In a sweepingly comprehensive volume, Hoffman discusses the biochemical basis of medical practice. The material, and there is a tremendous amount of it, he sets forth lucidly, yet in a boiled-down fashion. This has made necessary an economy of words. The style, therefore, sometimes becomes clipped, but each short sentence is laden with meaning. The busy clinician will be grateful. With the exception of a portion contributed by Littman, the work represents the views of a single author. Hoffman's presentation, wellordered and easily understood, is enriched by the estimates and opinions born of his own extensive experience as director of biochemistry in a 3,000-bed general hospital, where he participated in clinical management and conducted weekly clinical biochemical conferences. Where the biochemical-physiological exposition does not allow a fully logical story, he often, with a teacher's license, resorts to teleological reasoning. This does not detract from the value of the work. The