This well-illustrated and well-presented book consists of ten substantial chapters contributed by 20 authors. In addition, there is an appropriate subject index. The aim of the book, inter alia, is to contribute to the 'enantiomer versus racemate' debate: this is important in relation to pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicological outcomes of useful therapeutic drugs. The important role of pharmacogenomics of individuals may be of definitive importance in these fields, especially when coupled to consideration of age, gender and to personal lifestyle choices.
Furthermore, some attention is directed towards the problems of specified drug delivery and release (see Chapter 4, pp 101-138): for example, in Chapter 1 'Effects of Crystal Structure and Physical Properties on the Release of Chiral Drugs' authored by Chiong-Hui Gu and David J W Grant (pp 1-36). Attention is drawn to the excellent concluding chapter of this book (Chapter 10, pp 419-432) by Chanra Sarawalla of the Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland, USA entitled 'Regulatory Considerations in Drug Development of Stereoisomers'. This subject can be linked to the review entitled 'Stereoselectivity in Drug Action and Disposition' (Chapter 5, pp 139-190) by Bhavesh K Patel and Andrew J Hunt at Kings College, London, England. Chiral reversions are reviewed in Chapter 8 (pp351-392). All of the ten chapters are appropriately documented: and they supply therefore