The subject matter of this book is the libel laws in Britain. Make no mistake, though, this is not a dusty, legal tome, this is the pop version and it's riveting. Hooper, a lawyer with a prominent London firm, has a comprehensive knowledge of the system but, coupled with it, he has a wonderfully droll writing style and a wealth of experience in the subject area. The vagaries of the libel laws are explained by giving popular examples of the various winners and losers - Elton John, Robert Maxwell, Lord Archer etc. The regular reader will be entertained and educated. For those who need to be aware of the idiosyncrasies of the libel laws, this book is a gem. For those whose stock-in-trade is the publication of information, it should be compulsory - up there on the shelf next to the dictionary and the legal department's phone number.