Medeiros (human nutrition, Kansas State U.) and Wildman (nutrition and food, Texas State U.) explore why nutrients are important from a biochemical, physiological, and molecular perspective. The book could be used for a course at the senior undergraduate or beginning graduate level for nutrition or dietetics majors who have completed courses in introductory nutrition, biochemistry, and some anatomy and physiology. The topics are foundations of the human body; digestion and absorption; carbohydrates; lipids; proteins and amino acids; water; metabolism, energy balance, and body weight; nutrition and exercise; fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins; and major and minor minerals. They have added some pedagogical tools, but have retained the informal style of the first edition, which was published over a decade ago. Annotation 穢2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)