Bell and Morris (both forensic science, West Virginia U.) offer a textbook for a graduate or undergraduate course, or for individual study, introducing the bare fundamentals of using microscopes in biology, healthcare, and chemistry. Assuming students have taken mathematics through algebra, enough physics to understand optics, and some chemistry, they intentionally keep their treatment concise, leaving such matters as polarizing light and fluorescence to more advanced and specialized courses. The discuss light and matter, fundamentals of light and optics, types of microscopes, Kohlerb illumination, preparing and manipulating samples, micrometry, photomicrography, polarized (not polarizing) light microscopy, basic crystallography, and chemical microscopy. Answers to the questions are provided. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)