I just finished a book called Body of Knowledge by Steve Giegerich. Its about the whole Gross Anatomy experience in medical school.
Having taken a Gross Anatomy course at the graduate level, I can say that everything in this book is pretty much right on. Some descriptions might have been over dramatized, but it was a very good read. It really does not talk about medicine specifically, like the treatment of patients, but it does a good job of portraying to readers the expericence of taking Gross Anatomy, the so called rite of passage to becoming a physician.
My next book will be Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. As some of you may know, Mitch Albom is a sportswriter. This book is also not specifically related to medicine, but is supposed to be one of the best books about losing a person close to you and the days leading up to the final moment. It's supposed to be a heartwarming story, and is actually a book that the University of Miami School of Medicine tells their students to read before orientation. Let you know my opinion of the book when I finish it.
Another book I plan on reading that is sitting here on my shelf is The Lost Art of Healing by Bernard Lowe M.D. The subject matter is the practice of compassion in medicine. Looks good and was highly recommended.
What ever you do, don't read White Coat by Ellen Lerner Rothman. Its about her own experience as a med student at Harvard. Her writing style is not the kind that tends to keep people's attention. She could also do a better job of possibly explaining her emotions through various experiences. Early on, she talks too much about the dumb things that she does outside of class. I, personally, did not buy this book to know about watching ER on Thursday nights. It is not a bad book, but I think there has to be other books out there that are better at explaining a person's own experience at med school.
