Many scientists are enticed into editing books or journals by assurances that there is nothing much to the work and that it will take very little of their (often unpaid) time. Editing is complex, time-consuming, and often exhausting. The purpose of the book is to tell beginners as much as possible about the many facts of editing, and to explore the responsibilities of editors towards author, readers and science itself. The book will be useful to scientist, editors in all fields of science, to copy editors, and to others working in publishing houses.