Despite the title of "Guide", this book is a relatively detailed introduction to the biochemistry of phospholipids. the author's goal is to provide a "gentle" introduction to phospholipids without losing the important nuances of lipid chemistry. In this clearly written book, Hanahan has organized the material extremely well and presents the material in a way that relates the structures to their biological activity. Because key examples are given throughout, the reader new to lipids will have a resource that brings many aspects (preparation, identification, and distribution) together in one place with a good list of references for follow-up on some details. These references would be very useful to a comparative biochemist who wishes to study lipids from lower vertebrates or invertebrates.

With methodology running through each chapter, the book has two main sections. The first three chapters give an excellent background and overview of lipid and phospholipid biochemistry. The final three chapters deal with three specific phospholipid classes: choline-containing phospholipids, non-choline phospholipids, and minor phospholipids such as platelet activating factor.

Chapter 1, Introduction to Lipids, is a concise summary of nomenclature, structure, stereochemistry and sources of the common lipids. The author brings in historical aspects of the diverse spectrum of biological activities, including cofactor behavior, in this introductory chapter. In Chapter 2, Phospholipid(s) Associations in Cellular Structures, we are treated to an excellent summary of the underlying bonding important to interactions of phospholipids both with each other and with other molecules such as proteins.

Two other chapters are especially useful. Chapter 3, Isolation and Identification of Cellular Phospholipids, would be especially useful in biochemistry lab courses, with its discussion of solvent effects. In Chapter 6, Minor Phospholipids, the emphasis shifts from the more abundant phospholipids to phospholipids involved in signal transduction, such as platelet activating factor, lysophosphatidic acid (lyso PA), phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin, and sphingosine-1-phosphoric acid. Whether you are a biochemistry teacher or a student, this book is an excellent introduction to the subtleties of lipids and will act as a guide to those wishing to extend these studies to bacterial, animal, or plant species.