Rating: 
Summary: A rare find
Review: Bottom line is that this pocketbook will give you practical, useable information on how to manage patients with certain diseases. It's only weakness is that it does focus mainly on disease entities rather than presentations (eg it won't give you the workup for hematuria). However it compensates for this by giving you a list of differentials for such presentations. I haven't found a pocketbook of comparable quality and value for use on the wards.
Rating:
Summary: A rare find
Review: Bottom line is that this pocketbook will give you practical, useable information on how to manage patients with certain diseases. It's only weakness, if any, is that it does focus mainly on disease entities rather than presentations (eg it won't give you the workup for hematuria). However it compensates for this by giving you a list of differentials for such presentations. I haven't found a pocketbook of comparable quality and value for use on the wards.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this Book!
Review: By far and away the best book for the fleging internal medicine resident or even a 4th year student. The "subtleties" of medicine is clearly not the goal of a labcoat reference such as this. Rather, it is a reasonably comprehensiive, easily accessible, and up-to-date guide for day to day decision making on the wards. It does not replace Harrison's, and it won't make you a brilliant physician, but for quick reminders of everyday resident level problems, it's hard to beat. It's actually quite easy to see why it's better than the prosaic and vague Washington Manual (Yawn).
Rating:
Summary: Buy this Book!
Review: By far and away the best book for the fleging internal medicine resident or even a 4th year student. The "subtleties" of medicine is clearly not the goal of a labcoat reference such as this. Rather, it is a reasonably comprehensiive, easily accessible, and up-to-date guide for day to day decision making on the wards. It does not replace Harrison's, and it won't make you a brilliant physician, but for quick reminders of everyday resident level problems, it's hard to beat. It's actually quite easy to see why it's better than the prosaic and vague Washington Manual (Yawn).
Rating: 
Summary: An adequate pocket manual for internal medicine.
Review: Created as an alternative to the more traditional Washington Manual, I fear that this handbook falls short of its goal. In its effort to present data in a succint list like format, it has lost the subtleties necessarry to assist physicians in training in making informed decisions. I do not discount the possibility that its newfound popularity is a result of the fact that this handbook is smaller and fits better into the pocket of a lab coat. An adequate handbook for internal medicine, but far from the best.
Rating:
Summary: Good for the first 2 years of medical school as well
Review: Ferri's handbook is helpful for students who have a Problem-Based component to the first two years of their curriculum. The list of differential diagnoses is excellent and the profile on each disorder gives the right amount of information without being overwhelming. It isn't a replacement to your pathophysiology, pathology, microbiology, and pharmocology textbooks, but a very helpul adjunct.
Rating:
Summary: Essential for all medicine residents
Review: For medical students,interns and residents who are rotating through general medical wards, this book provides concise and reasonably up to date information on common ailments encountered. It is a quick and brief way to review the mainpoints of disease (differential diagnosis, workup, treatment etc)on your way to morning report or before attending rounds. I found it easier to read than the washington manual.Another plus is its compact size that can easily fit into your labcoat pocket and can therefore be available on the wards, on call and while sitting through lectures. It is not, of course, a replacement to the Harrison's text--but who can carry harrison's around with them everyday??
Rating:
Summary: Essential for all medicine residents
Review: For medical students,interns and residents who are rotating through general medical wards, this book provides concise and reasonably up to date information on common ailments encountered. It is a quick and brief way to review the mainpoints of disease (differential diagnosis, workup, treatment etc)on your way to morning report or before attending rounds. I found it easier to read than the washington manual. Another plus is its compact size that can easily fit into your labcoat pocket and can therefore be available on the wards, on call and while sitting through lectures. It is not, of course, a replacement to the Harrison's text--but who can carry harrison's around with them everyday??
Rating:
Summary: No brainer
Review: forget about it. it's all you need. get a refund on your wash manual or scut monkey. this one is much more comprehensive and ideal for junior student.
Rating:
Summary: Med Students, Buy it NOW
Review: I am a transitional intern doing my gen med rotation. I was introduced to this book by my intern 2 years ago when I was a student during the first week of my gen med rotation. It was great then, and it is great now. I hate carrying stuff in my white coat, especially books of this size. But I refer to it constantly during the day. In rounds, in the ED while working up a patient, while reviewing a patient's labs. Numerous times each day. I have two students with me now, and I've convinced them after one week that they should buy this book. It's that good. Details, ie, what it offers. DDX, there is a DDX section in the front for common presenting symptoms. This is perhaps the books only weakness. It is too scant. Many common symptoms aren't included. The differentials offered are adequate, but the section could be expanded. Systems Based Chapters. CV, Pulm, GI, ID,Neuro, Renal etc. The stuff you see everday on the wards is reviewed very well, with signs, symptoms, diagnostic workup and treatment. These chapters are not everything you need to know. I do more reading at night on specific ailments my patients are presenting with. But in the ED when you are accepting a thyroid storm, CVA, GIB, whatever, its there and it will get you through the admission and the evening until morning rounds with the attending. Another great feature is the section that helps to interpret many labs you may order. Elevated, normal or low anything, and it provides a great differential. It can make you look smart on rounds. Finally, there is a short formulary in the back, which I never refer to since I have both pharmacopaeia (spelling?) and epocrates. This book is great for med students and transitional interns. Prelims and categoricals probably can pass on this. I'd say the next step is the little red book put out by Stanford (Standford Internal Medicine pocket guide? Not sure of the name.) It is much more compact, concise, etc. with citations to the literature. But if you are a med student, buy it NOW, before your gen med rotation. Good Luck.
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