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The author, chairman of the West Virginia Anatomy Department, has succeeded in his objective of writing a "primer" on growth of the craniofacial skeleton. In addressing dental, orthodontic, and medical students, he presents his complex subject in a unique fashion. Each chapter is divided into a preliminary overview of concepts and principles, followed by an expanded section to elaborate and reinforce the same material. The constant repetition and expansion of the discussion encourage the reader to learn in a stepwise fashion, much as in using a programmed text.
If the book is read slowly for proper digestion, one may be bothered by having to shift constantly from explanatory diagrams on the right-hand page to short blocks of descriptive text on the left. However, if one reads rapidly, keeping the excellent illustrations in mind's eye, the craniofacial growth patterns seem to animate. The processes of deposition/resorption, displacement, and remodeling are easily