Combined pack

ISBN 978-0-19-875820-4

Oxford University Press

Price £49.99

http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/academic/series/medicine/oxhmed/9780198758204.do

This is an interesting initiative by combining two popular members of the Oxford Handbook series and placing them into one purchase bundle. It is a very attraction option bringing together both the specialties of medicine and surgery into one offering. According to the publisher’s website, they add up to an impressive 1752 pages. I should add that nothing has changed within the format of the books as far as I can see; simply one copy of the Oxford Handbook of clinical medicine has been added to one copy of the Oxford Handbook of clinical surgery and is wrapped together. Even better, their subject matter neatly complements each other.

There is no doubt that each book is excellent in its own right. Just in case you not familiar with the Oxford Handbook series, these are small handbooks with vinyl covers for added protection. Although relatively small, they pack in a huge amount of information which is of the practical variety and will often help a healthcare professional deal with a patient front of them. Or they may help to solve a clinical problem quickly and without fuss, as they contain a considerable depth and knowledge between their covers. They are both well written, informative and user friendly and so easily allows the reader to dip in and extract the information they really want. Sometimes I wonder if the word “Handbook” doesn’t truly do the series justice as they are superb books rich in knowledge and practical advice and like other sister titles in the series, they are very portable. Interestingly, the price does not come with an electronic book version either on the web or an e book for a tablet or smartphone. I think if this was added in even at a slightly greater price, this would definitely enhance the attraction of the bundle.

Each book, as would be expected covers each of its topic area very well and is ideal for both junior and senior medical staff as well GPs and their GP registrars. So there is no doubt as to the high quality contents of each book, so how do the prices stack up with this bundle compared to the individual books? Well according to the publisher’s website, the Oxford Handbook of clinical surgery 4th edition costs £29.99 see http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199699476.do The Oxford Handbook of clinical medicine 9th edition is similarly priced, see http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199609628.do So if you think you are going to need or want both books, buying this bundle could be a cost effective solution.

Dr Harry Brown

November 2015