It's the standard intro text and it's good enough. I don't know that it stands head and shoulders above comparable texts, but it does what it sets out to do.

It's the standard intro text and it's good enough. I don't know that it stands head and shoulders above comparable texts, but it does what it sets out to do. I believe it comes with a study guide which can be useful for self-study. If the cost of a book is unappetizing, MIT's Intro to Biology on edx is great and free.