Having bought and used the fourth edition since starting medical school nearly 6 years ago, one naturally hopes that the new edition does not need to be added to an already comprehensive and varied medical bookshelf. Unfortunately, only a naive student would follow this line of thought.
The most outstanding and dramatic change to this edition has to be the ability to access the FULL textbook (along with every single image, table etc.) online! Each textbook comes with an unique PIN number that allows one access to the 'kumarandclark' website. Furthermore, the very first page contains a list of websites that have up-to-date information regarding the subject matter in their respective chapters.
Only at closer inspection, can one really see the subtle differences between the fourth and fifth editions (for instance, the Acute Coronary Syndrome now replaces Unstable Angina in this new edition, an important distinction, especially with finals fast approaching!).
Perhaps, the only disappointing aspect of this new edition is the absence of the useful appendices found in the fourth edition. This is because of the new 'ethics and communication' chapter at the start of the book; probably useful for those starting medicine and those of us reaching the end. But still, there are other textbooks that are more useful in bringing across these areas of medicine.
All in all, with finals coming, this new edition ensures that the important imformation needed for finals is up-to-date. And thankfully, the colourful and 'easy-to-the-eye' layout is preserved, thus creating an invaluable medical reference.