The 101 Most Unusual Diseases and Disorders. By Evelyn B. Kelly. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2015. 287 p. Acid free $89 (ISBN 978-1-61069-675-3). E-book available (978-1-61069-676-0), call for pricing.

There is developing public interest in strange and rare medical conditions, as evidenced by the popularity of television programs such as Discovery Life’s Mystery Diagnosis and Animal Planet’s Monsters Inside Me. Of reference works about rare conditions, many focus on specialized topics or are intended for health practitioners. Here, the author, Evelyn B. Kelly, writes in her introduction: “this book is intended for a lay audience who does not necessarily want or need to know all of the medical minutiae related to a particular condition” (xiv). Consequently, The 101 Most Unusual Diseases and Disorders may be an appropriate addition for some non-medical libraries.

The work is divided into five broad sections of medical conditions. The sections include “Genetic Disorders,” “Mental Health Disorders,” “Environmental Diseases and Disorders,” “Infectious Diseases,” and “Other or Unexplained Origin.” These begin with some explanatory text intended to provide a very brief overview and define some relevant terminology. The work includes a total of 101 entries, alphabetized under each section. Each entry begins with a bulleted list drawing attention to facts such as pathology, signs and symptoms, and alternative names. Each condition then includes a longer description and headings for symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and one or two references for further information. The entries vary in length from about one to four pages.

A few features in this work make it particularly useful for readers to browse and develop interest in a topic or condition. The very concise bulleted list that starts each entry provides a snapshot that is very easy to skim. Many entries also provide some boxed text that describe some tangential point of interest such as famous case studies, interviews or health advice. The “Helpful Resources” section simply reproduces the “Further Information” headings at the end of each entry. The single, alphabetized index is serviceable.

Overall, this work accomplishes what the author intended. It is not a comprehensive medical reference work. The strongest features of the book are the ease with which the reader can skim an entry and locate the most important, unusual or interesting facts. It provides a concise introduction to many unusual medical conditions and is most useful as a discovery tool.—Ryan McLaughlin, Adjunct Reference Librarian, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio