Book excerpt: SOAP for Family Medicine features 90 clinical problems with each case presented in an easy to read 2-page layout. Each step presents information on how that case would likely be handled. Questions under each category teach the students important steps in clinical care. Blackwell's new SOAP series is a unique resource that also provides a step-by-step guide to learning how to properly document patient care. Covering the problems most commonly encountered on the wards, the text uses the familiar "SOAP" note format to record important clinical information and guide patient care. SOAP format puts the emphasis back on the patient's clinical problem not the diagnosis. This series is a practical learning tool for proper clinical care, improving communication between physicians, and accurate documentation. The books not only teach students what to do, but also help them understand why. Students will find these books a "must have" to keep in their white coat pockets for wards and clinics.