Amanda Jewison, Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Someone has obviously spent a long time trying to improve the 20th Edition of Davidson’s, and it shows. The book is bright, colourful with physiology at the beginning of each chapter, a good mixture of photos and line diagrams, evidence-based medicine boxes scattered about the place and many more features to break up the text and make it as informative and easy-to-read as possible. The first chapter, on Good Medical Practice will make every medical student groan — it covers all the usual hated subjects like communication, ethics and complementary therapies, but if you ignore this bit of wasted tree, Davidson’s is a useful book for medical students across the spectrum. Although in my opinion it would be most useful to pre-clinical students as it does not contain enough detail in many subjects (particularly psychiatry) to carry you through clinical rotations, it is a good book for quick reference and revision

Posted 1st Jul 2008

Gillian Beagan, University of Glasgow

My first impression overall is the book is excellent. Initially what I found good was its online access through the student consult website. I frequently use the website and so having the complete text and illustrations online means I can access the literature anywhere and do not need to carry around Davidson’s. The literature online is in a similar format to the textbook. The only critical point here concerns the scratch panel at the front of the book. These can be difficult to remove and often remove the code with it.
Generally the book is well presented. The diagrams are large, clear and in colour which draws in your attention. They are very nicely illustrated and can be easily understood. The literature itself is very concise and clearly written but simultaneously it gives great depth on every area of clinical medicine I have covered thus far.
Overall an excellent purchase.

Posted 1st Jul 2008

Julia Ward, University of Dundee

At Dundee University, the recommended general medical text book is Kumar and Clark, but I have never found it to suit my style of learning, and I had been interested in finding a more suitable alternative. Although having always been taught not to judge a book by its cover, the first impression gained from Davidson’s is of a more serious medical tome.
I liked the approach taken in Davidson’s — the detailed information explains complex ideas in a clear and easily understandable style, but in sufficient detail to give a true understanding of the material. I also found the numerous boxes useful to provide summaries of specific aspects of medicine (although the key to the different types of boxes was not immediately obvious).
My overall impression is that Davidson’s is the medical text book that meets my needs in a way that I felt Kumar and Clark never did. However, until I start using it for studying specific topics it will be difficult assess the book in more detail. I am however looking forward to having a good general medical textbook with which I feel comfortable studying for my finals, and I would be happy to recommend it to peers who are looking for an alternative to Kumar and Clark.

Posted 1st Jul 2008

Lisa Quinn, University of Manchester

Davidson’s is the definitive medical textbook that will serve as a complete and comprehensive reference to clinical medicine throughout your undergraduate years and beyond. The content is easy to read covering, as the title suggests the underlying principles of medicine- reviewing the relevant functional physiology, anatomy and biochemistry to each system. Most importantly the clinical significance of these is explained and how they then apply to clinical practice and subsequent management of disease. The whole book is generously filled with an excellent range of coloured illustrations, photos and flow diagrams, which neatly interrupt the text to make it more manageable, while each system-based chapter opens with a very clear, brief overview of the key clinical findings on examination of that system. The 20th edition is indeed an excellent text, further enhanced by free online access to the full content and illustrations and over 750 questions self-assessment questions. This book should grace the shelf of every medical student’s bookcase!

Posted 1st Jul 2008