Book Reviews
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Recent book reviews
Read a selection of recent book reviews, written by GPRA Registrars...
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This is an excellent book for use in general practice. First of all it is Australian, and it is endorsed by Professor John Murtagh. I could probably stop at that sentence because that must be the pinnacle of recommendations in General Practice publications! Initially I found the format a bit hard to get used to. Each chapter has clinical questions as subheadings and then the answer in paragraph form below it. This makes it a difficult book to sit down with and read chapter by chapter, but on reflection I don’t think that is what it is designed for. It seems to me to be a very useful book to have on your shelf in the office and use to pull down and refer to with specific questions which arise in practice every day. It perfectly suits this use. The chapters are set out in a sensible and chronological order and make quick reference easy. The author has written a number of articles for AFP etc and this shows in the simple and direct and concise language used in each section. Like most female GPs I see many women, and many more women’s health issues, and a book such as this will be invaluable. I think it will appeal to anyone in general practice, however. Students may also find this book useful as a reference but it does look at women’s health from a GP angle generally and may not cover enough hospital based obstetrics and gynaecology. Having said that, I will complete my RANZCOG diploma later this year and I am sure this book will be useful for me then also. I have to declare a conflict of interest – this book was given to me for free by the publisher when I volunteered to write a review. I don’t think that has clouded mu judgement, and I have spoken to colleagues since who have bought this book independently and we agree on the usefulness and functionality of this book. I recommend it to any GP who sees from one to thirty women in their daily practice! Review submitted by: Dr Jacqueline Heagney |
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I’ll be the first to admit: Clinical Toxicology sends chills up my spine – and not in a good way. Any resident or GP registrar who has had the fortune of manning a Friday or Saturday night Emergency Department will probably share the same sentiment. Unless you are a specialist Toxicologist, Dr Joe Average will probably need a helping hand to manage the barrage of potential agents on which a patient may overdose. And in this day in age, where medications are the new candy, clinical toxicology is more relevant than ever. But fear not. Murray et al has produced a conveniently compact but surprisingly comprehensive handbook to keep you company on those oh-so-lonely weekend night shifts. The opening chapter packs a punch, as it reviews the general approach to a potentially poisoned patient. It has it all – from the principles of resuscitation and supportive care, to the more specialized areas of gastrointestinal decontamination, enhanced elimination, antidotes and even antivenoms. The significance of risk assessment is emphasized, highlighted and underlined with bright fluorescent colours throughout the book, just in case your brain was succumbing to sleep mode. But the beauty of the book lies in its detailed and standardized encapsulation of a vast list of toxins: mechanism of toxicity, clinical features, suggested investigations and management, even wee blurbs of handy tips, pitfalls and controversies in management. Crikey! Never have I felt so comfortable with paracetamol overdose. And don’t worry if your patients have tendencies to dip into the non-medicinal stash – there are notes on how to handle poisoning by mushrooms, plants, alcohol, opioids and various other Saturday night pick-me-ups. Heck, even body packers aren’t safe. The second edition includes chapters on envenomings and antidotes, to allay the closeted ophidio- and arachno-phobia in us all. As a book, it is a relatively dry read – it won’t be challenging the Harry Potter series any time soon. Fortunately, that is not its purpose. As a reference handbook, it is impressively informative and satisfyingly succinct at the same time. Definitely a valuable resource to have on your next Accident & Emergency all-night disco – and very reassuring to not be dancing alone. Review submitted by: GPT1 Registrar  |
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It would be fair to say that Neurology is one of the most challenging subjects, that we doctors struggle with from university days. It could be due the complexity of the subject and in depth knowledge about neuroanatomy one would require in order to work out the location of a possible lesion. However the book "Clinical Neurology" written by Peter Gates brings the ideal solution to the above problems. The first impression that I had when reading the first 100 pages was, why on earth didn't I have this book when I was studying for my final exams? It would have saved me a lot of time and energy wasted referring to ten different textbooks and back again. In addition the simplicity of the language he uses makes it more appealing not only to medical students, but also for foreign doctors whose mother tongue is not English. Finally I can confidently state that this is one of the brilliant books available about neurology, for everyone ranging from medical students to Neurologists and Neurosurgeons for higher studies as well for everyday reference. Review submitted by: Dr Ravi Ganepola |
Women's Health in General Practice, 2nd Edition
Toxicology Handbook, 2nd Edition
Clinical Neurology: A Primer
