MD This is one of the more entertaining and informative of the plethora of recent good books about this most common of all neurological diseases. The charm and care with which it has been prepared will be no surprise to neurologists who have met Dr James Lance, a friend of American neurology and a scholar who has written so well for so long on so many topics. His prolific coauthor, Dr Peter Goadsby, has also contributed heavily to this edition, most particularly regarding new concepts of pathophysiology. Despite having 2 authors, the book manifests an attractive unity of style and purpose. While intended as an update on recent advances for clinicians, there are sections that would be useful to copy for patients who want to learn more about their head pain.
Explanations are clear, general advice is practical, and sympathy for the patient is apparent.
The selection of references is superb, and they are used when needed, and if they are not needed a chapter may have none. The chapter on pathophysiology has more than 250 references, and a very high percentage of all the references here and elsewhere in the book are from the past decade. When possible, the authors give contrasting alternative views for example, whether or not magnesium therapy helps for prophylaxis of migraine. This balanced approach is also seen in the discussion of the long-held view that migraine and epilepsy are linked. The authors first present several articles that downplay any significance, then review reports that with rolandic epilepsy in particular, there is a positive association.