Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 06 Nov 2008
An absolutely vital handbook that helped me significantly through medical school. Although it's nowhere near as comprehensive as separate textbooks are, it's an invaluable aide memoir that does go into significant detail.

An essential buy, but its not quite OHCM..., 24 Mar 2008
'Salt and Vinegar', as this book has affectionately come to be know, has become something of a bible to a 3rd year med student. It has most of the information you'd need for the specialty rotations.
When compared to the OHCM, however, improvements to the layout of some of the text needs improving.
Also, the 'insights' given in this book- quotes from books, ethical tangents, are all too often not insightful at all. They're long and not always optional reading, as they're woven into the essential reading.


completely indispensible, 30 Jan 2005
My copy of this book is breaking apart at the spine and has a few missing pages: this is a testment only to the fact that I've used it so much. I'm an SHO in Paediatrics now, and, since I bought this book in third year I have used it countless times as both as a quick reference guide, and during revision for numerous exams. I quickly came to rely on this book and it's yellow-skinned cousin (OHCM) for brief and memorable introductions to ailments I encountered on the wards and during my revision. This edition is divided into several chapters including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, A£E, Orthopaedics, General Practice, and Psychiatry (amongst others).

While some might feel the poetic subtext on many of the pages is somewhat annoying and pretentious (read the page entitled 'a journey on foot' in the orthopaedic section), I have always found it a welcome augmentation to the raw medical dimension contained within the books pages.

No junior doctor in the UK should be without these books, of that I am certain.

A must for any med. student for quick reference on the wards, 20 Jan 2001
This book together with the Handbook for Clinical Medicine is absolutely essential for survival on the wards. If you havn't got a clue what's wrong with the patient, what the consultant is talking about or what you are meant to do next- these books help you out. They are compact enough to stick in your pocket, but have enough information crammed in to tell you everything that you could be expected to know about any condition. As I said this is a must for any med. student or junior doc. The proof really is that these aren't some new fancy books that have to be put to the test now, everyone I've spoken to seems to have been using them for years- Good Luck!

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 06 Nov 2008
An absolutely vital handbook that helped me significantly through medical school. Although it's nowhere near as comprehensive as separate textbooks are, it's an invaluable aide memoir that does go into significant detail.

An essential buy, but its not quite OHCM..., 24 Mar 2008
'Salt and Vinegar', as this book has affectionately come to be know, has become something of a bible to a 3rd year med student. It has most of the information you'd need for the specialty rotations.
When compared to the OHCM, however, improvements to the layout of some of the text needs improving.
Also, the 'insights' given in this book- quotes from books, ethical tangents, are all too often not insightful at all. They're long and not always optional reading, as they're woven into the essential reading.


completely indispensible, 30 Jan 2005
My copy of this book is breaking apart at the spine and has a few missing pages: this is a testment only to the fact that I've used it so much. I'm an SHO in Paediatrics now, and, since I bought this book in third year I have used it countless times as both as a quick reference guide, and during revision for numerous exams. I quickly came to rely on this book and it's yellow-skinned cousin (OHCM) for brief and memorable introductions to ailments I encountered on the wards and during my revision. This edition is divided into several chapters including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, A£E, Orthopaedics, General Practice, and Psychiatry (amongst others).

While some might feel the poetic subtext on many of the pages is somewhat annoying and pretentious (read the page entitled 'a journey on foot' in the orthopaedic section), I have always found it a welcome augmentation to the raw medical dimension contained within the books pages.

No junior doctor in the UK should be without these books, of that I am certain.

A must for any med. student for quick reference on the wards, 20 Jan 2001
This book together with the Handbook for Clinical Medicine is absolutely essential for survival on the wards. If you havn't got a clue what's wrong with the patient, what the consultant is talking about or what you are meant to do next- these books help you out. They are compact enough to stick in your pocket, but have enough information crammed in to tell you everything that you could be expected to know about any condition. As I said this is a must for any med. student or junior doc. The proof really is that these aren't some new fancy books that have to be put to the test now, everyone I've spoken to seems to have been using them for years- Good Luck!

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 06 Nov 2008
An absolutely vital handbook that helped me significantly through medical school. Although it's nowhere near as comprehensive as separate textbooks are, it's an invaluable aide memoir that does go into significant detail.

An essential buy, but its not quite OHCM..., 24 Mar 2008
'Salt and Vinegar', as this book has affectionately come to be know, has become something of a bible to a 3rd year med student. It has most of the information you'd need for the specialty rotations.
When compared to the OHCM, however, improvements to the layout of some of the text needs improving.
Also, the 'insights' given in this book- quotes from books, ethical tangents, are all too often not insightful at all. They're long and not always optional reading, as they're woven into the essential reading.


completely indispensible, 30 Jan 2005
My copy of this book is breaking apart at the spine and has a few missing pages: this is a testment only to the fact that I've used it so much. I'm an SHO in Paediatrics now, and, since I bought this book in third year I have used it countless times as both as a quick reference guide, and during revision for numerous exams. I quickly came to rely on this book and it's yellow-skinned cousin (OHCM) for brief and memorable introductions to ailments I encountered on the wards and during my revision. This edition is divided into several chapters including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, A£E, Orthopaedics, General Practice, and Psychiatry (amongst others).

While some might feel the poetic subtext on many of the pages is somewhat annoying and pretentious (read the page entitled 'a journey on foot' in the orthopaedic section), I have always found it a welcome augmentation to the raw medical dimension contained within the books pages.

No junior doctor in the UK should be without these books, of that I am certain.

A must for any med. student for quick reference on the wards, 20 Jan 2001
This book together with the Handbook for Clinical Medicine is absolutely essential for survival on the wards. If you havn't got a clue what's wrong with the patient, what the consultant is talking about or what you are meant to do next- these books help you out. They are compact enough to stick in your pocket, but have enough information crammed in to tell you everything that you could be expected to know about any condition. As I said this is a must for any med. student or junior doc. The proof really is that these aren't some new fancy books that have to be put to the test now, everyone I've spoken to seems to have been using them for years- Good Luck!

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Essential in A and E, 27 Dec 2005
Great reference for SHO/Registrar/ENP in A and E. It covers all orthopaedic problems you are likely to see and tells you about treatment too. It also reminds you about orthopaedic examination for the rusty A and E SHO coming from a house officer background! Illustrations helpful and stands up to its promise of being a 'pocketbook'.

Essential reading., 03 Nov 2002
Awesome reference for the medical student and essential for the A&E doctor as well as the basic surgical trainee (it wouldn't go amiss in a physician's collection either!). Clear explanation with excellent illustrations means that you can understand the things that your seniors and your bosses can't explain.

A REAL HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT, EVEN FOR THE SENIOR SURGEON, 17 Feb 2001
THIS BOOK IS A VERY GOOD ONE FOR RESIDENTS AND A VADEMECUM TO THE ORTHOPAEDICAL SURGEON, ONE MUST HAVE IT NEAR TO READ IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, AS EVERY OTHER BOOK OF DR. MC RAE, IT IS VERY SIMPLE AN VERY USEFUL.

Suberb pocket reference for orthopaedic and A&E doctors, 08 Sep 2000
Follows on from Ronald MacRae's very successful orthopaedic and Fracture books which have become standard guides. This new book answers most of the questions a junior doctor needs easily and with wonderful clarity and brevity. The illustrations complement the text superbly and have the advantage of being drawn by the author so explain the features very well. Highly recommended.

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 06 Nov 2008
An absolutely vital handbook that helped me significantly through medical school. Although it's nowhere near as comprehensive as separate textbooks are, it's an invaluable aide memoir that does go into significant detail.

An essential buy, but its not quite OHCM..., 24 Mar 2008
'Salt and Vinegar', as this book has affectionately come to be know, has become something of a bible to a 3rd year med student. It has most of the information you'd need for the specialty rotations.
When compared to the OHCM, however, improvements to the layout of some of the text needs improving.
Also, the 'insights' given in this book- quotes from books, ethical tangents, are all too often not insightful at all. They're long and not always optional reading, as they're woven into the essential reading.


completely indispensible, 30 Jan 2005
My copy of this book is breaking apart at the spine and has a few missing pages: this is a testment only to the fact that I've used it so much. I'm an SHO in Paediatrics now, and, since I bought this book in third year I have used it countless times as both as a quick reference guide, and during revision for numerous exams. I quickly came to rely on this book and it's yellow-skinned cousin (OHCM) for brief and memorable introductions to ailments I encountered on the wards and during my revision. This edition is divided into several chapters including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, A£E, Orthopaedics, General Practice, and Psychiatry (amongst others).

While some might feel the poetic subtext on many of the pages is somewhat annoying and pretentious (read the page entitled 'a journey on foot' in the orthopaedic section), I have always found it a welcome augmentation to the raw medical dimension contained within the books pages.

No junior doctor in the UK should be without these books, of that I am certain.

A must for any med. student for quick reference on the wards, 20 Jan 2001
This book together with the Handbook for Clinical Medicine is absolutely essential for survival on the wards. If you havn't got a clue what's wrong with the patient, what the consultant is talking about or what you are meant to do next- these books help you out. They are compact enough to stick in your pocket, but have enough information crammed in to tell you everything that you could be expected to know about any condition. As I said this is a must for any med. student or junior doc. The proof really is that these aren't some new fancy books that have to be put to the test now, everyone I've spoken to seems to have been using them for years- Good Luck!

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Essential in A and E, 27 Dec 2005
Great reference for SHO/Registrar/ENP in A and E. It covers all orthopaedic problems you are likely to see and tells you about treatment too. It also reminds you about orthopaedic examination for the rusty A and E SHO coming from a house officer background! Illustrations helpful and stands up to its promise of being a 'pocketbook'.

Essential reading., 03 Nov 2002
Awesome reference for the medical student and essential for the A&E doctor as well as the basic surgical trainee (it wouldn't go amiss in a physician's collection either!). Clear explanation with excellent illustrations means that you can understand the things that your seniors and your bosses can't explain.

A REAL HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT, EVEN FOR THE SENIOR SURGEON, 17 Feb 2001
THIS BOOK IS A VERY GOOD ONE FOR RESIDENTS AND A VADEMECUM TO THE ORTHOPAEDICAL SURGEON, ONE MUST HAVE IT NEAR TO READ IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, AS EVERY OTHER BOOK OF DR. MC RAE, IT IS VERY SIMPLE AN VERY USEFUL.

Suberb pocket reference for orthopaedic and A&E doctors, 08 Sep 2000
Follows on from Ronald MacRae's very successful orthopaedic and Fracture books which have become standard guides. This new book answers most of the questions a junior doctor needs easily and with wonderful clarity and brevity. The illustrations complement the text superbly and have the advantage of being drawn by the author so explain the features very well. Highly recommended.

A must read for the medical and non-medical alike, 20 Apr 2008
In his second book Gawande turns to issues more of public health. That's not to say it's devoid of his surgical experience, but now in addition we get the interesting public health aspects to medicine from the relentless "washing hands" to eradicating polio in India. The essays again have their perfect blend of anecdote and academia and anybody regardless of their medical experience will gain immensely from reading this. His essay on the bell curve is truly inspiring thinking, and whilst the original concept was not his there are few better able to articulate it. Whilst his last book, though scholarly was more action packed, this edition takes a more academic approach and though it may be as tense we get much welcomed insights from the public health side.

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 06 Nov 2008
An absolutely vital handbook that helped me significantly through medical school. Although it's nowhere near as comprehensive as separate textbooks are, it's an invaluable aide memoir that does go into significant detail.

An essential buy, but its not quite OHCM..., 24 Mar 2008
'Salt and Vinegar', as this book has affectionately come to be know, has become something of a bible to a 3rd year med student. It has most of the information you'd need for the specialty rotations.
When compared to the OHCM, however, improvements to the layout of some of the text needs improving.
Also, the 'insights' given in this book- quotes from books, ethical tangents, are all too often not insightful at all. They're long and not always optional reading, as they're woven into the essential reading.


completely indispensible, 30 Jan 2005
My copy of this book is breaking apart at the spine and has a few missing pages: this is a testment only to the fact that I've used it so much. I'm an SHO in Paediatrics now, and, since I bought this book in third year I have used it countless times as both as a quick reference guide, and during revision for numerous exams. I quickly came to rely on this book and it's yellow-skinned cousin (OHCM) for brief and memorable introductions to ailments I encountered on the wards and during my revision. This edition is divided into several chapters including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, A£E, Orthopaedics, General Practice, and Psychiatry (amongst others).

While some might feel the poetic subtext on many of the pages is somewhat annoying and pretentious (read the page entitled 'a journey on foot' in the orthopaedic section), I have always found it a welcome augmentation to the raw medical dimension contained within the books pages.

No junior doctor in the UK should be without these books, of that I am certain.

A must for any med. student for quick reference on the wards, 20 Jan 2001
This book together with the Handbook for Clinical Medicine is absolutely essential for survival on the wards. If you havn't got a clue what's wrong with the patient, what the consultant is talking about or what you are meant to do next- these books help you out. They are compact enough to stick in your pocket, but have enough information crammed in to tell you everything that you could be expected to know about any condition. As I said this is a must for any med. student or junior doc. The proof really is that these aren't some new fancy books that have to be put to the test now, everyone I've spoken to seems to have been using them for years- Good Luck!

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Essential in A and E, 27 Dec 2005
Great reference for SHO/Registrar/ENP in A and E. It covers all orthopaedic problems you are likely to see and tells you about treatment too. It also reminds you about orthopaedic examination for the rusty A and E SHO coming from a house officer background! Illustrations helpful and stands up to its promise of being a 'pocketbook'.

Essential reading., 03 Nov 2002
Awesome reference for the medical student and essential for the A&E doctor as well as the basic surgical trainee (it wouldn't go amiss in a physician's collection either!). Clear explanation with excellent illustrations means that you can understand the things that your seniors and your bosses can't explain.

A REAL HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT, EVEN FOR THE SENIOR SURGEON, 17 Feb 2001
THIS BOOK IS A VERY GOOD ONE FOR RESIDENTS AND A VADEMECUM TO THE ORTHOPAEDICAL SURGEON, ONE MUST HAVE IT NEAR TO READ IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, AS EVERY OTHER BOOK OF DR. MC RAE, IT IS VERY SIMPLE AN VERY USEFUL.

Suberb pocket reference for orthopaedic and A&E doctors, 08 Sep 2000
Follows on from Ronald MacRae's very successful orthopaedic and Fracture books which have become standard guides. This new book answers most of the questions a junior doctor needs easily and with wonderful clarity and brevity. The illustrations complement the text superbly and have the advantage of being drawn by the author so explain the features very well. Highly recommended.

A must read for the medical and non-medical alike, 20 Apr 2008
In his second book Gawande turns to issues more of public health. That's not to say it's devoid of his surgical experience, but now in addition we get the interesting public health aspects to medicine from the relentless "washing hands" to eradicating polio in India. The essays again have their perfect blend of anecdote and academia and anybody regardless of their medical experience will gain immensely from reading this. His essay on the bell curve is truly inspiring thinking, and whilst the original concept was not his there are few better able to articulate it. Whilst his last book, though scholarly was more action packed, this edition takes a more academic approach and though it may be as tense we get much welcomed insights from the public health side.

Clear concise practical book that covers more than just differentials!, 30 Dec 2007
This book is perfect if your in need to improve your problem solving skills as it not only gives you the differentials for a particular subject e.g. dysphagia but it also lists the positive factors you should be looking forward to in the history and examination. As is that wasnt enough, it also then states investigations that should be considered and what you should look for in the results!!

It's a really easy to read book, that's tiny and easy to carry...I previously bought symptom sorter and wish I hadnt as this book is much better!!

Excellent Differential Dx Resource, 23 Dec 2007
I bought this book to help with osce preparation and was very impressed by the simplicity of the layout and ease of use. I would recommend this for anyone who 1)wants to improve the way they approach signs and symptoms, 2)has trouble with categorizing differentials (e.g. via system involved) and 3)need an additional resource to accompany a larger reference text. This book is definitely worth having in your collection.

A diamond in the Rough, 16 Jun 2002
The majority of textbooks be it Oxford handbooks up to Haslett etc. focus on the medical condition and tell you all about it, hopefully. Unfortunately, the skill of the clinician is that of diagnosis of a patient from history and examination. Patients do not present with a condition, they present with signs and symptoms. Most texts, it can be said work backwards, whereas, finally, a book exists that works forwards, from symptom to clues with differentials, history and appropriate investigations.
This book is superb and probably one of my most useful purchases if not the most useful. It is clear, concise yet reassuringly thorough and dependable. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Its only let down is absence os sections on collapse, hypotension and photophobia and loss of conciousness. On the assessment unit, collapse is a common presenting complaint and a chapter on this would have been very useful, at least.
Oh and yes, its a pretty cover design and colour too.

excellent book for the preparation of your exams, 29 May 2001
excellent book ,a must have in order to succes in your exams . this book is worth several boring textbook it is the key of succes

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 06 Nov 2008
An absolutely vital handbook that helped me significantly through medical school. Although it's nowhere near as comprehensive as separate textbooks are, it's an invaluable aide memoir that does go into significant detail.

An essential buy, but its not quite OHCM..., 24 Mar 2008
'Salt and Vinegar', as this book has affectionately come to be know, has become something of a bible to a 3rd year med student. It has most of the information you'd need for the specialty rotations.
When compared to the OHCM, however, improvements to the layout of some of the text needs improving.
Also, the 'insights' given in this book- quotes from books, ethical tangents, are all too often not insightful at all. They're long and not always optional reading, as they're woven into the essential reading.


completely indispensible, 30 Jan 2005
My copy of this book is breaking apart at the spine and has a few missing pages: this is a testment only to the fact that I've used it so much. I'm an SHO in Paediatrics now, and, since I bought this book in third year I have used it countless times as both as a quick reference guide, and during revision for numerous exams. I quickly came to rely on this book and it's yellow-skinned cousin (OHCM) for brief and memorable introductions to ailments I encountered on the wards and during my revision. This edition is divided into several chapters including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, A£E, Orthopaedics, General Practice, and Psychiatry (amongst others).

While some might feel the poetic subtext on many of the pages is somewhat annoying and pretentious (read the page entitled 'a journey on foot' in the orthopaedic section), I have always found it a welcome augmentation to the raw medical dimension contained within the books pages.

No junior doctor in the UK should be without these books, of that I am certain.

A must for any med. student for quick reference on the wards, 20 Jan 2001
This book together with the Handbook for Clinical Medicine is absolutely essential for survival on the wards. If you havn't got a clue what's wrong with the patient, what the consultant is talking about or what you are meant to do next- these books help you out. They are compact enough to stick in your pocket, but have enough information crammed in to tell you everything that you could be expected to know about any condition. As I said this is a must for any med. student or junior doc. The proof really is that these aren't some new fancy books that have to be put to the test now, everyone I've spoken to seems to have been using them for years- Good Luck!

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Essential in A and E, 27 Dec 2005
Great reference for SHO/Registrar/ENP in A and E. It covers all orthopaedic problems you are likely to see and tells you about treatment too. It also reminds you about orthopaedic examination for the rusty A and E SHO coming from a house officer background! Illustrations helpful and stands up to its promise of being a 'pocketbook'.

Essential reading., 03 Nov 2002
Awesome reference for the medical student and essential for the A&E doctor as well as the basic surgical trainee (it wouldn't go amiss in a physician's collection either!). Clear explanation with excellent illustrations means that you can understand the things that your seniors and your bosses can't explain.

A REAL HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT, EVEN FOR THE SENIOR SURGEON, 17 Feb 2001
THIS BOOK IS A VERY GOOD ONE FOR RESIDENTS AND A VADEMECUM TO THE ORTHOPAEDICAL SURGEON, ONE MUST HAVE IT NEAR TO READ IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, AS EVERY OTHER BOOK OF DR. MC RAE, IT IS VERY SIMPLE AN VERY USEFUL.

Suberb pocket reference for orthopaedic and A&E doctors, 08 Sep 2000
Follows on from Ronald MacRae's very successful orthopaedic and Fracture books which have become standard guides. This new book answers most of the questions a junior doctor needs easily and with wonderful clarity and brevity. The illustrations complement the text superbly and have the advantage of being drawn by the author so explain the features very well. Highly recommended.

A must read for the medical and non-medical alike, 20 Apr 2008
In his second book Gawande turns to issues more of public health. That's not to say it's devoid of his surgical experience, but now in addition we get the interesting public health aspects to medicine from the relentless "washing hands" to eradicating polio in India. The essays again have their perfect blend of anecdote and academia and anybody regardless of their medical experience will gain immensely from reading this. His essay on the bell curve is truly inspiring thinking, and whilst the original concept was not his there are few better able to articulate it. Whilst his last book, though scholarly was more action packed, this edition takes a more academic approach and though it may be as tense we get much welcomed insights from the public health side.

Clear concise practical book that covers more than just differentials!, 30 Dec 2007
This book is perfect if your in need to improve your problem solving skills as it not only gives you the differentials for a particular subject e.g. dysphagia but it also lists the positive factors you should be looking forward to in the history and examination. As is that wasnt enough, it also then states investigations that should be considered and what you should look for in the results!!

It's a really easy to read book, that's tiny and easy to carry...I previously bought symptom sorter and wish I hadnt as this book is much better!!

Excellent Differential Dx Resource, 23 Dec 2007
I bought this book to help with osce preparation and was very impressed by the simplicity of the layout and ease of use. I would recommend this for anyone who 1)wants to improve the way they approach signs and symptoms, 2)has trouble with categorizing differentials (e.g. via system involved) and 3)need an additional resource to accompany a larger reference text. This book is definitely worth having in your collection.

A diamond in the Rough, 16 Jun 2002
The majority of textbooks be it Oxford handbooks up to Haslett etc. focus on the medical condition and tell you all about it, hopefully. Unfortunately, the skill of the clinician is that of diagnosis of a patient from history and examination. Patients do not present with a condition, they present with signs and symptoms. Most texts, it can be said work backwards, whereas, finally, a book exists that works forwards, from symptom to clues with differentials, history and appropriate investigations.
This book is superb and probably one of my most useful purchases if not the most useful. It is clear, concise yet reassuringly thorough and dependable. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Its only let down is absence os sections on collapse, hypotension and photophobia and loss of conciousness. On the assessment unit, collapse is a common presenting complaint and a chapter on this would have been very useful, at least.
Oh and yes, its a pretty cover design and colour too.

excellent book for the preparation of your exams, 29 May 2001
excellent book ,a must have in order to succes in your exams . this book is worth several boring textbook it is the key of succes

General Surgery (lecture notes) - a very useful book., 25 Mar 2008
Having been highly recommended by 5th years as well as F1 doctors, I knew that Lecture Notes in General Surgery was a book worth investing in. The more simple "revision style" of book seems to be becoming increasingly popular among medical students such as myself and much preferred to the larger more detailed text books. It's short concise chapters talk about all the essential surgical procedures that you have to know about for your examinations in 3rd year and is also much used by 5th years. This book should be your first port of call to get a good understanding of surgery before consulting a more detailed textbook.

A great improvement on the last edition, 16 Nov 2007
This is a very good revised edition of this popular surgical text. I have the tenth edition and borrowed this on a 24hr loan from the medical library. It was so reader friendly that I could not resist upgrading to this edition. It is slightly wider and more spacious than the 10th edition, with margins for additional notes. It has a new chapter on pre-operative assessment and general update on all other chapters with the latest investigative modalities and treatment options. It still maintains the compact and easy readability of the lecture book series.

Some good & some poor chapters, 18 Jun 2007
I bought this book fairly late during my final year of undergrad study and did not find it brilliant. Some chapters were incomplete and poorly structured, though others were well done. I would recommend having a good look at a copy somewhere before deciding to buy this book.

Great book!, 28 Jan 2007
I agree with the previous reviews, this book is excellent. It is very comprehensive and has more than sufficient detail for medical students and beyond. One of the best aspects of this book is its readability and clarity. A must for a surgically inclined medical student or F1/2

The core text for undergraduate surgery, 10 Dec 2006
This is the best surgical textbook I've come across. It is the only book I would recommend you buy in embarking on undergraduate study of surgery and am informed by surgeons that it gets you most of the way through MRCS as well.

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 06 Nov 2008
An absolutely vital handbook that helped me significantly through medical school. Although it's nowhere near as comprehensive as separate textbooks are, it's an invaluable aide memoir that does go into significant detail.

An essential buy, but its not quite OHCM..., 24 Mar 2008
'Salt and Vinegar', as this book has affectionately come to be know, has become something of a bible to a 3rd year med student. It has most of the information you'd need for the specialty rotations.
When compared to the OHCM, however, improvements to the layout of some of the text needs improving.
Also, the 'insights' given in this book- quotes from books, ethical tangents, are all too often not insightful at all. They're long and not always optional reading, as they're woven into the essential reading.


completely indispensible, 30 Jan 2005
My copy of this book is breaking apart at the spine and has a few missing pages: this is a testment only to the fact that I've used it so much. I'm an SHO in Paediatrics now, and, since I bought this book in third year I have used it countless times as both as a quick reference guide, and during revision for numerous exams. I quickly came to rely on this book and it's yellow-skinned cousin (OHCM) for brief and memorable introductions to ailments I encountered on the wards and during my revision. This edition is divided into several chapters including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, A£E, Orthopaedics, General Practice, and Psychiatry (amongst others).

While some might feel the poetic subtext on many of the pages is somewhat annoying and pretentious (read the page entitled 'a journey on foot' in the orthopaedic section), I have always found it a welcome augmentation to the raw medical dimension contained within the books pages.

No junior doctor in the UK should be without these books, of that I am certain.

A must for any med. student for quick reference on the wards, 20 Jan 2001
This book together with the Handbook for Clinical Medicine is absolutely essential for survival on the wards. If you havn't got a clue what's wrong with the patient, what the consultant is talking about or what you are meant to do next- these books help you out. They are compact enough to stick in your pocket, but have enough information crammed in to tell you everything that you could be expected to know about any condition. As I said this is a must for any med. student or junior doc. The proof really is that these aren't some new fancy books that have to be put to the test now, everyone I've spoken to seems to have been using them for years- Good Luck!

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Essential in A and E, 27 Dec 2005
Great reference for SHO/Registrar/ENP in A and E. It covers all orthopaedic problems you are likely to see and tells you about treatment too. It also reminds you about orthopaedic examination for the rusty A and E SHO coming from a house officer background! Illustrations helpful and stands up to its promise of being a 'pocketbook'.

Essential reading., 03 Nov 2002
Awesome reference for the medical student and essential for the A&E doctor as well as the basic surgical trainee (it wouldn't go amiss in a physician's collection either!). Clear explanation with excellent illustrations means that you can understand the things that your seniors and your bosses can't explain.

A REAL HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT, EVEN FOR THE SENIOR SURGEON, 17 Feb 2001
THIS BOOK IS A VERY GOOD ONE FOR RESIDENTS AND A VADEMECUM TO THE ORTHOPAEDICAL SURGEON, ONE MUST HAVE IT NEAR TO READ IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, AS EVERY OTHER BOOK OF DR. MC RAE, IT IS VERY SIMPLE AN VERY USEFUL.

Suberb pocket reference for orthopaedic and A&E doctors, 08 Sep 2000
Follows on from Ronald MacRae's very successful orthopaedic and Fracture books which have become standard guides. This new book answers most of the questions a junior doctor needs easily and with wonderful clarity and brevity. The illustrations complement the text superbly and have the advantage of being drawn by the author so explain the features very well. Highly recommended.

A must read for the medical and non-medical alike, 20 Apr 2008
In his second book Gawande turns to issues more of public health. That's not to say it's devoid of his surgical experience, but now in addition we get the interesting public health aspects to medicine from the relentless "washing hands" to eradicating polio in India. The essays again have their perfect blend of anecdote and academia and anybody regardless of their medical experience will gain immensely from reading this. His essay on the bell curve is truly inspiring thinking, and whilst the original concept was not his there are few better able to articulate it. Whilst his last book, though scholarly was more action packed, this edition takes a more academic approach and though it may be as tense we get much welcomed insights from the public health side.

Clear concise practical book that covers more than just differentials!, 30 Dec 2007
This book is perfect if your in need to improve your problem solving skills as it not only gives you the differentials for a particular subject e.g. dysphagia but it also lists the positive factors you should be looking forward to in the history and examination. As is that wasnt enough, it also then states investigations that should be considered and what you should look for in the results!!

It's a really easy to read book, that's tiny and easy to carry...I previously bought symptom sorter and wish I hadnt as this book is much better!!

Excellent Differential Dx Resource, 23 Dec 2007
I bought this book to help with osce preparation and was very impressed by the simplicity of the layout and ease of use. I would recommend this for anyone who 1)wants to improve the way they approach signs and symptoms, 2)has trouble with categorizing differentials (e.g. via system involved) and 3)need an additional resource to accompany a larger reference text. This book is definitely worth having in your collection.

A diamond in the Rough, 16 Jun 2002
The majority of textbooks be it Oxford handbooks up to Haslett etc. focus on the medical condition and tell you all about it, hopefully. Unfortunately, the skill of the clinician is that of diagnosis of a patient from history and examination. Patients do not present with a condition, they present with signs and symptoms. Most texts, it can be said work backwards, whereas, finally, a book exists that works forwards, from symptom to clues with differentials, history and appropriate investigations.
This book is superb and probably one of my most useful purchases if not the most useful. It is clear, concise yet reassuringly thorough and dependable. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Its only let down is absence os sections on collapse, hypotension and photophobia and loss of conciousness. On the assessment unit, collapse is a common presenting complaint and a chapter on this would have been very useful, at least.
Oh and yes, its a pretty cover design and colour too.

excellent book for the preparation of your exams, 29 May 2001
excellent book ,a must have in order to succes in your exams . this book is worth several boring textbook it is the key of succes

General Surgery (lecture notes) - a very useful book., 25 Mar 2008
Having been highly recommended by 5th years as well as F1 doctors, I knew that Lecture Notes in General Surgery was a book worth investing in. The more simple "revision style" of book seems to be becoming increasingly popular among medical students such as myself and much preferred to the larger more detailed text books. It's short concise chapters talk about all the essential surgical procedures that you have to know about for your examinations in 3rd year and is also much used by 5th years. This book should be your first port of call to get a good understanding of surgery before consulting a more detailed textbook.

A great improvement on the last edition, 16 Nov 2007
This is a very good revised edition of this popular surgical text. I have the tenth edition and borrowed this on a 24hr loan from the medical library. It was so reader friendly that I could not resist upgrading to this edition. It is slightly wider and more spacious than the 10th edition, with margins for additional notes. It has a new chapter on pre-operative assessment and general update on all other chapters with the latest investigative modalities and treatment options. It still maintains the compact and easy readability of the lecture book series.

Some good & some poor chapters, 18 Jun 2007
I bought this book fairly late during my final year of undergrad study and did not find it brilliant. Some chapters were incomplete and poorly structured, though others were well done. I would recommend having a good look at a copy somewhere before deciding to buy this book.

Great book!, 28 Jan 2007
I agree with the previous reviews, this book is excellent. It is very comprehensive and has more than sufficient detail for medical students and beyond. One of the best aspects of this book is its readability and clarity. A must for a surgically inclined medical student or F1/2

The core text for undergraduate surgery, 10 Dec 2006
This is the best surgical textbook I've come across. It is the only book I would recommend you buy in embarking on undergraduate study of surgery and am informed by surgeons that it gets you most of the way through MRCS as well.

Good book if you are doing the ITU course, 18 May 2008
I bought this book to complement my existing critical care books and found it very helpful during the ITU course.



If you only buy one critical care book!, 09 Oct 2007
I bought this book as an aid to studying during my critical care course in the UK. I found this book invaluable and would highly recommend it to anyone working in critical care environment.
Although I think it would be of most benefit to someone working in a general ITU there are many chapters covering a wide range of topics such as cardiac, renal and chapters such as head injuries which can be applied to A&E. The book covers the A&P/science of body systems as well as research based subjects like ITU delirium/psychosis, transferring patients and allocation of critical resources to name a few.

The second edition appears in a two-tone colour (red or black) and the multiple boxes, highlighting important information makes it far easier to read than the original black and white first edition. As an ITU nurse I felt the book gave me in-depth and current/evidence based information to underpin and inform my practise, whilst directing me to the primary references and areas for further reading. I started using the book when I first joined ITU and I'm still using the book now 3 years later - as are many of my colleagues. So if you only buy one critical care book I recommend this one - but have a look at the library/unit copy first, to see if its for you.


Go buy it!!, 31 Jan 2005
an excellent reference book covering a wide selection of topics relevant for nurses of all levels of experience working in the critical care environment. Go buy it!!!

A comprehensive critical care book, 15 Mar 2001
I purchased Critical Care Nursing a year ago, and I have used it on regular occasions since. I now feel that it is an excellent text for nurses working within critical care, however for the complete novice to intensive care I felt that it was too in depth.

comphrensive no-nonsense approach to critical care, 13 Nov 2000
A must for critical care nurses and professionals allied to medicine, the book gives comphrensive and easily understood information on the complex field of the critically ill adult. Ideal as a reference book for post registration courses or as a bedside reference tool for the critical care nurse.

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 06 Nov 2008
An absolutely vital handbook that helped me significantly through medical school. Although it's nowhere near as comprehensive as separate textbooks are, it's an invaluable aide memoir that does go into significant detail.

An essential buy, but its not quite OHCM..., 24 Mar 2008
'Salt and Vinegar', as this book has affectionately come to be know, has become something of a bible to a 3rd year med student. It has most of the information you'd need for the specialty rotations.
When compared to the OHCM, however, improvements to the layout of some of the text needs improving.
Also, the 'insights' given in this book- quotes from books, ethical tangents, are all too often not insightful at all. They're long and not always optional reading, as they're woven into the essential reading.


completely indispensible, 30 Jan 2005
My copy of this book is breaking apart at the spine and has a few missing pages: this is a testment only to the fact that I've used it so much. I'm an SHO in Paediatrics now, and, since I bought this book in third year I have used it countless times as both as a quick reference guide, and during revision for numerous exams. I quickly came to rely on this book and it's yellow-skinned cousin (OHCM) for brief and memorable introductions to ailments I encountered on the wards and during my revision. This edition is divided into several chapters including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, A£E, Orthopaedics, General Practice, and Psychiatry (amongst others).

While some might feel the poetic subtext on many of the pages is somewhat annoying and pretentious (read the page entitled 'a journey on foot' in the orthopaedic section), I have always found it a welcome augmentation to the raw medical dimension contained within the books pages.

No junior doctor in the UK should be without these books, of that I am certain.

A must for any med. student for quick reference on the wards, 20 Jan 2001
This book together with the Handbook for Clinical Medicine is absolutely essential for survival on the wards. If you havn't got a clue what's wrong with the patient, what the consultant is talking about or what you are meant to do next- these books help you out. They are compact enough to stick in your pocket, but have enough information crammed in to tell you everything that you could be expected to know about any condition. As I said this is a must for any med. student or junior doc. The proof really is that these aren't some new fancy books that have to be put to the test now, everyone I've spoken to seems to have been using them for years- Good Luck!

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-heartedly as a revision book and its emphasis on practical aspects will stand anyone in good stead for work.

Awesome!!!, 10 Dec 2007
I'm glad I believed the hype on amazon and bought this book. It ushered in a sea change in my confidence on ward rounds...suddenly I was the guy with the answers!

Worth your last penny.

PS Downside? a few typos but, hey! surgeons are always in a rush.

Essential in A and E, 27 Dec 2005
Great reference for SHO/Registrar/ENP in A and E. It covers all orthopaedic problems you are likely to see and tells you about treatment too. It also reminds you about orthopaedic examination for the rusty A and E SHO coming from a house officer background! Illustrations helpful and stands up to its promise of being a 'pocketbook'.

Essential reading., 03 Nov 2002
Awesome reference for the medical student and essential for the A&E doctor as well as the basic surgical trainee (it wouldn't go amiss in a physician's collection either!). Clear explanation with excellent illustrations means that you can understand the things that your seniors and your bosses can't explain.

A REAL HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT, EVEN FOR THE SENIOR SURGEON, 17 Feb 2001
THIS BOOK IS A VERY GOOD ONE FOR RESIDENTS AND A VADEMECUM TO THE ORTHOPAEDICAL SURGEON, ONE MUST HAVE IT NEAR TO READ IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, AS EVERY OTHER BOOK OF DR. MC RAE, IT IS VERY SIMPLE AN VERY USEFUL.

Suberb pocket reference for orthopaedic and A&E doctors, 08 Sep 2000
Follows on from Ronald MacRae's very successful orthopaedic and Fracture books which have become standard guides. This new book answers most of the questions a junior doctor needs easily and with wonderful clarity and brevity. The illustrations complement the text superbly and have the advantage of being drawn by the author so explain the features very well. Highly recommended.

A must read for the medical and non-medical alike, 20 Apr 2008
In his second book Gawande turns to issues more of public health. That's not to say it's devoid of his surgical experience, but now in addition we get the interesting public health aspects to medicine from the relentless "washing hands" to eradicating polio in India. The essays again have their perfect blend of anecdote and academia and anybody regardless of their medical experience will gain immensely from reading this. His essay on the bell curve is truly inspiring thinking, and whilst the original concept was not his there are few better able to articulate it. Whilst his last book, though scholarly was more action packed, this edition takes a more academic approach and though it may be as tense we get much welcomed insights from the public health side.

Clear concise practical book that covers more than just differentials!, 30 Dec 2007
This book is perfect if your in need to improve your problem solving skills as it not only gives you the differentials for a particular subject e.g. dysphagia but it also lists the positive factors you should be looking forward to in the history and examination. As is that wasnt enough, it also then states investigations that should be considered and what you should look for in the results!!

It's a really easy to read book, that's tiny and easy to carry...I previously bought symptom sorter and wish I hadnt as this book is much better!!

Excellent Differential Dx Resource, 23 Dec 2007
I bought this book to help with osce preparation and was very impressed by the simplicity of the layout and ease of use. I would recommend this for anyone who 1)wants to improve the way they approach signs and symptoms, 2)has trouble with categorizing differentials (e.g. via system involved) and 3)need an additional resource to accompany a larger reference text. This book is definitely worth having in your collection.

A diamond in the Rough, 16 Jun 2002
The majority of textbooks be it Oxford handbooks up to Haslett etc. focus on the medical condition and tell you all about it, hopefully. Unfortunately, the skill of the clinician is that of diagnosis of a patient from history and examination. Patients do not present with a condition, they present with signs and symptoms. Most texts, it can be said work backwards, whereas, finally, a book exists that works forwards, from symptom to clues with differentials, history and appropriate investigations.
This book is superb and probably one of my most useful purchases if not the most useful. It is clear, concise yet reassuringly thorough and dependable. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Its only let down is absence os sections on collapse, hypotension and photophobia and loss of conciousness. On the assessment unit, collapse is a common presenting complaint and a chapter on this would have been very useful, at least.
Oh and yes, its a pretty cover design and colour too.

excellent book for the preparation of your exams, 29 May 2001
excellent book ,a must have in order to succes in your exams . this book is worth several boring textbook it is the key of succes

General Surgery (lecture notes) - a very useful book., 25 Mar 2008
Having been highly recommended by 5th years as well as F1 doctors, I knew that Lecture Notes in General Surgery was a book worth investing in. The more simple "revision style" of book seems to be becoming increasingly popular among medical students such as myself and much preferred to the larger more detailed text books. It's short concise chapters talk about all the essential surgical procedures that you have to know about for your examinations in 3rd year and is also much used by 5th years. This book should be your first port of call to get a good understanding of surgery before consulting a more detailed textbook.

A great improvement on the last edition, 16 Nov 2007
This is a very good revised edition of this popular surgical text. I have the tenth edition and borrowed this on a 24hr loan from the medical library. It was so reader friendly that I could not resist upgrading to this edition. It is slightly wider and more spacious than the 10th edition, with margins for additional notes. It has a new chapter on pre-operative assessment and general update on all other chapters with the latest investigative modalities and treatment options. It still maintains the compact and easy readability of the lecture book series.

Some good & some poor chapters, 18 Jun 2007
I bought this book fairly late during my final year of undergrad study and did not find it brilliant. Some chapters were incomplete and poorly structured, though others were well done. I would recommend having a good look at a copy somewhere before deciding to buy this book.

Great book!, 28 Jan 2007
I agree with the previous reviews, this book is excellent. It is very comprehensive and has more than sufficient detail for medical students and beyond. One of the best aspects of this book is its readability and clarity. A must for a surgically inclined medical student or F1/2

The core text for undergraduate surgery, 10 Dec 2006
This is the best surgical textbook I've come across. It is the only book I would recommend you buy in embarking on undergraduate study of surgery and am informed by surgeons that it gets you most of the way through MRCS as well.

Good book if you are doing the ITU course, 18 May 2008
I bought this book to complement my existing critical care books and found it very helpful during the ITU course.



If you only buy one critical care book!, 09 Oct 2007
I bought this book as an aid to studying during my critical care course in the UK. I found this book invaluable and would highly recommend it to anyone working in critical care environment.
Although I think it would be of most benefit to someone working in a general ITU there are many chapters covering a wide range of topics such as cardiac, renal and chapters such as head injuries which can be applied to A&E. The book covers the A&P/science of body systems as well as research based subjects like ITU delirium/psychosis, transferring patients and allocation of critical resources to name a few.

The second edition appears in a two-tone colour (red or black) and the multiple boxes, highlighting important information makes it far easier to read than the original black and white first edition. As an ITU nurse I felt the book gave me in-depth and current/evidence based information to underpin and inform my practise, whilst directing me to the primary references and areas for further reading. I started using the book when I first joined ITU and I'm still using the book now 3 years later - as are many of my colleagues. So if you only buy one critical care book I recommend this one - but have a look at the library/unit copy first, to see if its for you.


Go buy it!!, 31 Jan 2005
an excellent reference book covering a wide selection of topics relevant for nurses of all levels of experience working in the critical care environment. Go buy it!!!

A comprehensive critical care book, 15 Mar 2001
I purchased Critical Care Nursing a year ago, and I have used it on regular occasions since. I now feel that it is an excellent text for nurses working within critical care, however for the complete novice to intensive care I felt that it was too in depth.

comphrensive no-nonsense approach to critical care, 13 Nov 2000
A must for critical care nurses and professionals allied to medicine, the book gives comphrensive and easily understood information on the complex field of the critically ill adult. Ideal as a reference book for post registration courses or as a bedside reference tool for the critical care nurse.

What they said!, 26 Oct 2008
I was so pleased to finally find a book that gave me the detail I'd been looking for! This is a fantastic book, brilliantly illustrated and packed with relevant and specific information. Its a weighty subject that requires a high level of understanding in order to achieve the desired results, and it is clear that the authors know their onions! A MUST for all sports massage therapists. We are using it as our main text in class.

Simply the Best, 04 Oct 2008
We all need a "bible" to refer to in our chosen professions, well this is mine. As a Personal Trainer and Sports Therapist i find the information in this book to be invaluable.
Well laid out and easy to use makes it a perfect companion for any therapist.

The definitive bible of the sports therapist, 09 Jan 2002
Having owned this publication for over a year it has proved invaluable both as a knowledge base and referance tool in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous sports injuries.The text and graphics are exellent, although the rehab section could be expanded and made user friendly.All in all essential reading.

If you have the cash, buy the book., 04 Oct 2001
This is an extremely comprehensive read. It covers the complete range of sports injuries and is packed with clear and helpful photographs and colour illustrations. The book is laid out sensibly by body part and a summary is given at the start of each chapter with a labelled photo of possible injury sites so you can go straight to the problem area.
I would hope a copy of this is on the bookshelf of every physio and sports therapist!

If you have the cash, buy the book., 04 Oct 2001
This is an extremely comprehensive read. It covers the complete range of sports injuries and is packed with clear and helpful photographs and colour illustrations. The book is laid out sensibly by body part and a summary is given at the start of each chapter with a labelled photo of possible injury sites so you can go straight to the problem area.
I would hope a copy of this is on the bookshelf of every physio and sports therapist!

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, 06 Nov 2008
An absolutely vital handbook that helped me significantly through medical school. Although it's nowhere near as comprehensive as separate textbooks are, it's an invaluable aide memoir that does go into significant detail.

An essential buy, but its not quite OHCM..., 24 Mar 2008
'Salt and Vinegar', as this book has affectionately come to be know, has become something of a bible to a 3rd year med student. It has most of the information you'd need for the specialty rotations.
When compared to the OHCM, however, improvements to the layout of some of the text needs improving.
Also, the 'insights' given in this book- quotes from books, ethical tangents, are all too often not insightful at all. They're long and not always optional reading, as they're woven into the essential reading.


completely indispensible, 30 Jan 2005
My copy of this book is breaking apart at the spine and has a few missing pages: this is a testment only to the fact that I've used it so much. I'm an SHO in Paediatrics now, and, since I bought this book in third year I have used it countless times as both as a quick reference guide, and during revision for numerous exams. I quickly came to rely on this book and it's yellow-skinned cousin (OHCM) for brief and memorable introductions to ailments I encountered on the wards and during my revision. This edition is divided into several chapters including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, A£E, Orthopaedics, General Practice, and Psychiatry (amongst others).

While some might feel the poetic subtext on many of the pages is somewhat annoying and pretentious (read the page entitled 'a journey on foot' in the orthopaedic section), I have always found it a welcome augmentation to the raw medical dimension contained within the books pages.

No junior doctor in the UK should be without these books, of that I am certain.

A must for any med. student for quick reference on the wards, 20 Jan 2001
This book together with the Handbook for Clinical Medicine is absolutely essential for survival on the wards. If you havn't got a clue what's wrong with the patient, what the consultant is talking about or what you are meant to do next- these books help you out. They are compact enough to stick in your pocket, but have enough information crammed in to tell you everything that you could be expected to know about any condition. As I said this is a must for any med. student or junior doc. The proof really is that these aren't some new fancy books that have to be put to the test now, everyone I've spoken to seems to have been using them for years- Good Luck!

Perfect!, 10 May 2008
I used this book for finals.It's a fantastic introduction to surgery (as it assumes very little knowledge), and a great revision guide for finals (since it's orientated to exams right from the start) there's also a strong focus on what you need to know (including those rarities that are commonly asked about) and how to present information in a clinical exam. And yes there is sometimes a little waffle, since it takes a wordy "actually being talked through things by a friendly surgeon" approach, but this makes it more accessible in my opinion.

I used this in conjunction with Master Medicine: surgery 1 & 2 although this book does stand on it's own, I preferred to use a few books together to round off my understanding.

I'd also like to point out that even though it lacks as many pictures as other surgical books it makes up for it by far in text explanation.




A must have!, 14 Mar 2008
This book is one of those must have books for your collection. Perfect for students starting out on surgical attachments. The first few chapters are SO helpful. They provide you with a means of answering almost any medical question that can be thrown at you on wards and in exams.

Yes there are typos, but they are obvious. I am revising for finals just now and I am using this book and Rapid Surgery by Obi for surgical revision. Both great books.

Surgical talk has wider uses in that the infor in the early chapters will hold you in good stead for medical attachments as well. Cannot recommend this book highly enough. The authors have done a great job.

Excellent - but all those typing errors!, 08 Jan 2008
This is a great book, very readable and full of good content. If only the publishers had bothered to proof read it - just so many typos (at one point they even write former instead of latter!).

Having said this, the book is excellent and I'd still give it 5 stars.

Brilliant Book, 23 Dec 2007
You might find it difficult to believe that this book is so good but having used it extensively, along with "Browse's Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Diseases", on surgical attachments it has been instrumental in achieving exam success.

Its a great book to learn from as it is designed specifically for both written and clinical Finals, containing almost everything you need to know and presents it in such a concise format that it can be re-revised rapidly with exams looming (over 2 days). It doesnt matter that there are few diagrams as almost every word in the text is important. This book will arm you with the answers for any surgical question you come across.

I would recommend this whole-hearted