chapter 1 The Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation / chapter 2 Etiology and Pathogenesis of Atrial Fibrillation / chapter 3 Electrophysiological Mechanisms Relating to Pharmacological Therapy of Atrial Fibrillation / chapter 4 Preclinical Models: What Clinical Lessons Have We Learned? / chapter 5 Rate Control Versus Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm / chapter 6 Strategies for Rate Control / chapter 7 Atrial Fibrillation and Anticoagulation / chapter 8 Cardioversion / chapter 9 Pharmacological Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation / chapter 10 Maintenance of Normal Sinus Rhythm with Antiarrhythmic Drugs / chapter 11 Device Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation / chapter 12 Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation -- chapter 13 Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery / chapter 14 The Last Word: Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation in the Recent Past and in the Future