Drs Paesler and Moyer present a comprehensive overview of the research to date in near-field optics, including their own progress in the field. Clearly written and readable passages cover both the theory and applications of near-field microscopy, as well as a primer on the discipline's history. As the field is relatively young but quickly growing, having centralized access to seminal works is a real benefit. Having one of the authors (Moyer) as a graduate advisor, I was able to take first-hand advantage of his expertise in my own near-field research; for those who don't have the luxury of one-on-one interaction with the authors, their book is the next best thing.