A title focussing on "empirical research" in translation studies is very attractive to the ever-increasing number of investigators of translation who have been calling for a more scientific approach than hitherto. Hence some disappointment when it turns out that of the volume's fifteen papers, only four actually report empirical endeavours and many have nothing to do with empirical research. The reason is clear: the book carries a selection of papers from the 1988 Savonlinna TRANSIF Seminar and its title reflects its theme, but as usual, some of the papers were not in line with the theme. A different title would more accurately have reflected the book's content. Similarly, the publishers could have done without the "articles by internationally known scholars" on the back page. Some are, some are yet to be, and this type of 'sales talk' may do more harm than good to what is basically an academic book.