Venerable Medical Reference Book Stands the Test of Time
Kenilworth, N.J., May 10, 2018 – Trusted by doctors and other healthcare professionals for more than a century, The Merck Manual, now published in its 20th Edition, offers readers the tactile satisfaction of paging through an array of medical topics.
Within weeks of its launch, the much-anticipated 20th Edition ranked as a “hot new release” in the clinical medicine category on Amazon.com.
Completely updated and extensively expanded content has added significant girth to the tome since the last edition was published in 2011, and it now weighs in at more than six pounds.
“The Merck Manual has always served as the initial stop on the road to understanding for physicians and other healthcare professionals encountering a topic for the first time or for the first time in a long time,” said Editor-in-Chief Robert S. Porter, M.D. “Even in this digital age, the book still plays the same crucial role, providing the authoritative information necessary to make the healthcare professional ‘master of the situation.'”
Bibliophiles will appreciate the detailed index, page-specific cross references, large trim, and thumb tabs. Lists of bulleted “Key Points” summarize the facts in each chapter at a glance. A 16-page, full-color insert aids visual recognition of skin, eye, and oral disorders. All new “Pearls and Pitfalls” shaded boxes highlight noteworthy medical observations and areas of caution. The 20th Edition features more than 300 tables and figures.
The 3,584-page volume is the work of a team of more than 350 expert contributors; all content is reviewed by an independent editorial board.
The comprehensive resource covers a full range of medical specialties, including gastroenterology, cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, endocrinology, oncology, immunology, neurology, and psychiatry. There are dedicated sections for pediatrics and geriatrics.
The timely text addresses pressing social issues, many of which have significant public health implications, such as school bullying, domestic violence, and elder abuse. Current events have precipitated an in-depth discussion of injuries caused by mass casualty weapons, including biological and chemical agents.
Digital Platforms
Although it has long since grown too big to be carried in a lab coat, the book has returned to the pocket as an app that can be downloaded to mobile devices at no charge.
All of the information in the print version is enhanced by many multimedia features also accessible on the free website at www.merckmanuals.com. The user experience is never compromised by advertising or commercial messaging.
Gold Standard for Generations
The pharmaceutical manufacturer, known as Merck & Co. at the time, first published The Merck Manual for doctors and pharmacists in 1899. The then slim manual quickly became a favorite among those in need of a compact medical reference. Dr. Albert Schweitzer carried the book to remote parts of Africa in 1913, and a copy accompanied Admiral Richard E. Byrd on his flight to the South Pole in 1929.
The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook translates the complex medical terminology contained in The Merck Manual into everyday language for a lay audience. The first edition of the consumer version was introduced in 1997.
The 20th Edition of The Merck Manual (ISBN-13: 978-0911910421) lists at $79.95 and may be purchased at leading book retailers or by visiting www.merckbooks.com.
Merck and Co., Inc. publishes all of the books in The Merck Manual series as a not-for-profit service.