Reaching for the sun : how plants work /

Plant physiologist King presents his field to a lay audience. In general, his writing style is very engaging, and his book covers the major areas of plant physiology in 17 chapters. The material presented is very comprehensive, and the author strikes a balance between the amount of information presented and the interests of the general reader. Unfortunately, the first chapter on water relations discusses a subject that is difficult for most nonspecialists; King should have started with a more captivating topic. In most chapters, he provides a brief historical overview that is effective in helping the reader understand the subject. The major limitation is the lack of illustrations; it is difficult to adequately explain concepts such as photosynthesis and photoperiodism without some simple figures and diagrams. Color photographs would have greatly enhanced the book (but also would have made it more expensive). Appropriate for general readers as well as faculty. J. Z. Kiss; Miami University