As the motto ‘publish or perish’ is encroaching all spheres of medical professions, this volume, A-Z of Medical, has all the gimmicks for such a situation. It is written by Tim Albert, well known guru of medical writing. In this volume, he has assembled his vast knowledge in medical writing into easy accessible reading for all. The volume takes its reader on a journey into the art and science of medical writing without much of the undue headache often encountered in many of such books. Its aim is to “give support, encouragement, and informed advice so that people who have found (medical) writing hard will somehow find it less hard’. According to the author it should either be dipped into “during an otherwise idle moment” and/or used “for advice and encouragement when you have a specific writing problem”. Without much jargon, and with any bombastic concepts duly defined for you, this volume should pride itself as reader friendly. This is relevant considering that achievement in medical sciences writing is increasingly perceived to be source of pride - or a difficult challenge for those who aspire to it. It certainly is an amusing and witty volume for dipping in to with such entries as “Monologophobia”, “Polyfantophilia” and ‘Yellow marker test” with outright jokes entries like “Green Ink Brigade” and “Fish and chip wrappers” – the latter perhaps only comprehensible to anyone who is well versed in British humour, but not necessary cockney. In this respect, a medical writer may glean some useful tips as he or she browses through the volume in an “idle moment” and feel encouraged by the thoughts of an expert in the field. It is doubtful, however, whether a medical writer can use this volume for advice with a “specific writing problem”. Although alphabetically arranged, the volume has neither an alphabetical index nor a list of possible problems linked to relevant entries. This means that finding advice is difficult without wasting much time. For example, very good advice for writers is to “keep it short and simple”, but this advice is found under the entry “KISS”; similarly, starting with a well thought out idea or study is helpful advice, but who would think to look for this under the heading “Icarus fallacy”? ÌÈf�÷]<<Ìe^j”÷]<ª<^È÷]<±c<Ã÷˘]<‡⁄  BOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEW A-Z of Medical Writing Author: Tim Albert Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, BMJ Books, 2000, 3rd Impression 2003 ISBN: 0-7279-1487-1 Orders: www.bmjbooks.com SQU Med J, December 2010, Vol. 10, Iss. 3, pp. 418-419, Epub. 14th Nov 10 Submitted - 28th Sept 10 Tim Albert Book Review | 419 Excellent entries, with slightly more relevant titles, can be found under “Brief setting” – how initial planning is essential in the writing process – and “Branching” - using spider charts and mind maps to brainstorm all aspects of the topic you wish to write about. The obvious target audience of this volume is health professionals. Doctors tend to perceive their daily encounters as coming to grips with ‘dis-ease’. One may wonder why such a common dis-ease as medical writing distress has yet to be medicalised. Maybe there is no such need anymore, as this book, offers help to all. If one requires a second opinion, then this volume provides additional resources, cross-referenced for the reader follow. Without flipping its pages, the volume looks thin, but it is written in small font so good value for your money; however, if you have hyperopia, make sure your reading glasses are handy. To conclude, having this volume to hand is essential if you want to revise your writing skills in those idle moments and be amused at the same time. r e v i e w e r s Samir Al-Adawi Depaartment of Behavioural Medicine College of Medicine & Health Science Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman Email: samir1964@gmail.com Meriel Carboni SQU Medical Journal College of Medicine & Health Science Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman Email: mjournal@.squ.edu.om