Stephen J. Hagen, in American Journal of Physics, Vol. 72, No. 10,
pp. 1359-1360, October 2004.

Philip Nelson has done an important service in writing "Biological
Physics: Energy, Information, Life." This creative and insightful
textbook brings definition to the field and establishes a set of
central themes, based on principles of statistical physics. Starting
with very simple and general discussions of energy and order, Nelson
builds up a rigorous set of statistical and thermodynamic models for
understanding the molecular machinery of life. Always maintaining a
solid physics perspective, he explores biological macromolecules,
their structures and self-assembly, biomotors and locomotion, neurons,
and more. The book is... a fascinating tour that will bring the reader
within reach of many current research topics... These days physical
scientists need to understand more biology, just as biological
scientists need to understand more physics. Nelson's engaging and
satisfying book opens the doors in both directions. It will intrigue
both the student and the professor.