Book excerpt: This book series is an official publication of the G.I.S. (Grupo Italiano Scoliosi - Italian Scoliosis Research Group), an association of highly specialized orthopaedic surgeons which was founded about ten years ago with the aim of enhancing knowledge and research in the basic science, diagnosis and therapy of vertebral diseases. Gathering the most remarkable papers presented at the annual meeting of the G.I.S., the series represents the best of current practice and research in the field of Spinal Pathology throughout the whole of Italy. From the foreword by R.B. Winter: "The Italian Group for the Study of Scoliosis is to be commended for its systematic "attack" on subjects related to vertebral deformity. In this volume, the subject is adult scoliosis. The papers herein presented cluster around three themes: (1) the natural history of scoliosis in adults, (2) the surgical treatment of scoliosis with particular reference to the quality of correction balanced against the complications of the surgery, and (3) the benefits of treatment, particularly in regards to pain and respira tory function."