This book contains six sets of lectures by internationally respected researchers on the statistical physics of crystal growth. The emphasis in the papers is on a description of underlying mechanisms and elaboration of simple models that provide a transparent physical picture. Viewed from a novel vantage point, they cover not only very recent developments in the phenomena of shape and growth, but also reflect on old problems that have not always received the attention they deserve. Contributors include P. Nozières, C. Caroli, B. Caroli, B. Roulet, J.S. Langer, Y. Pomeau, M. Ben Amar, L. Sander, J. Krug and H. Spohn.