This second edition of , written almost a quarter of a century after the ground-breaking first edition, is more than an update: it is a complete revision due to tremendous advances in the field. Our understanding of the fundamental neuronal mechanisms underlying epileptic phenomena, as well as current diagnosis and treatment, have been heavily influenced over the past several decades by seminal neuroscientific developments, particularly the introduction of molecular neurobiology, genetics, and modern neuroimaging. According to the World Health Organization, epilepsy accounts for 1% of the global burden of disease, equivalent to breast cancer in women and lung cancer in men. Among primary disorders of the brain, it is equivalent to depression, dementia, and substance abuse. Singly authored by Jerome Engel, Jr, this must-read from 1989 reasserts itself as a modern classic comprehensive textbook covering a broad range of both basic and clinical epileptology. Basic scientists who are interested in learning more about clinical epileptology, as well as clinicians who would like to understand more about fundamental mechanisms will find this text useful. Residents and postdoctoral fellows, particularly those interested in a career in epilepsy, will benefit from the continuity and organization of this single-authored comprehensive textbook.