Biology being the study of life, the neurobiology of mental illness is a broad topic of relevance to all psychiatrists. Colleagues who dismiss molecular and animal models of human ills, perhaps sniggering that we are really quite different to ‘cells’ and ‘rats’, are missing out on some inventive and often beautiful science; just as those reductionists who triumphantly state that consciousness is an illusion neglect many other productions of that organ which most interests us.

Having said that, one has to ask who reads – let alone buys – a book as intimidating as this one in scope and size? And how on earth does one review it? For this is an awesome book. Weighing in at 3.4 kg (7.5 pounds, over half a stone) even in paperback, it contains 87 (yes!) chapters written by about 200 contributors, and is more or less equally divided into sections on basic neuroscience, clinical research methods, psychosis, mood disorder, anxiety, substance misuse, dementia, child psychiatry and ‘special topic areas’. The last 65 pages or so are a rather thorough index.

Once I felt up to my Herculean test, I wrestled with this truly magisterial tome for about 7 days using all the spare time available. Reader, you will not be surprised to learn that I did not read every one of what must be more than 100 000 words, but I swear I turned every page. I even read many chapters in full. And it was worth it! Not only do I feel virtuous, slightly ecstatic and a bit stronger, I am much better informed. Genetics, molecular biology and brain imaging get particularly thorough coverage in what are almost entirely very well-written, fairly accessible, concise summaries of hard-won neuroscientific knowledge. There are plenty of excellent clinical descriptions and therapeutics as well. Some of the chapters are wee gems – I particularly liked those on brain development, signal transduction, epigenetics, too many of the child chapters to single out, and those on the neurobiology of social attachment and resilience. I will be suggesting this book to all students and trainees up to the task of heaving it around as an unrivalled introduction to what is known about the pathophysiology of just about every type of problem we might see in psychiatric practice. It also incorporates psychosocial aspects of biology relevant to psychiatry well; certainly much better treatment than biology usually gets in psychosocial tracts.

It is therefore easy to see why this book is now in its third edition – although equally mysterious why it has taken 2 years to release the softback edition. It probably contains too much on brain scanning, particularly as we know so little about the biology of imaging findings. I also think – a counsel of perfection this – we could do with even more synthesising and even better incorporation of the impact of the environment on neurobiology. Such changes would make the next version of what was my constant companion for a week, and should be a trusted reference resource for a while yet, if not quite a timeless friend, even better. It may even have to be a bit bigger.