Drs Medalie and Ackerman have compiled a monograph on the subject of sentinel lymph node biopsy that should be read by every physician who counsels or cares for patients with melanoma. The importance of this monograph is that it summarizes and digests most of the important literature on this subject in one source. In 85 pages, the authors teach the theory of sentinel lymph node biopsy (in a building-block fashion). They critique the theory, review the evidence, and soundly justify their conclusion that sentinel lymph node biopsy has no benefit for patients with primary cutaneous melanoma.