate courses in physiology. The book is used all over the world, and its comprehensive coverage and clear style are unparalleled." "NOw in its fifth edition, the textbook has been extensively updated to take into account recent developments in the field. Numerous new references and figures have been added, and the use of color to highlight illustrations and text guides the reader through each chapter." "Central to this popular textbook is its focus on the fundamental principles of animal physiology. As in the previous editions, these are introduced and developed according to major environmental features - oxygen, food and energy, temperature, and water. It covers the basic principles with greater clarity than its competitors and is the only textbook of its type to place function clearly in relation to environment." "With the user-friendly cohesion of a single-authored textbook, Animal Physiology is the essential core text for all those studying physiology or zoology."--Jacket.
Description from Open Library.
Books like Animal physiology
See why they match
Exercise physiologyEdward T. HowleyA comprehensive, structured deep-dive into the biological mechanics of human movement and athletic performance.
Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiologyJohn E. HallA monumental, meticulously structured journey through the awe-inspiring mechanics of the human body.
Vander's human physiologyEric P. Widmaier, Hershel Raff and othersA rigorous, illuminating journey through the intricate, self-balancing machinery of the human body.
Human PhysiologyLauralee SherwoodA rigorous, methodical exploration of the human body's biological mechanics, from the microscopic to the macroscopic.
BiologyNeil A. CampbellA monumental, structured journey through the mechanics of life that transforms overwhelming complexity into awe-inspiring clarity.
Anatomy and PhysiologyJ. Gordon Betts, Peter DeSaix and othersA structured, inclusive exploration of the human body designed to build foundational medical knowledge.