Biomechanics: Mechanical Properties of Living Tissues

Professor Fung is considered the father of bioengineering and founder of biomechanics. Winner of Timoshenko and Poiseulle medals he's an Engineer that started to study physiology when his mother was diagnosed with glaucoma in 1957. I am trained as a Medical Doctor and Molecular Biologist but being the son of a Professor of Civil Engineering made me understand the importance that structural engineering has in Medicine and Biology. Now I am interested in nuclear matrix and lamins(as they are connected to aging phenomena) so I am training myself in Biomechanics, and I found that this book is the strating point. I recommend this book to all Structural Engineers,Biomedical Engineers, MDs and Cellular and Molecular Biologists that want to understand this field.

What I would say is not a comprehensive review of what the great book talks, but just telling you a truth: if you have engineering and mathamatics background and wanna combine your background to do research in physiology, Fung's book is absolutely a must-buy. This book is profound, but it is actually rooted in nearly all fields of biomechanics research. It is a conclusion for biomechanics research till 1980's; also this book is a truly great reference for all current researchers who are interested in biomedical research in point of view of a mathamatician and engineer.

Fung takes a continuum mechanics approach to the principles that underly the human body. All of the ideas in the text are backed up with solid research and easy to understand equations, as well as text descriptions. Fung is also responsible for researching many of the ideas of biomechanics, and so, the text takes on a personal view not found in other books. All in all, the best book out there for introductory biomechanics, but one that you will use for the rest of your life.