'Robert Becker is an experienced educator in palliative care nursing. His wealth of experience shows in the preparation of the second edition of this well-respected textbook. It is aimed at a specific market- British nursing students. The way information is presented in easily 'predigested' chunks can be seen either as helpful to busy students or as contributing to a trend that does not encourage scholarly skills. While I am sympathetic to students who are required to learn many topics in their basic curriculum, I found it an unsatisfying read with little ?flow?. The text is liberally sprinkled with strategies to get students' attention such as 'reflective activity', 'reflective point' and self-assessment tests. These are generally helpful, although I am concerned that some of the ?right? answers are based on 'received wisdom' rather than research. For example, there is overwhelming enthusiasm for care pathways and end of life care tools with little acknowledgement of the variable evidence in support of them. The book is intended as a basic introductory text and offers comprehensive coverage of the main topics, with most attention placed on pain management and other types of symptom control. There is a good section dealing with 'life closure skills'. It was good to see emphasis placed on the multicultural needs for end of life care. The author acknowledges diversity and how hard it is to 'get things right'. This book will be a useful purchase for nursing students, but I hope that nurse teachers will encourage students to take a critical stance on some of the claims it makes.' - Sheila Payne, director, International Observatory on End of Life Care, Lancaster University, Cancer Nursing Practice, April 2011, Volume 10, Number 3

New second edition is comprehensive and contemporary. Palliative Lecturer.