The progressive distension of medical literature demands of authors and publishers alike a reduction in bulk and an increase in digestibles. Beyond mere expertise in the subject matter and an ability to communicate, the author should have something new and significant to say; otherwise, the superego should bar the ego from print. Once embarked, the responsibility of the author to the reader extends from the selection of an accurate title to the inclusion of a comprehensive and unbiased bibliography.
A recent monograph, Lung Cancer, Surgery and Survival, by John Borrie is a case in point. Although we have no reason to doubt the author's expertise, he violates the other criteria mentioned. To begin with, the title is grossly misleading. It suggests a detailed analysis of a large series of patients with an evaluation of case selection, applicable surgical procedures, and prognosis, followed by a study of similarities and differences in