Books in Review — 1996

Once again, we present our list of the best books reviewed in the Journal during the previous year. We receive an impressive number of books for review. Some texts are large, multiauthored compilations devoted to the broadest topics in cancer research, prevention, and treatment. Other texts are written by individual authors seeking to enlighten colleagues and the public about relatively narrow specializations or controversies. Some works are part of ongoing series, with guest editors and invited contributors, while others are collections of papers from major meetings held in exotic locales. An occasional book offers opinions so far removed from the mainstream that it would never see the light of day in the peer review world. Books cannot be as timely as journals because of the longer production times, but good books are superior in other ways. A wealth of carefully crafted figures, tables, and graphs can summarize visually the printed text. More interesting and entertaining styles of writing can convey data in a fashion rarely found in periodicals. Although most texts do not stand the test of time, the best are distinguished by their outstanding production values and writing style as well as their erudition.