Handbook of clinical neuropsychology

350 aspects ofneuropsychology, who apprecmtes the classxcal past and re-conceptuahses it m the methodology and technology of the present_ Benton's scientific approach, features of which are flexibility and freedom from parochmhsm, makes the Papers dehghtful reading Intentmn, design and content of his stu&es - some of which date from three decades ago - are of present interest The collection of sen'anal papers should be compulsory reading for every professional who occupies himself with neuropsychology The area of chnical neuropsychology needs more professionals of Benton's stature The editors can pride themselves m hawng found the compromise that now gwes easy access to a rich source of neuropsychologlcal knowledge A JENNEKENS-SCHINKEL J B K LANSER

Chntcal Neuropsychology, s e c o n d e d i t i o n , b y K . M . H e i l m a n a n d E . V a l e n s t e i n ( E d s . ) , O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , N e w Y o r k , O x f o r d , 1985, 540 p a g e s . I S B N 0 - 1 9 - 5 0 3 4 1 6 - 3 .

Chmcal Neuropsychology deals with behavaoral and intellectual &sorders that clearly have a neurological ongm_ The chapters have been thoroughly updated_ The homogeneity of the book has gamed by the exclusion of chapters on learmng disorders and hyperactivity Range and llmxtatlons of neuropsychologleal concepts and methods are succinctly stated and consistently adhered to In construction as well as m content the thorough, chmcal approach of this rewsed edmon of an authontatwe rewew m, again, a rehef The editors managed to produce a book that nghtly wears ~ts title On the almost replete neuropsychologacal book market Chmcal Neuropsychology offers value for money A JENNEKENS-SCHINKEL J.B K_ LANSER

Handbook of ChmcalNeuropsychology, V o l u m e 2, b y S . B . F i l s k o v a n d T h . J. B o l l ( E d s . ) , W i l e y , N e w Y o r k , 1986, 7 1 6 p a g e s . I S B N 0 - 4 7 1 - 8 8 4 1 1 - 1 . The second volume of the Handbook of ChmcalNeuropsychology is devoted to "new areas of interest" Its four parts deal with I_ Interfaces of neuropsychology with me&cme and psychology (2 chapters), II Assessment (7 chapters), III Disorders (7 chapters), and IV Current issues and future perspectives (5 chapters) The volume seems to breathe a sprat of satisfaction and accomplishment Certainly, neuropsychology may have amved as a mainstream area of knowledge and practice, current knowledge on bram-behavJour relationships ~s, stlU, m its infancy_ A suggestion that neuropsycholog~sts have arrived at a stage of using behawours "for exquisite neuroanatomlcal appreciation" ~mpresses as quite pretentious Although m chapter I uncertamty is rightly recogmsed as germane to the diagnostic and assessment enterprise, the information on the power ofneuropsychologlcal methods is almost misleading m the chapter on progress of human chmcal neuropsychology. Apparently, editorial viewpoints on the relationship between neuropsychology and its "counterparts" psychology and medicine are to be judged as fitting the optimistic evaluation of professional achievements m the area of neuropsychology. The constructxon of the volume does not meet the condltmns of conststency and completeness (edltortal selection criteria concermng speofie topics m part III are rather obscure), and the contents of some contributions do not present the critical synops~s expected from a "Handbook". Notwithstanding that, the reformation content of mdlwdual chapters is sufficient A_JENNEKENS-SCHINKEL J B K LANSER