A.J. Culyer York Studies in Economics and social choice. Need and the National Health Service . Martin Robinson, 1976. Price £2.95 (paperback) £6.50 (boards)

and theoretical sophistication which should never be forgotten. Difficult human problems require sophisticated handling, and Patterson's approach is much more subtle than merely "praise the good, and ignore the bad". The manual will be welcomed by all therapists who come into contact with difficult children and their families. It should do much to improve the quality of service such clients receive. William Yule A.J. CULYER York Studies in Economics and social choice. Need and the National Health Service. Martin Robinson, 1976. Price £2.95 (paperback) £6.50 (boards) "A grammar of the NHS" is the author's description of this helpful book, which has sobering messages for all those concerned with health care, not least for members of the BABP who are interested in efficient delivery of behavioural services. As the gap widens between the public's demand for health care and the country's ability to meet it, so increasing attention is being paid to the factors which influence that demand, and how to meet as much of it as possible at the lowest cost. Only recently has there been widespread recognition of the scarcity of resources, and the impossibility of meeting all human wants. Some ordering of priorities is inevitable, and prices signal the priorities.