Haematology, second edition (Winner, Undergraduate Textbook Prize)
Gary Moore, Gavin Knight and Andrew Blann
Oxford University Press, £39.99
The second edition of Haematology is an excellent example of a modern textbook for undergraduates. The clear writing and excellent illustrations make it easy to read and understand. Although it is a standalone text, it is supported by a comprehensive online resource centre that features a lot of additional material, including walk-through guides to the experimental methods discussed in the book and interviews with practising scientists.
My favourite from the online supporting materials was the virtual microscope that could be used to visualise the blood films illustrated in the book. The book is well referenced, and there are helpful summary tables that reference ranges of cell counts and metabolites, as well as boxes containing case studies and methods, and still others for cross-referencing.
There are also self-check questions and discussion points highlighted at the end of each chapter that enable the reader to analyse and reflect on the material they have just read. All of this is achieved in a clear and uncrowded format. The judges were unanimous in recommending Haematology as the Best Undergraduate Textbook for 2016.
Professor Jenny Morton FRSB
