Modern microscopy allows the life scientist to produce seductively beautiful images with powerful techniques developed by brilliant physical optical scientists, and yet be nearly completely confused with regard to the importance of the results. This is because modern microscopes are something like Lotus race cars: they have all the performance to fly in the hands of an experienced user, or crash and burn spectacularly in the hands of a novice. There is therefore great need for a comprehensive and accurate but accessible "drivers manual" for modern microscopical techniques.