Consumers flock online for 24/7 health information, from the latest research on rare diseases to mothers' groups tweeting advice on colicky babies. But when it comes to reliable, easy-to-understand information on a wide range of medical, health and fitness issues, a number of new books belong in any informed patient's library…

Here are my picks for the best health books of 2009…

The Mayo Clinic Family Health Book… this newly revised and updated fourth edition of Mayo's consumer-health and medical guide offers a wealth of data on everything from emergency care for injuries to advice on how to deal with someone expressing suicidal thoughts.

The Wall Street Journal by Laura Landro, 12/7/09

Tags: consumer-health and medical guide, Mayo Clinic Family Heath Book, Uncategorized