doi:10.1016/j.bulm.2004.05.001Bulletin of Mathematical Biology (2004)66, 1457–1458

Book Review

Essential Mathematical Biology, by Nicholas Ferris Britton, 1st edition,Springer Verlag, 370 pages, Dimensions (in inches): 0.66 × 9.24 × 6.98,$34.95, ISBN: 185233536X.

This book is intended as a textbook in Mathematical Biology for students ofmathematics, engineering and science with a background in the theory of differen-tial equations, discrete dynamical systems and partial differential equations. I thinkthat any mathematician teaching from it would find the informal style unsatisfac-tory. However, as the author says, ‘Mathematical Biology is not as hierarchical asother areas of mathematics’, therefore it could make an excellent supplementarysource as a reference book and also for a supplement in examples and exercises.

Since this book is aimed at mathematicians (students), as well as non-mathematicians, the task of writing an appropriate book is difficult. On the onehand, a mathematician should be willing to forego presenting clever proofs and tolearn some meaningful examples. On the other hand, a non-mathematician shouldbe willing to take the time to learn at least a clear statement of the definitions andtheorems before launching into countless examples and applications. Thus, it isvery complicated to satisfy both customers.

This book consists of eight chapters and some appendices. The first two chaptersdeal with population dynamics for one and several species. All this is just basicmaterial and the author’s approach is always to apply the results to specific models.The third chapter deals with some material about epidemiology. At the beginningof the chapter the author lists the goals of the chapter based on a few questions.It is encouraging to see how the material in this chapter is skillfully presented.The fourth chapter is about genetics and it is introductory. The fifth chapter isabout motion in Biology, which was delightful to read. I was very attracted in thematerial by the way of the presentation.

Chapter six is the part that I could envision as a text for a course. A varietyof topics are covered. Chapter seven deals with pattern formation. Of course,this chapter misses most of the modern results in this area. In chapter eight, thefinal chapter, the author discusses some tumor modeling. Here it lacks substance,and the goals of the chapter are not clear. The chapter is a quick run through thematerial.

Al l the material of the book is covered in a little over three hundred pages. Thereare not displayed definitions and only an occasional formal statement of a theoremin the appendices. The style of presentation is to meander between informal defini-tion, examples and formal definitions given in narrative form. The strength of thisbook lies in its examples and exercises and, to some extent, in the material fromthe third and fourth chapters. Each topic is illustrated with specific examples, and

0092-8240/04/051457 + 02 $30.00/0 c© 2004 Society for Mathematical Biology. Published byElsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1458 Book Review

there are plenty of exercises with many solutions and hints. This book also containsa list of books, including comments, that are suggested for further reading.

Therefore, I recommend the book to the general reader interested in seeing someof the broad themes of Mathematical Biology. Reading the book, specially forstudents, is a very positive experience and it is warmly recommended. I do notrecommend this book to anyone familiar with the current state of MathematicalBiology. This volume is, in my opinion, inappropriate for anyone who wants tolearn the current status of the subject. However, for students, a reading of this bookmay suggest some ideas that they are not aware of.

FRANCISCO SOLIS

Centro de Investigaci´on en Matem´aticas,A.C. Apartado Postal 402,

Guanajuato, Gto., C.P. 36000,Mexico

E-mail: solis@cimat.mx