Book excerpt: Cognitive Linguistics (CL) has an edge over other modern linguistic theories in that it takes performance (or usage) seriously, i.e. it recognizes the importance of data in the context of a theoretical framework. CL has made use of (non-constructed) data and statistical analyses since the very beginning. The volume illustrates elegantly the historical development and value of the different quantitative methods in use in the CL framework and explains their numerous implications for modern linguistics in general. Unique selection of seminal articles, Highly accessible introductory chapter by leading specialist, Requires no previous knowledge of quantitative methods, A must-have for students of linguistics.