Over the last 20 years, the size, weight, and number of surgical textbooks has expanded in parallel with the expansion of surgical technology. Despite the morbid obesity that afflicts so many medical and surgical texts, Dr Nora and the other 120 authors of this book have managed somehow to limit his third edition still to just one, only slightly overweight, volume. For that, among other things, they should be commended.
As stated in the preface, "The book is intended to be a guide for the surgeon in training faced with the selection of an operative procedure, including review of all operative steps, cautions, pitfalls, and the like. It should also be of value as a review for senior surgeons who are contemplating a procedure less frequently performed." In my opinion, it succeeds admirably, and I would even submit that, except for its price, it is suitable for third- or fourth-year