Book excerpt: Fundamentals of Surgical Practice is the essential textbook for the MRCS and the AFRCSEd. Exactly mirroring the unified syllabus, it gives the trainee a clear understanding of the core knowledge required to succeed in the examinations and stands apart from other textbooks in its direct relevance to the new examination. The chapters have been written by acknowledged experts in their field and the content has been designed to make learning as efficient as possible, whilst at the same time providing adequate detail, key points and suggestions for further reading.