"The approach to the writing in this textbook is remarkable, exciting, and I feel has a very high potential for inducing true learning in novice biology students. I like the overall philosophy, the historical approach, the consistency with which actual examples of doing science and legitimate science process is presented, the narrative style, and the fact that I can believe that the approach really coincides with the interesting title Asking About Life...This kind of philosophical and historical approach is what I have been arguing for and looking for many, many years...[Chapter 10] simply bowls me over. It is wonderful. The scientific flavor is here. It is immensely interesting. The narrative [is] excellent. . . I've never read a textbook chapter that I would rate higher than this one. The information and approach used in our current text pales when compared to this...[Chapter 13] is a model for how complex information can be presented for a novice without compromising accuracy or currentness. This chapter is several cuts above anything else I have read on this topic and on these issues."