Book excerpt: 'The very last thing a drug regulator wishes to be able to say is, like Lord Byron (1788-1824), on the publication of his poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, 'I awoke one morning and found myself famous.' The twelfth edition of this long-established textbook of clinical pharmacology (first published in 1960) continues its fine tradition of balancing science and practice for improved evidence-based drug therapy and good prescribing in therapeutic settings increasingly complicated by intercurrent disease and polypharmacy. - Coverage of all major therapeutic topics by body system. - Introductory sections give brief chapter synopses. - Case studies where relevant. - Covers the needs of the developing world with a focus on practical prescribing and health technology assessment. - Definition, tips, brief explanation boxes throughout. - Interesting histories, etymologies and provenances of terms throughout. - Entertaining footnotes throughout. - Fully updated throughout. - New co-editor: Fraz Mir, Addenbrooke's Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge. - Now with free e-book on StudentConsult.