I don't strictly require any textbooks for my courses, but I strongly recommend that you purchase (or borrow) at least one. There are several textbooks devoted to general biology. Any of them will provide you with the necessary information. The main difference is that they will vary in the way the material is presented to you. There is no single book that is best for every student. If you want to have a textbook that features the same figures that I will present in my lectures, then I suggest that you use the textbook that appears in my syllabus. However, you'll have access to all of those slide shows, anyway, via the website. Also, whichever book you choose, there's no great need to buy the latest (and therefore most expensive) edition. Below you will find links to new and used copies of the textbooks I use for my courses, as well as several other books that might help you. They are only suggestions. Also, if you prefer to wait until after my first lecture to purchase books, that will be no problem.

The important thing is for you to have a textbook that is useful to you personally. All of my examinations will feature questions taken directly from my lectures. Nearly all of that information can be found in just about any general biology textbook.