The problem with books is that once they are out in print, they are outdated. You may find basic information but new topics (especially treatment) would not be up to date.
Online resources that are good and easy to understand include the arthritis foundation, the Mayo Clinic, and Johns Hopkins. Also The American College of Rheumatology has a patient information site. You have to be very careful what you read, and if you read something that you don't understand or have a question about, be sure to talk with your rheumy.

Thanks for the great advice. I will look at those websites.

That's an interesting question. My first reaction to literally every change in my life has been to stock up on books on the subject; had I shelved them in order the titles would read like my autobiography in chronological order.

There's a need for a book, although with the rapidly changing information it shouldn't be science-oriented as much as it should be a book about learning how to be an advocate for yourself, how to keep good records, how to handle stress and depression, how to interact with generally well-meaning but often inadvertently awkward family and co-workers......lots of possible topics. How to tell a good online source from a bad one. Some basic vocabulary. Hmmm. What else?

I completely agree! I have experienced some frustration with all of your suggestions. Until finding this forum, I had nobody to talk to who really understands what I'm going through. I am mostly angry right now. The medical community has let me down in so many ways. I'm an RN and my life has changed dramatically. I have been fighting for my life, and for so long felt crazy. Referral after referral trying to figure out what was wrong. I think that mostly I just want to know that what I'm feeling is valid. And that I'm on the right track.

i used the library books when diagnosed because hell, enbrel, an anti tnf has been out 20 years and I have a buddy in town who has been using methotrexate for his RA for 30. i needed to understand the mechanisms of things like dmards while crashed at night and I did not want to be on a computer. I don't think a couple of mildly older (within the last 5 years) can hurt in getting a base of understanding of the disease.

When I am online I also like the national institutes of health (well you know if it remains around...) and anything not too bloggy. I don't like to cull medical information from lay blogs such as RA warrior or RA guy. I am weird that way. I will read those anecdotally.

WW stick at it til you find your support team. I moved on from the first two rheumatologists after being diagnosed. They were not a treating partner I could stay with the rest of my life. The third I have had almost 8 years now.

do you have a good partnership with your rheumatologist?

depot

Katie's idea is really good, and there are a lot of books about patient advocacy, stress management. It may be that when you identify a need in your health care, physician-patient relationship, or coping or whatever, those individual books may be of help (even if not specific for RA).

But also, as others have said many time in posts on this forum, you need to feel like you have a good relationship with your rheum to be able to ask questions. Maybe even ask him/her for recommended resources too.

I use google to be honest

Depot
I haven't really been seeing him that long, not even a year. He is growing on me, however I did see the NP in the office and I really like her a lot. I have an appointment Monday with a different rheumatologist for a second opinion. So I'll see how it goes. Thanks for bringing up the library idea. I have enjoyed going there in the past. I just forgot about it. Memory is not what it used to be. I have found a lot of useful resources on Fibromyalga, chronic pain management, and CFS.

WW1978, I imagine that it's a special frustration for an RN to go through this because your training is so practical and hands-on and results-oriented. The RN's I know are awesome people but I think without exception they would be especially frustrated by the vagueness of the initial period with RA.

And I agree with Doodlebug that the basics are going to be the same for any autoimmune 'invisible' disease, so when we're looking for books, we should broaden the search beyond RA specifically. My own support team includes some people with entirely different burdens to bear, but we find that there are remarkable overlaps.

WW1978,
Since you mentioned having a second opinion appointment on Monday...I would not try to learn too much today. I would suggest first preparing for that second opinion visit with a summary of your medical issues - what symptoms you have had, when they started and how often do they occur and for how long, what you have tried that has helped and what has not, etc. List out each joint and what specific symptoms you have. Write out what questions you have based on what has been done so far. (We always forget questions when finally at the doctor's office!)
Request copies of your records and radiology tests.
Ask you questions, and ask how to get back in touch if you think of more questions after you leave.
Have a plan in place for medications - how long you will expect for them to work, when to bail and say they are not working, and (thanks to another post) what to do if you have breakthrough pain.

Then you can settle in and start reading about RA.