Books, Journals, Magazines for VBR improvement

[mikeuvu]

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I haven't seen a dedicated thread to what people have read outside of company practice books, and passages to help with their VBR. Some threads have hinted at the New Yorker, the Economist, Wall Street Journal; but that was it they only hinted. So before I give any effort to buy and read any thing outside the practice passages I have a few questions. My questions are:

What books (non text style), journals, magazines, etc. have you read that you felt improved your VBR?

Why do you think that reading the above helped with your VBR?

Thanks!

 

[olemissbabydoc]

I haven't seen a dedicated thread to what people have read outside of company practice books, and passages to help with their VBR. Some threads have hinted at the New Yorker, the Economist, Wall Street Journal; but that was it they only hinted. So before I give any effort to buy and read any thing outside the practice passages I have a few questions. My questions are:

What books (non text style), journals, magazines, etc. have you read that you felt improved your VBR?

Why do you think that reading the above helped with your VBR?

Thanks!

The Economist helped me. Mainly, honestly, because I found it boring and high level reading... and a lot of the MCAT passages were as well. The passages were fairly short, for the most part. I would just try to grasp the main points of the passage and think of questions that would be asked if that was an MCAT passage.

 

[SN2ed]

The Economist and WSJ are good choices. However, if you're within three months of your test date, you shouldn't be reading to improve your verbal. Instead, you should be focusing on verbal practice passages. Reading can help, but only if your test date is far away.

 

[mikeuvu]

I take the test at the end of July. Would I be wasting my time reading these materials to improve my reading skills for passages on the MCAT? Also thank you for your replies so far.

 

[cyclin M]

I take the test at the end of July. Would I be wasting my time reading these materials to improve my reading skills for passages on the MCAT? Also thank you for your replies so far.

Yes. In fact, regardless of when you will be taking the exam reading those materials is useless in terms of doing well on the MCAT.

However, if you want to read for leisure and to be well read for interviews and social small talk, I highly recommend those magazines and newspapers.

 

[PlatinumPenny]

i read the new yorker

 

[mikeuvu]

i read the new yorker

Do you enjoy it? It would be nice to read something at least interesting, even if it is a little heavy.

 

[PlatinumPenny]

yes i like it...the author's tend to be a bit more opinionated compared to other magazines which i think can help with certain mcat passage questions lie whats the authors tone? etc.

 

[Institute]

I find none of this helps. the only thing that may help are practice passages, and not ones from kaplan or tpr since they're so ridiculously convoluted.

I read a lot during the day. I day trade so I spend an hour or two in the morning reading bloomberg, wsj, and some economist. when i sit on the pot, i read a book and read a few pages at a time there. before i go to bed i read novels. i just love reading, and i get captivated by the mcat passages. however, it's the answer stems that hurt me the most. perhaps my sense of reasoning is different in determining how to get from point A to point B, which is why this part, as is most of the MCAT, is discriminatory toward differnt learning styles.

remember, this test is to just weed people out, not tell you how smart you are.