The Handbook of Neurosurgery by Marc Greenberg has now been released in its sixth edition. Since publication of its first edition in 1990 it has always been updated according to the newest knowledge and publications in the neurosurgical field. For a short period the handbook was divided into two separate books. This strategy has been left behind in the sixth edition and the handbook returns to being a real and single handbook that can be kept in any pocket of a resident’s white coat during night shift.

The handbook contains up-to-date information on anatomy, physiology, imaging and diagnosis, differential diagnosis and various treatment options, respectively. The discipline of neurosurgery is dealt with in such a manner as to fulfil the demand for completeness. The information is presented in a very clear, condensed and comprehensive manner and can therefore be understood quickly if necessary. Also, identically complete information is listed for important differential diagnosis from neighbouring disciplines such as clinical neurology in the same way as for the primary neurosurgical topics. The publication contains the most important references including the most recent literature on the various topics which stimulates the reader to further reading in either specialized textbooks or the original publications. The index is sufficient to help the reader quickly find the topic that one is interested in.

In the sixth edition new features such as highlighted text boxes which reduce the text to very condensed information that points out only the extremely important issues are very helpful when the reader lacks time for further reading. Boxes indicating information on evidence-based medicine information have been added to the text. Class I evidence is referred to as “standard”, whereas class II evidence is called guidelines and class III evidence is an option. New sections on post-operative headache, ankylosing spondylitis, spontaneous intracranial hypotension, etc. have been added, which further help to enhance the impression of completeness of the Handbook of Neurosurgery.

In summary, this handbook is a “good must buy” for every neurosurgeon, not only the resident, because it helps us to have a quick and reliable reference, especially in cases that we usually do not treat in our daily routine.