The title of this slim paperback is somewhat misleading, as it covers considerably more than reading scientific papers (including how to deal with a visit from a drug rep!). There are two chapters which orientate the reader on why and how to keep abreast of the medical literature, including its electronic forms, nine on various aspects of reading papers, and one on implementing evidence based data. All necessary skills for the medical academic, of course, or for someone approaching a little aired but thorny issue. However, the author works in primary care, and much of her guidance seems directed towards drug trials, and particularly to the needs of her colleagues who may be wondering “how shall I treat the patient actually sitting in my surgery today?”. Good as the advice she gives may be, it is difficult to picture the general practitioner, medical registrar, or even less the tyro casualty officer, asking the patient to wait while he or she boots the computer and searches the medical literature, starting with a couple of systematic reviews and delving into an …