Biom. J. 36 (1994) 1. 16

Book Review

LEE, ELSA T.: S t a t i s t i c a l M e t h o d s f o r S u r v i v a l D a t a Analysis , John Wiley and Sons, New York 1992, XII, 482 pp., E 47.50.

I agree with the author when she remarks in the preface of the second edition of 'Statistical Methods for Survival Data Analysis" that this book "can be used as a reference resource or textbook."

Firstly, I would like to concentrate on the latter. The scope of the book has been extended in order to reach a greater variety of research and application fields according to the most recent trends. There is a great profusion of real-life examples which to a certain degree j u d i e s the lack of a high mathematical level. The exercises a t the end of each chapter are designed, in a very didactical way, for the readers to practice the knowledges acquired.

Secondly, if I had to define what I understand as a reference resource I would say that it must be self-contained, with many examples, and a clear and parsimonious style of exposition. This book fulfills all of them. Beginning with the definitions of survival functions and their relationships, the most commonly used parametric and nonparametric methods in suMval data analysis are introduced in an understandable and comprehensive way. The treatment of planning and design of clinical trials deserves a special mention. This important subject is very frequently neglected in other books, but this is not the case in the present one.

The last chapter includes some topics related in many ways with those handled with in previous chapters. Among them I want to emphasize the consideration given to the preparation of protocols conceived not as a set of rules but as a collection of recommendations out of experience.

As a whole, "Statistical Methods for Survival Data Analysis" is a highly recommendable book as well as a paradigm of an application oriented work.

A. G o d l e z