Customer Reviews

The New Harvard Guide to Women's Health (Harvard University Press Reference Library)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Buy this book. The focus is on "health," not illness, and the issues addressed are broader than those which bring you to the doctor's office. From Airbags to Zinc, the topics are laid out alphabetically, making answers to specific questions easy to find. I find myself looking up one thing and being drawn to other sections of the book. I've never opened the book without learning something new. For women of a certain age who wonder "Am I the only one who feels like this?" and "Should I be worrying about this?" this is a great book to have on your reference shelf.

I spent the last few months wrestling with a "women's health issue" of my own and this book was invaluable! I was able to research the possible things that might be causing my problem so that I had intelligent questions to discuss with my physician. I was then able to refer back to the book with the information he gave me. The diagrams are useful, the language concise, and each entry refers you to related entries in the book. Need a reference when you're healthy and want more info? This book is great. Need a reference when something is going wrong? This book is EVEN BETTER--find out what tests/procedures your doctor might use, the rationale for particular choices, what to expect during the test/exam, and gain insights for what the results mean. The New Harvard Guide can make a very scary situation much more manageable(knowledge is power!).

With the 1996 publication of this title, women seeking answers to common health questions enjoyed the combined expertise of physicians from three world-class institutions: The New Harvard Guide To Women's Health revises this classic, including new recommendations reflecting the latest medical thinking on menopause and hormone replacement therapy and adding updated recommendations on cardiac health, nutritional requirements, and the latest medications and diagnostic procedures. A lasting medical reference easy for lay readers to access, yet with all the power of the established medical community behind it.

This book is written much differently than the Harvard Med Guide to Men's Health (which is an excellent book and a good read.) I am a health professional and I was disappointed to find that this book is indexed for use as an alphabetical reference and it is written in (too) simplistic language. Moreover, the explanation of where the research and conclusions come from (large research studies like the Nurse's Health Study, etc.) is absent. As a desk reference, this is a weak resource and as a comprehensive summary of Harvard Med conclusions, it also lacks cohesive, integrated organization.

I purchased their first edition several years ago and was pleased to see they were updating.
Finding illnesses or symptoms are easily attined and graphics are superb.Would recommend to all my lady friends.

I have the original version and I refer to it all of the time. Very informative. Note the number of pages - this is a great resource. now I'm buying the updated version.

This book is a must if your a woman in need of medical advice! (but always seek your doctor as well!)

I buy this book for the women in my life. No women should be without it. It is in understandable English, and loaded with up-to-date information.

The Prof.

This book is very general and not at all specific if you want to delve into disease and such. Overall, its not worth the price.

This is a great reference book for women of all ages. While it focuses on women's health issues, many issues are also shared by men. The book doesn't just cover reproductive issues, it covers just about everything that can affect a womans health, from perticides and waxing to alternative health options and wrinkles. It also covers disease processes, symptoms, medical evaluations/tests, treatment options, as well as rehabilitation/physical therapy. It is organized alphabetically, so looking something up is very easy. This is a very comprehensive, well organized reference book. I am a health care professional and have recommended this book to many of my peers, who have thanked me for recommending the book to them.