This is probably the most comprehensive English guide to health statistics. It is certainly more user friendly than Dr Alderson's previous Routine central government health statistics. In its central nine chapters the background, presentation and use of the principal routine statistics on mortality, registration and infectious disease notifications are summarised using a common layout. The descriptions, examples and references are mostly from England and Wales, although quotations and references from other countries (mostly USA, Scandinavia and New Zealand) and from the WHO are sprinkled throughout.