This is an interesting and comprehensive monograph on the syndrome familiar to us all as 'the common cold'. Despite this familiarity, an unambiguous description of the common cold is not straightforward, especially where symptoms and causative agents are concerned and, irritatingly, many chapters contain their own redefinitions. However, the editors have generally avoided repetition and many of the chapters are data-rich, with good overviews of the epidemiology and treatments, many of which are refreshingly up-to-date. This reviewer found the chapters covering more general aspects of the syndrome - the history of the cold, 'over the counter' and herbal treatments, associated antibiotic usage - particularly informative and well-written. Important omissions are few, but include a description of the species C rhinoviruses in the catalogue of causative agents, unculturable though probably equally numerous as species A and B, and a more thorough overview of the murine model systems for studying the pathogenesis and treatment of rhinovirus infections. The book also contains a wealth of useful background information on the economic and societal impact of the common cold, and is recommended for institutional purchase.