"Microbiology: A Systems Approach" is a non-majors microbiology textbook that has quickly become known for its unique organization, appealing writing style, and current medical applications. Cowan/Talaro utilizes an organ systems approach, but unlike any other book, this text first describes the clinical presentation (the particular set of symptoms) and then all of the organisms that could cause the symptom as opposed to just providing a long list of organisms to study. This treatment is unique and represents a real difference in the method of teaching microbiology.