This third edition of Salem Health: Genetics and Inherited Conditions is written for the general reader, and is not intended for medical professionals. It was written by professors and professional medical writers for nonspecialists. This edition has been expanded to three volumes, adding 236 new topics. Other entries have either been heavily revised by experts, or have been re-edited with bibliographies updated with the latest sources. Every section now also includes websites of interest. It includes a variety of topics ranging from the science behind the field to diseases that can be passed down between generations. The discipline is looked at from a variety of perspectives, giving historical and technical background “along with a balanced discussion of recent discoveries and developments” (ix).

Salem Health: Genetic and Inherited Diseases is an A–Z encyclopedia with 455 essays on all aspects of genetics. Essays vary in length from two to six pages. All entries begin with defining that topic’s category. Essays on diseases and inherited conditions have sections titled “Definition,” “Risk Factors,” “Etiology and Genetics of This Disorder,” “Symptoms,” “Screening and Diagnosis,” “Treatment and Therapy,” and “Prevention and Outcomes.” The other essays all begin with a statement of significance, a list of key terms and their definitions, and also feature subheadings to guide readers. This encyclopedia has approximately two hundred black-and-white photographs with additional sidebars, tables, charts, and drawings. Its scope reaches the key social and ethical questions “ranging from cloning to stem cells to genetically modified foods and organisms” (ix). Online access, for unlimited users at every branch or school at your institution, is included with the purchase of print. This makes purchasing Salem Health: Genetics and Inherited Diseases very cost-effective.

I compared this encyclopedia set to two similar sources. The first is James Wynbrandt and Mark D. Ludman’s The Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders and Birth Defects (Facts on File, 2008). This is also an A–Z encyclopedia, but the entries are very concise. The entries are also not divided into sections, which makes finding information more difficult. Salem Health: Genetics and Inherited Conditions provides more detailed information that is more accessible. I also looked at Brigham Narins’ The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders (Thomson Gale, c. 2005). This alphabetically arranged encyclopedia goes into greater detail than Salem Health: Genetic Disorders and Inherited Diseases. The entries are divided into sections, and it lists key terms more prominently. The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders and Birth Defects also contains color photographs, whereas Salem Health only contains black-and-white photographs. The only thing the Thomson Gale encyclopedia lacks in comparison to the Salem Press encyclopedia is that it does not go into the history and science behind the field of genetics. Both of the sources I looked to for comparison were also written for nonspecialists with the same target audience as Salem Health: Genetics and Inherited Conditions.

The audience for Salem Health: Genetics and Inherited Conditions is biology and premedical students, public library patrons interested in consumer health, and librarians building specific collections. It provides authoritative information on genetics and genetic diseases in an easy to understand language and format. Of the three sources I looked at for this review, I would recommend the featured title. While the entries are slightly shorter than The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, Salem’s work contains more updated information, a history of genetics along with the science behind the field, and online content.