Chronic Diseases: An Encyclopedia of Causes, Effects, and Treatments. Edited by Jean Kaplan Teichroew. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2016. 2 vols. Acid free $189 (ISBN 978-1-4408-0103-7). E-book available (978-1-4408-0104-4), call for pricing.

This two-volume set organizes an array of chronic diseases and disorders into 323 concise entries, clearly described in lay language. Topics related to prevention, therapies, and societal factors such as poverty and health disparities are also included. Entries are mostly two to three pages long and are divided into categories such as “Overview,” “Symptoms,” “Causes and Risk Factors,” “Diagnosis,” “Prevention,” “Prognosis and Outcomes,” and “Future.” Entries are signed and contributor credentials are provided. Many authors are educators or writers experienced in communicating health information to the general public; some are medical professionals. “Further reading” lists at the end of each entry reference books and articles, many of which are freely available online. There is also a “Recommended Resources” section listing numerous books and websites for researchers seeking reputable sources that are relatively free of medical terminology and scholarly language.

One notable shortcoming of Chronic Diseases: An Encyclopedia is its complete lack of photographs, drawings, or other illustrations. While statistical data in print resources is of limited use since it quickly becomes outdated, some entries in this encyclopedia would have benefitted greatly from a few illustrative charts. For example, the articles entitled “Men’s Health” and “Women’s Health” would be far more useful if they included comparative data tables showing readers the impact of certain chronic diseases across these populations. Such enhanced content would help set this work apart from free online resources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (cdc.gov) and the US National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus database (medlineplus.gov), which are also designed with non-professional users in mind.

While there are more comprehensive medical encyclopedias, such as Magill’s Medical Guide (Grey House, 2014) and The Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health (2013), there is no other print resource for non-professionals focusing exclusively on chronic illness and related issues. Chronic Diseases is intuitively organized and clearly written, so users looking for a straightforward source to help them untangle this complex phenomenon will likely appreciate its brevity. Therefore, this set is recommended for general collections in public, community college, and college libraries.—Kathryn Fisher, Head of Patron Services and Instruction, Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, Ohio