An accurate and rather dogged description of medicine in our lives which tends to be straightforward, almost textbook-like. Arranged in four major sections paralleling the major systems of the body (""The Breath of Life,"" ""The Stream of Life,"" etc.) the text ranges far and wide, moving among term after complex biological term. Its most valuable use is as a reference source and as such it is dependent upon the quite adequate index. The topical coverage is similar to the old Ritchie Calder Wonderful World of Medicine but the style and perspicacity make it more sophisticated.