amount of time to read one basic science textbook

[mrlantern]

---

Members don't see this ad.

How realistic is it for someone to completely read and understand a full basic science textbook over the course of three days? What is the minimum amount of time do you think you'll need for reading one whole book? Which basic science subject will require more reading time?

I know there are many variables that go along with the above questions but I'm very interested in what some people have to say.

 

[coldweatherblue]

How realistic is it for someone to completely read and understand a full basic science textbook over the course of three days? What is the minimum amount of time do you think you'll need for reading one whole book? Which basic science subject will require more reading time?

I know there are many variables that go along with the above questions but I'm very interested in what some people have to say.

lol, do you mean read Gray's Anatomy for Students Monday - Wednesday and take the NBME shelf thursday?? impossible.

this is not like, "read Anna Karenina and write a 10 page paper outlining the differences between Anna and Katya's domestic decisions" or something.. that would be totally doable in three days.

You cannot read and understand a core basic science subject (anatomy, histo, physio) in that amount of time. There is too much involved; relationships, general organization, clinical correlates, etc. hell even just learning the all the random names (which is the easiest part) would take weeks. Maybe 3 months?? There are schools who do subjects by block; ie all anatomy first quarter, etc. They would have a better idea. These exams are 2, 3rd level questions that require you to have mastered the basics even to understand what the question is asking.

Ultimately there is a limit to how much you can work the ole hippocampus - fornix - association cortex loop. I think med school curriculum is designed to teach the maximum amount of information in the first two years with the stipulation that only a certain number of people can fail. If they could teach us significantly more without an unacceptable number of people failing, they would.

 

[Vonsmack]

You could "read" any book in 3 days, buy you will retain hardly anything. There are so many details on each page that it difficult to even digest 10-15 pages in one sitting. Reading textbooks are good if you just want to get the big picture as you start studying a subject, and then go back and memorize details. There is your pointless answer for your pointless question.

 

[4runnergrl]

Im sure you could read the text within the three days but highly unlikely that you would actually retain the info

 

[badasshairday]

Im sure you could read the text within the three days but highly unlikely that you would actually retain the info

I don't think anybody can read Guyton in 3 days. Maybe Moore and Persaud for embryo.

 

[DOquestions]

Reading a whole book in 3 days would be easy. Being able to memorize, recall, and retain the information in just 3 days is pretty much impossible. You would be better off reading sections of a book and working on the memorization, recalling information, etc. Textbooks, even though they have a very good purpose, don't really go into deep detail about any single topic. If you want a really deep understanding about any specific topic, you need to read the primary literature.

 

[Hayden2102]

Reading a whole book in 3 days would be easy. Being able to memorize, recall, and retain the information in just 3 days is pretty much impossible. You would be better off reading sections of a book and working on the memorization, recalling information, etc. Textbooks, even though they have a very good purpose, don't really go into deep detail about any single topic. If you want a really deep understanding about any specific topic, you need to read the primary literature.

Do you know any medical students who read primary literature to study for their exams??

 

[MilkmanAl]

Good God, I can't even imagine how long that would take. You'd be one twisted puppy to read primary literature for your med school education. It's bad enough just reading BRS's the whole way through.

 

[Diablo2fan]

You could "read" any book in 3 days, buy you will retain hardly anything. There are so many details on each page that it difficult to even digest 10-15 pages in one sitting. Reading textbooks are good if you just want to get the big picture as you start studying a subject, and then go back and memorize details. There is your pointless answer for your pointless question.

I totally agree,
I thought I was a fast reader, but reading 20 page chapters is a 1-2 hour ordeal for me -

 

[DrNush]

well i'm a dental student so obviously the majority of us don't go into as much detail as u guys do... and even with having to go into less depth, i think it's almost impossible to finish an entire basic science book and take a test on it within 3 days.

like the above posters said, reading it u could do, remembering even 1/4th of what u read - not doable at all. that is, unless ur just revising it.

esp when it comes to biochem or somethin where u have to memorize every cycle.. *shudder*