This text is written for medical professionals involved in obtaining and interpreting MR images, and presented to the reader in a visual, image-based style. The author's intention is to succinctly explain the scientific principles of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, convey an appreciation for the signal encoding and decoding processes employed in MR, and cultivate in the reader a working understanding of the contrast mechanisms which apply in the acquisition and display of MR data. In addition, the text will also provide the reader with the conceptual tools require to keep abreast of innovations in the field, while serving as a ready reference for questions relating to image quality and artifacts, allowing readers to critically evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the different systems and techniques available for clinical MR imaging.