Biochemistry textbooks tackle the common subfield of chemistry and biology that will help you study the subject. And when it comes to this, you can’t just pick any book expecting that it will tackle the immense amount of scientific and clinical information you will need.
With this, our team spent 48 hours of intensive research to find the best Biochemistry textbook for your needs.
- Easy to read and understand
- Well written and illustrated
- Clear and high-resolution photos
- Updated research
- It covers all the topics
- Good quality textbook
- Impressive content
- Detailed and well explained
- Updated edition
- Straightforward language
- Great value for money
- Helpful textbook
- In-depth structure
- Focuses on human health application
- Quality bind
Contents
Top 8 Biochemistry Textbooks in 2021
1. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry
Author: David L. Nelson and Michael Cox
Why We Chose It:
As we go over the content of the Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, we notice that it has groundbreaking new advances and has updated principles of Biochemistry. It has clear writing with careful explanations of critical concepts. In addition, the new findings and insights are not overwhelming and can be easily followed, making it the best Biochemistry textbook for students.
Unique Features:
- The chapters follow expected and local progression.
- It has frequent and well-done illustrations
- Each chapter includes a set of problems and a bibliography.
- Easy to read and understand
- Well written and illustrated
- Clear and high-resolution photos
- Updated research
- It covers all the topics
- Can be expensive
2. Biochemistry 9th ed. 2019 Edition
Author: Lubert Stryer
Why We Chose It:
The Biochemistry 9th edition covers the latest research techniques and focuses on physiological and medical relevance on the subject. In addition, the textbook is well written and has innovative graphics.
Unique Features:
- It supports Achieve, a new online learning platform from Macmillan.
- It comes with an interactive eBook for assessments and innovations.
- Supports learning core concepts, assessments, and visualization.
- Good quality textbook
- Impressive content
- Detailed and well explained
- Updated edition
- Straightforward language
- Font size needs improvement
- Paper quality and print could be better
3. Voet Fundamentals of Biochemistry: Life at the Molecular Level
Author: Judith G. Voet, Donald Voet and Charlotte W. Pratt
Why We Chose It:
The fifth edition of Voet Fundamentals of Biochemistry has an updated approach and specializes in advancing the Biochemistry field. The textbook has impressive graphics that will be a great help for visual learners.
Unique Features:
- The textbook provides solid fundamental concepts and can be a good biochemical foundation.
- It contains relevance on structural biology, human health, and disease.
- It is affiliated with WileyPLUS, which is designed to help students in their online learning.
- Great value for money
- Helpful textbook
- In-depth structure
- Focuses on human health application
- Quality bind
- Some chapters are missing
- Illustrations can be better
4. Molecular Cell Biology
Author: Harvey Lodish
Why We Chose It:
As we scanned the Molecular Cell Biology textbook, we observed a different approach based on clinical applications and experiments. The textbook is easy and exciting to read and can be an excellent resource for medical students.
Unique Features:
- The textbook Incorporates medical relevance and clinical correlations.
- It focuses on connections between molecular biology and human disease.
- It has an excellent and well-organized illustration.
- Very complex and technical
- Interesting to read and stud
- Accurate and well detailed
- Impressive illustrations
- Informative contents
- Binding must improve
- Can be dense
5. Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry
Author: Victor Rodwell
Why We Chose It:
The Harper’s thirty-first edition Biochemistry textbook emphasizes chemistry, biology, and biochemistry. Unlike other biochemistry textbooks, the textbook is best for medical students because it gives an understanding of disease states, pathology, and practice of medicine.
Unique Features:
- The textbook includes more than 600 well-illustrated diagrams.
- It comes with review questions on each of the eleven sections
- 600 full-color illustrations
- Affordable biochemistry textbook
- Comprehensive and precise content
- Provides accurate explanation
- Ideal for medical students
- Content can be overwhelming and confusing
- Uncorrelated chapters
6. Garrett Grisham Biochemistry
Author: Reginald H. Garrett
Why We Chose It:
The general biochemistry textbook by Garrett has an innovative concept and organized framework to guide medical students with the beauty and usefulness of Biochemistry. It offers a balance of texts and illustrations and has been up to date.
Unique Features:
- The textbook is integrated with OWLv2, an online learning system for Chemistry.
- It includes an essential questions framework to guide the user.
- It comes with a solution manual to guide you to every step of your learning.
- Comprehensive
- Well-designed
- Accurate textbook
- Written by an expert author
- Good value and quality
- Chapter flow can improve
- It can be wordy and dull
7. Miesfeld McEvoy Biochemistry
Author: Roger L. Miesfeld and Megan M. McEvoy
Why We Chose It:
The Misedelf McEvoy Biochemistry book is designed to help you understand the important concepts of general biochemistry. The textbook is easy to read and features high-end diagrams and illustrations. The flow of the chapter is impressive, and the key concepts are significantly detailed.
Unique Features:
- The textbook is available in Ebook and Smartwork5.
- It provides text and media integration.
- The table contents briefly explain the process of biochemicals.
- Well detailed content
- Nicely written
- Colorful and well-explained illustrations
- Good reference book
- Balance coverage
- Low-quality materials
- Confusing without photos
8. Netter's Essential Biochemistry
Author: Peter Ronner PhD
Why We Chose It
As our team went over the contents of the Biochemistry book, we noticed that it discusses the key concepts about molecular cell biology, organic chemistry, and basic science. In addition, it has excellent illustrations to help undergraduate students fully grasp the subject. In addition, there are no excessive frills on the textbook, which is ideal for a medical student.
Unique Features:
- The textbook includes end-of-chapter questions and summaries to reinforce the biochemistry enduring principles discussed by the textbook.
- Its key concepts can be a great source of knowledge for Organic Chemistry.
- It provides a highly visual and reader-friendly approach to the challenging topics of the Biochemistry course.
- Concise and well written
- Impressive illustrations
- Imparts synopsis and summaries
- Affordable
- Provides sufficient details
- Highly-priced
- Can be complicated for nontech-savvy individuals
Our Runners-Up
1. Marks' Basic Medical Biochemistry
Author: Michael Lieberman and Allan Marks
Why We Chose It:
The Marks’ basic medical biochemistry is intended for medical students taking up Medical Biochemistry. Its concept uses hypothetical patient vignettes and shows a link between BRS biochemistry from biochemistry to physiology.
Unique Features:
- The textbook expands the clinical notes and explains the fundamentals of biochemistry and basic Chemistry.
- It has bulleted end-of-chapter summaries for helpful problem-solving support.
- It emphasizes the importance of the patient and the gaps in clinical practice, biochemical processes, and physiology.
- Innovative approach to Biochemistry
- Reliable reference resource
- Clear and concise content
- Clinically focused and understandable
- Works as advertised
- Some contents can be omitted
- Contents can be simplified
2. Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry
Author: Emine E. Abali, Susan D. Cline, David S. Franklin, and Dr. Susan M. Viselli, Ph.D.
Why We Chose It:
The Lippincott Biochemistry book provides an intuitive outline of organization and study aids that guarantees retention and understanding of the subject. It is updated and revised to clarify the clinical medicine which will help students at medical school.
Unique Features:
- The clinical application can be applied in clinical scenarios, which can be beneficial to students.
- It has cross-references to other Lippincott illustrated reviews.
- Updated study questions and answers for the chapter test.
- Updated study guide
- Animated features
- Well-illustrated diagrams
- Core title for 2021
- Updated integrative clinical case studies
- Content explanation could be better
- Topic flow can improve
How to Pick the Right Book

Is the Content Clear?
Biochemistry is the foundation for understanding biological processes. The content must be clear to easily understand the causes of many diseases in humans, plants, and animals [1].
The content of the textbook must be well-written and understandable. It would be beneficial to students taking a Biochemistry course to acquire a textbook that has clear content.
Are There Interactive Exercises?
Interactive exercises will create significant development for students when learning medical biochemistry. It will help speed up the learning process, get insightful communication and clinical correlations.
In addition, the best biochemistry textbook with exercises helps you analyze patient symptoms, laboratory tests, treatments, and outcomes in an active way.
Does It Include Practice Tests?
Practice tests will help you focus on studying and help you identify the biochemical concepts you are good at or having a hard time with. Textbooks with practice tests allow you to study methodically and help you focus your time on areas that need growth.
Moreover, practice tests measure how much you know and help reinforce your learning that will be beneficial when retrieving the information later.
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How About Illustrations?
Illustrations and diagrams are very important when it comes to choosing the right textbook. Images can be the most effective way to ensure that your information is stored as a long-term memory [2].
Some students prefer visual learning because infographics easily stimulate the imagination and comprise analysis for new information. The integrated text and media will help students visualize and create a more active environment while studying.
Are the Explanations Comprehensive?
Biochemistry is an extremely interesting course that applies to medicine. It helps you understand how your body works and how your structures and chemicals are formed in your body and can be beneficial for everyday life. With this, it would be best to consider getting a comprehensive book with well-detailed explanations.
Are There Special & Extra Features?
Special and extra features can also be a thing to consider when getting a biochem textbook. Some textbooks offer ebook versions and are affiliated with an online learning service for active learning. Our team highly recommends making the most of the situation to learn more about the Biochemistry course.
FAQS
To start reading biochemistry, you must first get the best biochemistry textbook that offers an introductory biochemistry course to help you understand the basics. The basic science will help you understand the structure of amino acids and different definitive discoveries.
No, biochemistry is not all memorization since the course needs a thorough understanding. However, the course requires good memory since not all terminologies cannot be figured out unless memorized.
Yes, Biochemistry is a hard major to get into. The course comes in 8th place for the hardest major, which requires an average of 19 hours to prepare for a class every week. A medical student majoring in Biochemistry looks closely at the chemical reactions and substances in living organisms.
Our Choice For The Best Textbook for Biochemistry is...
Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry is our choice for the best textbook for Biochemistry. Out of all the Biochemistry books on the market, Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry is widely used by numerous professional schools and medical schools.
Lehninger’s Principles of Biochemistry covers all aspects of modern biochemistry with a thoroughly updated survey and exciting new findings on Biochem. The book has highly readable chapters, and the current edition has full-color illustrations for the everyday world. In addition, Lehninger has a great introduction and can be a great resource when studying the course.
- Latest update
- Precise explanation
- Complete illustrations and diagrams
- Helpful reference resource
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