Dr Samman has presented us with a third edition of his now classic manual on nails. His is a brief, practical book. He introduces us to the subject with a chapter on the normal anatomy and physiology of nails. The following chapter, which is devoted to nail symptoms, describes the limited reaction patterns of nails. In the heart of the book, there is a succession of brief chapters dealing with the common nail diseases and with disorders, such as psoriasis, that typically produce changes in the nails. Dr Samman's prose is clear and eminently readable, and his presentation is never tentative or ambiguous. He bases his conclusions primarily on his own experience. His approach is in no wise encyclopedic. At the end of each chapter, there are a few key references, but a detailed examination of the literature dealing with nails is not attempted. This is a fine volume. It