Over 1,000 pages of in-depth medical information! One of the most widely used sources of medical information in the world, The Merck Manual had previously been written for doctors and health-care professionals—not the general public. Now The Merck Manual—Home Edition contains virtually all of the information in the physician’s version, but in easy-to-understand, everyday language, with a reader-friendly format. Written by two hundred internationally respected medical experts, this best-selling reference presents in-depth information for almost all medical problems, - Heart disease - Digestive disorders - Cancer - Nutrition problems - AIDS - Hormonal problems - Infections - Men’s, women’s, and children’s health issues - Mental health disorders - And more! The most complete medical book of its kind, The Merck Manual—Home Edition is an essential volume for every household.
No, I cannot claim to actually have read this book in its entirety but I do find myself referring to it often enough that I've become well acquainted with its contents.
I primarily use this for genealogical purposes when looking over death certificates in order to decipher the medical jargon found in these legal documents.
Occasionally, I even find it personally useful for diagnosing myself as to whether I have symptoms worth worrying about or not. Overall, I find it far more grounded of a work over searching the myriad of questionable internet sites that normally seem to somehow imply that I have a terminally fatal disease.
If I recall, at the time it was the only decent medical handbook for laymen. This book was a source of anxiety for me; and to my doctor's annoyance, a guide to possibly unsound self-diagnosis. I outgrew this phase :) but looking back, it was entertaining.