Treatment of the aorta and its branch vessels is one of the major areas of interest for vascular surgeons. As stated in the foreword of Surgery of the Aorta and Its Branches, the last decade has seen tremendous advances in this field, including improvements in operative results for thoracoabdominal and visceral reconstruction, detection and management of perioperative complications, and the development of endovascular interventional techniques. In the preface, Dr Gewertz states that the purpose of this text is to address the "full range of aortic surgery" and provide "up-to-date data, along with those personal insights that enhance judgment in difficult situations." He and his coeditors have succeeded admirably.