Fundamentals of Biology is not just a collection of topics. Expect to build a good science foundation and learn science well. Each Fundamentals of Biology uses the technique of building on simple ideas to support more complex ideas as one progresses through his or her studies. Repetition and review is liberally employed. Most students that move on to college directly from secondary school are repeatedly exposed to essential scientific ideas over time of their school careers. Conceptual connections and assimilation of new knowledge is made effortlessly. This is not true for a person that does not have a science background or one who is returning to school after being away for a number of years. Fundamentals of Biology contains the concepts you may have missed entirely or have forgotten. Simple ideas are presented and developed into more complex ideas without the use of confusing jargon. An understanding of the roots of science and scientific discovery allows concepts to be remembered easily. This is the purpose of the short introduction to the history of science in these books. Science has a rich and interesting history that took place in many different cultural environments and still does today. Repetition is a tool that is liberally employed in this text. As one concept is explored in depth, previous concepts are reviewed. Elementary school ideas through college concepts are reviewed and bridged to construct good foundation. Vocabulary is a problem for those who have been out of school for a time and those for whom English is a second language. Over 500 explanatory annotations are included for ease of reading. A good dictionary or encyclopedia should always be handy as a student reads. Most students do not use them to look up terms or ideas they don't understand. They should look up unfamiliar terms, but if they don't, explanatory annotations are provided.