I have seen this book mature over the editions and the latest incarnation does the lineage proud. This is one of a select few books that deserves to be in most doctors' personal possession and it's as simple as that.
Clinical medicine impacts on every aspect of medicine and so most doctors in most specialties should have one general medical textbook in their possession and this one certainly fits the bill. This is primarily a British textbook with a wide range of contributors. However there is also an international advisory panel which gives this book global appeal and it is good to see a British textbook still slugging it out with the big guns. This is a big book and is over 1500 pages and despite being a paperback, it can survive the ravages of regular use. The depth of coverage is superb and will certainly help the majority of users from general clinicians to all the specialties. It will make a superb reference source as well.
There is extensive use of colour, boxes, tables and pictures whilst the text is eminently readable, understandable and up to date. Over several months usage, I found it comprehensive, accessible and answered the majority of my clinical medical questions with common and unusual topics covered in sensible detail. Dermatology and special senses are also covered as well as all the usual suspects.
The book alone is worth the money but you get more than this when you purchase it. You get free on line access to the full text through http: //www.studentconsult.com/ and this is marvellous. This facility can be accessed through any Internet enabled computer and is dead easy to use. Navigation is easy as is searching and the whole book is there. Also thrown are animations of practical procedures, a drug database, cardiac and breathing sounds. These are nice little extras but it is having the book online and freely accessible (being built into the purchase price) is the big boon.
The beauty of this book lies in its wide appeal which includes students and post graduates, GPs and Consultants and those in the training grades. Having an online twin to accompany the book as standard is truly fantastic. Throw in a competitive price and this makes the book a worthwhile purchase.
Dr. Harry Brown, www.univadis.co.uk
Here is what I really like about Clinical Medicine
High-quality drawings, graphs and pictures that support and emphasize the important sections in the book, the prefatory sections in every new chapter which freshens up your anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, well thought out info boxes and tables which give you an overview of the more difficult and/or complicated topics, extremely well written text which 'carries' the reader through longer chapters, the online access.
Medical Student, Copenhagen University
All the drawings, pictures, tables and flow sheets in this textbook make it easy to read and give the reader a good understanding. The book is constructed in a brilliant way for use as a reference and for repetition.
Medical Student, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim
