The classic medical textbook tends to be overly technical, excessively detailed, profusely referenced, and the antithesis of enjoyable reading. With the expectation of many hours of hard work, I lvas unprepared for the pleasure that lay ahead. This book is what we in the United States call a " sleeper ". Without pomp or solemnity it captures you with a light-hearted style that subtly belies its sophistication. The authors have indeed mastered the art of simplicity, combining profound knowledge with an airy format, to a degree that is hard to emulate. All the salient features o. fpacing are...