Though you can order many of these books online right here, I realize that some are not as financial affluent as others. To that end, jot down some of the books and check to see if they are available in your local library, or at least in your nearest bookstore.

This list is a reference that is intended to lead you towards being more informed, and those in rural areas would probably benefit more from ordering online. Not having ready access to many of these books is touch and go if you do not live in a large city, due to their specific subject matter. I have yet to see a small hamlet or village stocking a copy of The Caregiver's Handbook or Gray's Anatomy.

Though a number of these books are Canadian, a lot are American. Where I decided to list an American book are in topics where borders do not really play a role, and in some cases only a slight adaptation is necessary. How to set up a support group really is much the same in America as it is here. Ritalin is the same drug here as it is there, so other than different drug administrations, the actual drug itself remains unto itself. Then there are a few books which actually require the Canadian Health System to be compared to its Americam counterpart, and vice versa. So, yes, there are a few American books that are handy to have.

Before you decide to purchase a book anywhere, check to see if the specific information you require is available for free. Many of the agencies I have dealt with have their own free resource centers and some independent companies actually offer free booklets in the hopes you will buy their more in-depth ones.

As an avid reader myself, I do not have the time to go through half the books I would like to. As far as guides and reference material goes though, I find that having them around is handy for a fast look-see when something comes up. Sometimes it is as simple as having Gray's Anatomy around for the kids' school homework, or as complex as looking up the side effects of a prescription drug.