The third edition of the Essential Neurology continues to live up to its title, and will provide the medical students with the essential knowledge of neurology and neurosurgery required for qualification. For this edition the author has written a new first chapter, which integrates the traditional pre-clinical and clinical phases to correspond to the new medical curriculum. A student at any stage should therfore be able to use the book. The illustrations have been improved and the text updated and slightly condensed, to make neurology as easy to understand as possible.