This authoritative text represents the 5th edition of a classic series of textbooks edited by Irwin M. Arias and a distinguished group of associate editors including Harvey J. Alter, James L. Boyer, David E. Cohen, Nelson Fausto, David A. Shafritz, and Allan W. Wolkoff. Since the first edition in 1982, this series has succeeded since its inception in providing readers with state-ofthe-art, concise reviews of key principles and major advances in molecular physiology that underlie the pathophysiology of liver diseases. The 2010 edition certainly does not disappoint, and represents a monumental revision from the 1999 edition, including 60 new chapters by 155 authors who represent a cross-section of disciplines including molecular physiology, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, pathology, genetics, pharmacology, toxicology, cancer biology, biomedical engineering, biophysics, and computer science. The book has 1216 pages and is organized into 6 sections, including those focused on: ‘‘The Cells’’ (hepatocytes, bile secretion, sinusoidal), ‘‘Interrelated Cell Functions,’’ ‘‘Relation to Other Organs,’’ ‘‘Pathobiological Analysis,’’ and ‘‘Horizons.’’ The final section is the most provocative in this textbook, and highlights the most exciting recent scientific advances that the editors describe as ‘‘of extraordinary nature,’’ and which they believe to have a substantial impact on current and future hepatology investigation, including liver tissue engineering, liver-directed gene therapy, decoding the liver cancer genome, new applications in proteomics, small RNAs, and stem cell biology, and advances in imaging of cellular proteins and structure. Overall, despite the challenges of creating uniformity of language and format given its size and diversity of authorship, this textbook is logically organized, well-written, and concise in most sections. My detailed review of the chapters addressing advances in viral hepatitis were surprisingly up-to-date on important concepts that will impact this field in the coming years. Although this will certainly not be read ‘‘cover to cover,’’ and cannot possibly report the minute-to-minute advances as reported in primary literature, it will serve as an excellent background reference for MD and PhD students and seasoned researchers alike. In midst of rapid changes and advances in hepatic pathobiology, the editors succeeded in capturing among the most important trends in liver investigation, and were prescient in creating an online forum at gastrohep. com for additional web-only chapters that may supplement the printed text. This may be best categorized as the goto textbook for clinical, translational, and laboratory researchers who seek to understand the most important ‘‘bench to bedside’’ advances in hepatology.