Tova Navarra’s Encyclopedia of Asthma and Respiratory Disorders is primarily just that: an encyclopedia devoted to disorders of the respiratory system with a focus on asthma. According to the foreword, the intended audience are the lay public and clinical professionals, and it has much to offer both. At the centre of the book is a traditional encyclopedia, but it also includes a large number of appendices and an insightful introduction which locates respiratory diseases in a larger cultural context.
Navarra writes the encyclopedia section of the Encyclopedia of Asthma and Respiratory Disorders in a clear and graceful style. Some of the topics are more clinical (fascia, endothoracic), while others may be of more interest to a patient or other member of the public (expectorant); however, the definitions and discussion are equally comprehensible across this spectrum. One particularly useful feature of this section is the cross‐referencing of brand‐name and generic pharmaceuticals: although the full description exists under the generic name of the drug, the encyclopedia heading includes all current brand names, each listed alphabetically as well with a reference to the generic name. (One exception to the general excellence of the encyclopedia section is the case of the entry for the generic montelukast, which has no description; it simply refers to its brand name, Singulair. The entry for Singulair refers back to montelukast. Furthermore, the index listing for montelukast gives only the page number for Singulair! But this confusing loop is an anomaly in an otherwise excellent referencing system.) Other strengths of this section are the inclusion of handouts for patients and health practitioners, giving practical advice about various respiratory problems, and the presence of tables such as one entitled “Weeds that are a cause of hay fever in the United States and Canada”. Navarra brings in information in a variety of forms, rather than forcing different types of information into prose.
A total of 12 appendices comprise nearly half the Encyclopedia. Of particular interest to readers in the public health fields will be the county‐by‐county breakdown of various lung diseases in the USA. Another appendix contains tables describing changes in respiratory cancer rates over the last 30 years. Still another describes popular home remedies for respiratory problems. An odd addition is Appendix IV, which includes algorithms for treating and classifying asthma; although the content of these algorithms may be useful for general practitioners who need a brief refresher, their heavily clinical language and cramped design make them less than optimal for the layperson. In general, the appendices contribute significantly to the utility of the Encyclopedia, contrary to the marginal connotations of their title.
The Encyclopedia of Asthma and Respiratory Disorders would be a fine reference resource even without its introduction. The introduction demonstrates Navarra’s multidisciplinary study of her topic. She discusses the role of breathing in the Upanishads, self‐help books and The Little Rascals with good humour and a light touch. Although the description of the various cultural roles of respiratory disease is not requisite in a good reference book, this section adds unusual detail and texture to an already impressive resource for patients and practitioners alike.
