This is the second edition of a general textbook on physics in medicine. It covers a wide range of topics including endoscopes, lasers, ultrasound, radiology, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and magnetic resonance imaging.
The chapter on endoscopes provides a good basic introduction to the theory of light and how this can be exploited to see inside the body. The physics is basic, at about A-level standard, and as a consequence is easy to understand. The description of endoscopes is reasonably comprehensive and up-to-date, as it includes a camera pill. As with all chapters, there is a list of multimedia resources and a bibliography. There are also a series of questions derived from the text.
Readers of the journal are most likely to be interested in the chapters dealing with imaging techniques in radiology or radiation therapy. These chapters cover the subject in a concise way, but probably do not go into enough detail for radiology, radiography or medical physics trainees. While much of the material is very good and clearly written, it is really an introduction to the topic rather than a detailed exposition.
In summary, I found this book to be an interesting and enjoyable read, with good material for teachers of physics in medicine. Unfortunately, it does not meet the requirements of radiology, radiography or medical physics trainees, so I would not recommend it to them. Its probable readership is A-level students or perhaps graduate students looking for a primer on a specific subject. It is quite expensive, even when bought on the internet.
January 2010