Rheumatology in Practice

tion, the technical editing could have been tighter. For example, in the introductory chapter, the editors mention the book’s “1350 pages of ‘small print’”—however, my copy has only 1119 pages, including the index. Oddly, one chapter (on rehabilitation) is only available in the online version, leading me to wonder why. In another chapter, the same reference is provided twice but with different citation numbers. That said, one wonderful aspect is the feature that enables the entire book to be read online using the activation code. Even more attractive, this feature also allows the registered user to access every photograph, table, and figure for easy downloading to PowerPoint. Space does not allow me to address the vexed question, “What indeed is the role of the mega-text today?” And perhaps it is not a fair question to level at this book, because the point is relevant to all disciplines. In this domain, this fine book exhibits the same generic strengths and weaknesses of all such comprehensive efforts. In a way, such a text is out of date well before its publication. Yet a great deal of wisdom and many important facts can still be found within its pages. This enlarged, improved, cosmopolitan text will no doubt benefit any geriatrics fellows studying for their board examinations today. And if recertification ever does come to the field, I will be fortunate for having had the privilege of reviewing this beautiful compendium.