Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics, 31st Edition

Rating:
Summary: great for what it's supposed to be used for.
Review: 5 stars for what it's supposed to be used for:

Have used both Ferri's and the Washington Manual and would have to say Washington is by far tops (also Ferri's has unfortunately gotten so fat and its binder is terrible to boot!!). In terms of what to exactly treat your patients with and how to give it, as an intern this can be very nerve-racking. The Washington Manual helps lessen some of this anxiety with good recommendations and timely pearls. The Washington Manual is also nice for the quick jogging of memory as a more senior resident or for an attending treating easy or mildly-complex out-of-specialty problems. Nothing as of yet really beats this time-tested cook book like ole' Washington to get your bearings.

Once again, it's a cook book albeit a very good one. But obviously, as a chef is much more than the recipes he knows, it's assumed that the diligent clinician's "unwritten job" is to appraise the literature, read solid textbooks, go to conferences, use time-tested clinical experience.

The MGH blue / black pocket Medicine guide is also really good! Uses lots of new studies as evidence, excellent tables and algorithms, but doesn't cover as much. MGH and Washington complement each other quite well in many respects.

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This manual is containing all you need in training internal med.
Buy this book!

Rating:
Summary: Must have for internal med residents especially interns
Review: You must have this to know what to do when you start residency, when on call in the middle of the night to manage problems. The transition from student to resident is difficult. Ferris does not fit into your white coat as well as this slim, spiral bound sweetie. Other books I would get as intern would be Pharmacopia to carry in your front pocket, and NMS/Strong Medicine to pass step 3.