book suggestions

[belljar]

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So, I'm trying to read more to prepare myself for the verbal section of the mcat (again). What are some books or authors you guys suggest?

 

[jlee9531]

Time, Newsweek.....

anything that you can read about a decent range of issues should be helpful.

politics, history, literature, science, philosophy, social commentary are all on there. If anything just read mcat passages. they would prolly help you out the best.

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

Where's Waldo
The Bernstein Bears
The Cat in the Hat
Horton Hears a Who

That should be plenty.

 

[xanthines]

In my opinion, Time and Newsweek don't really cut it. I'd try to find some more difficult reading if you can. NY Times, Wall St Journal, and the Economist are good ones. Especially The Economist. It has tons of good articles that are intellectually challenging.

Just my $00.02

-X

 

[Gleevec]

LSAT, GRE, MCAT prep books...

The kind of reading done on the MCAT is complete crap, just a buncha short passages that are nothing like the journal articles or books people read in real life (or even in the field). Basically, good journals like The Economist, New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, etc write at a high level, true, but these are also full-fledged articles unlike the snippets on the MCAT.

The MCAT has almost no full articles at all, but rather fragments. In my opinion, and I can definitely see how this can differ between individuals, the type of reading done on standardized tests is completely artificial. MCAT verbal passages are the sexual equivalent of premature ejaculation, and really have no comprable source in good magazines. MCAT passages arent in depth and are of such short length that reading full-fledged articles in magazines only helps in regards to timing.

So if you are worried about style and comprehension, its probably better just to read the verbal passages from prep books. Ideally, read both magazines and prep book practice passages, but if I had to choose one, Id practice under conditions as similar to the real MCAT verbal as possible-- ie finding, reading, and doing passages from any relatively difficult standardized test possible.

 

[DrBodacious]

Originally posted by Gleevec
LSAT, GRE, MCAT prep books...

The kind of reading done on the MCAT is complete crap, just a buncha short passages that are nothing like the journal articles or books people read in real life (or even in the field). Basically, good journals like The Economist, New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, etc write at a high level, true, but these are also full-fledged articles unlike the snippets on the MCAT.

The MCAT has almost no full articles at all, but rather fragments. In my opinion, and I can definitely see how this can differ between individuals, the type of reading done on standardized tests is completely artificial. MCAT verbal passages are the sexual equivalent of premature ejaculation, and really have no comprable source in good magazines. MCAT passages arent in depth and are of such short length that reading full-fledged articles in magazines only helps in regards to timing.

So if you are worried about style and comprehension, its probably better just to read the verbal passages from prep books. Ideally, read both magazines and prep book practice passages, but if I had to choose one, Id practice under conditions as similar to the real MCAT verbal as possible-- ie finding, reading, and doing passages from any relatively difficult standardized test possible.

I second this.

 

[HawkeyeBFP]

I agree with the statement above that MCAT verbal conditions are more or less artificial and practicing with samples is probably the most useful exercise, but just to point out...

Those excerpts *are* all from real, published articles; they're not made up for the exam. So reading things at a like level, as instanced above, can certainly help. You just have to get used to reading proactively for the kinds of things they ask on the exam.

Good luck. I'm teaching people MCAT and I was actually amazed to find that this is the section that the majority of students are the most worried about.

 

[steve007]

i would read some thoreau. he writes brilliant essays that will help you read on a fairly high level and you'll learn alot too.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by HawkeyeBFP
I agree with the statement above that MCAT verbal conditions are more or less artificial and practicing with samples is probably the most useful exercise, but just to point out...

Those excerpts *are* all from real, published articles; they're not made up for the exam. So reading things at a like level, as instanced above, can certainly help. You just have to get used to reading proactively for the kinds of things they ask on the exam.

Good luck. I'm teaching people MCAT and I was actually amazed to find that this is the section that the majority of students are the most worried about.

I agree completely that they are excerpts from these articles, all I am saying is that the TYPE of reading done is completely different. In my mind, its the different between a sprint and a marathon. Sure, running a marathon will help you in sprinting (lower weight, improve cardiovascular, pulmonary function, etc), and vice versa, but the best practice for sprints and to run lots of sprints, and the best practice for marathons is to run lots of marathons under as close to game day conditions as possible.

So while the articles come from a magazine, they are only snippets, which I think changes the game completely and which is why I feel other verbal std. test passages are better practice

 

[belljar]

thanks so much. I have been trying to read some random books, but it looks like you guys suggest otherwise. I was told to read things like tolstoy and that kind of nonsense. I just end up falling asleep when i read these. So, standardized exam passages it is then, eh?

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

Originally posted by belljar
thanks so much. I have been trying to read some random books, but it looks like you guys suggest otherwise. I was told to read things like tolstoy and that kind of nonsense. I just end up falling asleep when i read these. So, standardized exam passages it is then, eh?

I still think you should go with my picks above, and with the following selection that all good pre-meds should check out.

A is for Apple, B is for bear

one fish two fish red fish blue fish

 

[AcademicTerror]

Thoreau? Read parts of his stuff in english.

 

[Sillyshoes]

thanks so much. I have been trying to read some random books, but it looks like you guys suggest otherwise. I was told to read things like tolstoy and that kind of nonsense. I just end up falling asleep when i read these. So, standardized exam passages it is then, eh?

When do you plan to take the MCAT?
If your exam in is in a few months, I think your best bet is practicing actual passages.

But if you want some stuff to read:
Wall Street Journal
The Economist
Time
NyTimes

 

[rockaction]

When do you plan to take the MCAT?
If your exam in is in a few months, I think your best bet is practicing actual passages.

But if you want some stuff to read:
Wall Street Journal
The Economist
Time
NyTimes

i'm pretty sure OP took that MCAT already...

 

[nonsciencemajor]

The Berkeley Review Verbal Books are really good with detailed practice. Once you do this, read, read, read and practice practice practice

Also this is an excellent website to read every day as it comes with interesting medical news everyday (while it may be too easy for Verbal MCAT, I learned a lot from this website and helped me with interviews and just I learned knowledge that I know I will apply when being a clinician):

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

 

[BlueElmo]

This was from 2003...