**Summary:** *Translating as a Purposeful Activity: Functionalist Approaches Explained* by Christiane Nord is a comprehensive text on functionalist approaches to translation. Nord, a leading figure in translation studies, explains complex theories and terms in simple language with numerous examples. The book covers the development of functionalist theories, key ideas, and applications in translator training, literary translation, interpreting, and ethics. It includes a new chapter on recent developments and a foreword by Georges Bastin. Nord is a professor emerita at the University of Applied Sciences of Magdeburg and has held various academic positions in Germany and China. The book is essential for students and professionals in translation studies. The *Translation Theories Explored* series, edited by Theo Hermans, aims to engage with the diversity of contemporary translation studies. It explores various approaches, including functionalism, deconstruction, and stylistic approaches, and provides critical reflections and case studies. The series is aimed at researchers and graduate students interested in new approaches to translation. The book discusses the concept of translation as a purposeful activity, emphasizing the role of the translator as an intermediary between cultures. It explores the theory of action, the concept of Skopos (purpose), and the importance of cultural context in translation. Nord also addresses criticisms of functionalism, such as the claim that not all translations have a purpose and that functionalism may not respect the original text. The book includes a chapter on functionalism in literary translation and a new chapter on Skopos theory and functionalism in the new millennium. It also discusses the application of functionalism in legal and religious texts, as well as in adaptation and transfer studies. The book concludes with a glossary and a list of references, including a commented bibliography of key functionalist texts.**Summary:** *Translating as a Purposeful Activity: Functionalist Approaches Explained* by Christiane Nord is a comprehensive text on functionalist approaches to translation. Nord, a leading figure in translation studies, explains complex theories and terms in simple language with numerous examples. The book covers the development of functionalist theories, key ideas, and applications in translator training, literary translation, interpreting, and ethics. It includes a new chapter on recent developments and a foreword by Georges Bastin. Nord is a professor emerita at the University of Applied Sciences of Magdeburg and has held various academic positions in Germany and China. The book is essential for students and professionals in translation studies. The *Translation Theories Explored* series, edited by Theo Hermans, aims to engage with the diversity of contemporary translation studies. It explores various approaches, including functionalism, deconstruction, and stylistic approaches, and provides critical reflections and case studies. The series is aimed at researchers and graduate students interested in new approaches to translation. The book discusses the concept of translation as a purposeful activity, emphasizing the role of the translator as an intermediary between cultures. It explores the theory of action, the concept of Skopos (purpose), and the importance of cultural context in translation. Nord also addresses criticisms of functionalism, such as the claim that not all translations have a purpose and that functionalism may not respect the original text. The book includes a chapter on functionalism in literary translation and a new chapter on Skopos theory and functionalism in the new millennium. It also discusses the application of functionalism in legal and religious texts, as well as in adaptation and transfer studies. The book concludes with a glossary and a list of references, including a commented bibliography of key functionalist texts.