Student Doctor Network Forums - View Single Post - Most frequently recommended medical school textbooks?

Member 252633 · 05-03-2012, 01:53 PM

I personally disagree with both of the previous posters. It isn't a given that you will have lecturers who include 'everything' in their powerpoints. There will always be things you want you want to know that they haven't told you. You also won't find a comprehensive list of books, mainly because different people prefer different texts. The general consensus on SDN is that Step 1 prep books should be used as primary texts for learning. I disagree.

Texts I used (but I didn't real each of them all the way through, only the physiology, EKG, and most of Robbins):
Big Robbins
Cecil Medicine
Nelson's Pediatrics
Mark's Basic Biochemistry
Dubin's Rapid Interpretation of EKGs
Vander's Renal Physiology
Linda Costanzo's Physiology
John West Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials

I own more but I can't think of them off the top of my head. I used these books because I like to learn from prose. I don't like to learn from powerpoint slides that contain lists and bulletpoints. Some of these books are absolutely overboard for a second year medical student (especially Cecil and Nelson's), but they still helped to lay a solid foundation for me. To each his own.

05-03-2012, 01:53 PM	#4
Member 252633 Senior Member Status: Medical Student Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 567	I personally disagree with both of the previous posters. It isn't a given that you will have lecturers who include 'everything' in their powerpoints. There will always be things you want you want to know that they haven't told you. You also won't find a comprehensive list of books, mainly because different people prefer different texts. The general consensus on SDN is that Step 1 prep books should be used as primary texts for learning. I disagree. Texts I used (but I didn't real each of them all the way through, only the physiology, EKG, and most of Robbins): Big Robbins Cecil Medicine Nelson's Pediatrics Mark's Basic Biochemistry Dubin's Rapid Interpretation of EKGs Vander's Renal Physiology Linda Costanzo's Physiology John West Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials I own more but I can't think of them off the top of my head. I used these books because I like to learn from prose. I don't like to learn from powerpoint slides that contain lists and bulletpoints. Some of these books are absolutely overboard for a second year medical student (especially Cecil and Nelson's), but they still helped to lay a solid foundation for me. To each his own.