A must-read book

[Bones2008]

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<u>The Intern Blues</u> by Robert Marion, MD.

This book is nothing short of incredible. It is the transcription of the audio diaries made by three doctors during their internship year (the first year out of med school). Everyone who is thinking about being a doctor should read this, since it's a brutally honest account of some of the stuff doctors have to go through. Pre-med is definitely not the hardest part. Enjoy.

 

[ATPase]

Ditto, it's a good book.

 

[lisa13579]

I have a dear friend in his first year of surgery residency and I read that book during his first month, so I was hearing it from both sides, talk about depressing!!! He would tell me stories about his day and I would pull out my book because I had just read about the interns in the book having the same feelings. And this book was written in the 1980's!!!!! It's definitely a book that is true to life!

 

[Catalyst]

I would add "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman... one of the best written books on cross-cultural issues and health care that I have read

 

[indigoblue]

i liked it too - although learning to play god also by bob marion a little more insightful into how physicians see potential applicants

 

[MBA_Doc]

You folks want to read another great book? "Year of the Intern" by Robin Cook.

Its a brutal no-holds-barred depiction of internship. And it appears to be based primarily on fact.

 

[surge]

Originally posted by SachinG
I would add "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman... one of the best written books on cross-cultural issues and health care that I have read

I must say I disagree, especially after meeting Anne Fadiman and Neil and Peggy (Drs. in the book).
While she didn't mean to, and claims not to, I think Fadiman subscribes to cultural relativism and oversimplifies the situation.


For something truly amazing, check out anything by Richard Seltzer.

 

[topherius]

A couple of other good reads: "White Coat," by Ellen Lerner Rothman--basically her ruminations on med school over all four years. Really thoughtful and meditative, and overall optimistic. Also, "The Lost Art of Healing," by Bernard Lown. This is a collection of essays by a world-renowned doctor (invented the defibrillator, pioneered use of lidocaine to control arrythmias, and won nobel peace prize--not a bad resume!) on his thoughts about patient care.

"Intern Blues" is definitely a good book and pretty insightful, but if it gets you too down about becoming a doctor (it definitely paints a pretty bad picture of internship, though it may be realistic), keep in mind that it was written in the late '80s, so lots of things have changed since then. I'd say the same about "Becoming a Doctor" by Konner, though I haven't seen anyone mention that one on this thread. Just my $.02.

 

[king_robert12]

Yeah, definitley check out the Fadiman book. It is tough to put down at times.