This completely comprehensive reference is not the kind of book you read cover to cover. But if you're a medical professional trying to figure out what's up with a patients pain, you could do no better than this massive reference. My wife, a retired nurse, still keeps this volume close. On the other hand, if you're not a medical pro you'll need at least a basic medical vocabulary (or access to a pro to translate) and if you've got that it works great as a kind of hypochondriac's bible - believe me, every possible human ache and pain is in here somewhere! ( )