You’re an instructor looking for a Free, Open-Source Human Biology Textbook.

Look no further!


We offer a free download of an OpenStax-based textbook, Human Biology: An Introduction to the Body's Organization, Structure, and Function. This comprehensive resource can be adopted for your college-level human biology course, providing a solid foundation for your students' understanding of the human body.

Instructors are impressed with the Human Biology textbook!

This Human Biology textbook exceeded my expectations. Its clear organization, comprehensive text, high-quality illustrations, and valuable links to supplementary materials make it an outstanding choice for instructors. I also appreciate the accompanying student resources provided through Biology411.com. This free textbook is perfect for human biology instructors who want to provide their students with accessible, high-quality learning materials.

- Theresa Martin, Professor of Biology, College of San Mateo

This textbook is an excellent resource for students to learn human biology. The information in the chapters is well organized, accurate, and effectively integrates visual and textural information. This is a high-quality textbook that will enable students to understand and appreciate the amazing workings of the human body. Plus, the companion student resources are very helpful in reinforcing student comprehension.

- Scott Croes, Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District

VIEW TABLE OF CONTENTS

Why adopt the textbook?

  • Free Download: Save your students money and provide them with an openly available resource they can easily access. This free resource eliminates the burden of expensive textbooks, making Human Biology more accessible for all students.
  • Comprehensive Content: The textbook presents complex topics in a clear and concise manner, promoting better understanding and retention. Cover the key concepts of human biology, from the cellular level to organ systems and their functions.
  • Informative Visuals: Captivating illustrations and figures enhance the written content and provide a more engaging learning experience.
  • TED-Ed Integration: Over 90 linked TED-Ed videos (see example) throughout the chapters offer students a concise and entertaining way to delve deeper into key concepts.
  • Flexible Learning: This textbook can be used as a standalone resource or alongside your preferred lectures and activities. Students can access the textbook digitally or in printed form, catering to individual learning styles.
  • Adaptability: The open-source format allows you to customize the content to fit your specific course curriculum.
  • Instructor Resources:Adopters of the textbook are provided with a variety of Instructor Resources including Image Files, Student Study Guides, etc.

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Students are impressed with the Human Biology textbook!

“I’ve never owned a biology book, but I found the information helpful with the study materials! It was explained in a way I could understand. I will be reading it again after the course, so thank you for the book!”

“I really like the formatting of the textbook; it made it easier to read. Also, bolding the terms made it easy to find information about something I forgot about.”

“It was an excellent textbook that I intend to keep on my bookshelf for future reference.”

“I really enjoyed how the book presented the content, including the imagery and language.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the textbook download is free - for students and instructors.  Professor Cushwa is committed to using Open Education Resources (OERs) to save students money. 



Simply enter your contact information in the form below, and the textbook PDF file will be sent to your email.



Yes! We offer students the Student Companion Resources to allow them to solidify and assess their knowledge and understanding of the content. The cost to them is only $28 for 4.5 months access to these resources.




Yes! If, after reviewing the textbook, you decide to adopt it, we have COMPLIMENTARY Instructor Resources for you. You can view those here.

Meet William Cushwa, PhD


William (Willy) Cushwa is a biology instructor with more than 30 years of combined teaching experience at the high school, community college, and university levels.

For the past 29 years, he has taught a Human Biology course at Clark College in Vancouver, WA for students who aren’t science majors. Willy strives to create resources to help these students learn, understand, and appreciate their bodies’ complexity.

In 2015, Professor Cushwa compiled a free Human Biology textbook using OpenStax resources to save his students money. Based on the positive feedback from other instructors and students, he began a two-year project to compile a more comprehensive textbook (Human Biology - An Introduction to the Body’s Organization, Structure, and Function), providing a no-cost alternative to traditional publisher options. Biology411.com was established in 2023 to make this textbook available to instructors and students. Knowing that most Human Biology students will benefit from additional learning and assessment resources, Professor Cushwa also created extensive Student Companion Resources.

Get a copy of the textbook to review!

Just enter your information below and we’ll send you a copy of the FREE textbook by email for you to review.