Having enjoyed the previous editions of Roberton’s textbook of neonatology, I set out with high expectations of the fourth edition. I have to say that, on the whole, I was impressed. While providing good, in-depth cover of the essential bread and butter topics of neonatology, it also managed to touch on a wealth of additional subjects and many more unusual conditions as well. Indeed, I struggled (and failed) to find any major omissions.

Explicit accounts of epidemiology, organisation and evaluation of perinatal care and outcome after preterm birth set the scene for neonatology as it is known today. There are chapters on psychological …