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Best Microbiology Textbooks

September 16, 2022 //  by Justine Dees

Microbiology is the study of organisms that are usually too small to see with the naked eye, including bacteria, fungi, archaea, algae, protozoa, and viruses. College students majoring in microbiology, as well as other science and health-related fields, take this course. If you’re an educator exploring different microbiology textbooks, it may seem overwhelming at first to decide on which one to use for your class. Even if you’re not an educator teaching microbiology or a student taking a course, you may still want to learn more about the subject from a reliable textbook.

Here are the best microbiology textbooks recommended by college-level microbiology instructors. These are for general microbiology college courses or for anyone who wants to learn microbiology on their own and get a more in-depth perspective. They are sorted by appropriateness for non-majors versus majors.

This post contains affiliate links — see my disclosure policy.

Microbiology TextbookAuthorsBest forPrice
OpenStax MicrobiologyNina Parker, Mark Schneegurt, Anh-Hue Thi Tu, Brian M. Forster, Philip Listernon-majors, health-related majorsFree on OpenStax; check price (print version)
Nester’s Microbiology: A Human PerspectiveDenise G. Anderson Lecturer, Sarah Salm, Mira Beins, Eugene W. Nester Professornon-majors, health-related majorscheck price
Microbiology: An IntroductionGerard Tortora, Berdell Funke, Christine Casenon-majors, health-related majorscheck price
Microbe (ASM Books)Michele S. Swanson, Elizabeth A. Joyce, Rachel E. A. Horakscience majors, health-related majorscheck price
MicrobiologyDave Wessner, Christine Dupont, Trevor Charles, Josh Neufeldmajorscheck price
Prescott’s MicrobiologyJoanne Willey, Kathleen Sandman, Dorothy Woodmajorscheck price
Brock Biology of MicroorganismsMichael T. Madigan, Kelly S. Bender, Daniel H. Buckley, W. Matthew Sattley, David A. Stahlmajorscheck price
Microbiology by OpenStax (Official Print Version, hardcover, full color)
Microbiology by OpenStax (Official Print Version, hardcover, full color)

OpenStax Microbiology (FREE) – print version

Authors: Nina Parker, Mark Schneegurt, Anh-Hue Thi Tu, Brian M. Forster, Philip Lister

This textbook is good for non-majors or allied health. It’s free, so highly accessible for students. It’s also easy to read, aligns with ASM’s guidelines, and has good pictures and diagrams, clinical cases, and plenty of history. You could also consider using it as a supplement to your current textbook. The only place where it is lacking is that it needs environmental microbiology or microbial ecology and biotechnology chapters.

ISE Nester's Microbiology: A Human Perspective
ISE Nester’s Microbiology: A Human Perspective

Nester’s Microbiology: A Human Perspective

Authors: Denise G. Anderson Lecturer, Sarah Salm, Mira Beins, Eugene W. Nester Professor

This textbook is suitable for non-majors, nursing, allied health, and health-related majors. It’s easy to read and covers microbiology according to body systems.

Microbiology: An Introduction
Microbiology: An Introduction

Microbiology: An Introduction

Authors: Gerard Tortora, Berdell Funke, Christine Case

This textbook is good for non-majors and health-related majors. It’s easy to understand, in-depth in parts, and simple in others.

Microbe (ASM Books)
Microbe (ASM Books)

Microbe (ASM Books)

Authors: Michele S. Swanson, Elizabeth A. Joyce, Rachel E. A. Horak

This textbook is suitable for science and health-related majors. It is easy to read for some, but others feel that the writing style makes it difficult to follow.

Microbiology
Microbiology

Microbiology

Authors: Dave Wessner, Christine Dupont, Trevor Charles, Josh Neufeld

This textbook is best for majors. It provides an excellent introduction to microbiology, with a high enough level of detail for majors while not being nearly as dense as Brock (see below).

ISE Prescott's Microbiology
ISE Prescott’s Microbiology

Prescott’s Microbiology

Authors: Joanne Willey, Kathleen Sandman, Dorothy Wood

This textbook is best for majors. It is comprehensive, but some feel it has too much detail, being somewhere between Brock (see below) and Microbe (see above).

Brock Biology of Microorganisms
Brock Biology of Microorganisms

Brock Biology of Microorganisms

Authors: Michael T. Madigan, Kelly S. Bender, Daniel H. Buckley, W. Matthew Sattley, David A. Stahl

This textbook is best for majors and contains a high level of detail. Some love this textbook, but others feel it is far too dense.


These are the best microbiology textbooks that microbiology instructors recommend. Which book you choose will depend on whether you need a book at the majors or non-majors level and if you want the book to focus on health-related topics or provide a more general perspective. No matter which textbook you select, you’re sure to have a good experience teaching or learning the material.

Category: Books About MicrobesTag: books, college, textbooks

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I’m Justine Dees, a PhD microbiologist, huge microbe enthusiast, and my passion is to share the wonders of the microbial world — especially how microbes impact our daily lives — through simple, easy-to-understand articles with as little jargon as possible.

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