Books to have read for interviews

[adokotala]

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I know I have seen something on this topic in previous threads, but I was wondering if anyone had book recommendations to read prior to interviews (to answer the question, "What was the last book you read?"). Any suggestions?

 

[HumidBeing]

It's late. I'm tired. :cry: Wouldn't you rather read a book because it was interesting than just so that you could say it was the last thing you read?

 

[DeadCactus]

On a related note: Someone mentioned a book here that covers some of the major medical advancements in recent history. Seems like an interesting read. Anyone know the title?

 

[go lakers]

bump.

im curious.

 

[adokotala]

I'm asking this because last night I went to dinner with a bunch of people on admissions committees at the medical school where I am working (in Africa) and they were quoting all sorts of interesting research. I thought that perhaps someone would have suggestions of books that could pop up in interview discussions or that seem to be an important reference that one should be familiar with. They mentioned a book on polio just released in the US, End of Poverty by Jeff Sachs, and a few others. Since it is hard to get books here, I was looking for suggestions to have sent to me from the US. Thats all...I thought SDNers would have some good recommendations.

 

[brsboarder]

pretty pathetic question. Your talking about investing hours and hours on a book. Read what interests you. If you can defend that reason to an interviewer you'll be fine. Obviously your not going to have my interests. My last books were Banker to the Poor, The Fountainhead and Omnivores Dilemma. Don't think like a sheep think for yourself

 

[Writer1985]

Read what you find interesting. At one of my interviews last year, we talked for about 30 minutes about Harry Potter and our speculations for the 7th book. I got in.

 

[frickonastick]

Read what you find interesting. At one of my interviews last year, we talked for about 30 minutes about Harry Potter and our speculations for the 7th book. I got in.

Best. Interview. Ever! Wish I could say I had the opportunity to chat about Harry Potter during an interview, and the time for speculation is definitely over. Very cool, though, I'm a little jealous 😀

 

[LikeClockWork]

Just say that you just finished "A Modest Proposal" and think it offers a great solution to the current healthcare crisis.



Trust me. 😀

 

[brsboarder]

"A modest proposal" is not a book! its a short story. If they ask about short stories, definitely go with it. Its simply the only solution that could exist

 

[themule]

Just say that you just finished "A Modest Proposal" and think it offers a great solution to the current healthcare crisis.



Trust me. 😀

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl_Llt1LtwU[/YOUTUBE]

TM

 

[LizzyM]

Just say that you just finished "A Modest Proposal" and think it offers a great solution to the current healthcare crisis.



Trust me. 😀

I love it.

 

[adokotala]

Hmm if my interviewer is Hannibal I'll try the modest proposal thing. Or if my argumentation professor happens to have become a med school interviewer, I can say that at least I paid attention in class. Thanks for the warm responses.

 

[ttlove]

There have been some books that I have read that a couple of my interviewers have seemed excited to talk about- Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond and Complications by Atul Gawande. I would also recommend reading up on health care and the pharm industry since I hear those topics are asked quite often.

 

[adokotala]

ttlove, thanks! there is a copy of guns, germs and steel floating around on a bookshelf, so thanks for the rec. complications is a good read 🙂. Good luck

 

[Ashers]

In the interview at my school, I got asked what was the last book I read. I said I was in the middle of reading The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Then the interviewer and I discussed Sherlock Holmes' fate, Arthur Conan Doyle's plans for the books, etc, for about 10 min. That was great.

 

[LizzyM]

In some instances, the "what are you reading" question is aimed at getting at your interests and what makes you tick. Go to the library, go to a bookstore or, if you are in Africa, go on amazon.com and browse around until you find something that just seems fascinating.

 

[jochi1543]

Well, I picked up some healthcare-related books from the library, mostly on the topic of ethics, because at least one of the schools I have an interview at is big on that, and also those that compare US and Canadian healthcare, just because my Canadian friends who have applied in the past all said they were asked to compare those at every interview they had in the US.

As far as to the "what's the last book you read..." I would not quote healthcare-related book. Makes you seem one-dimensional, IMO, and you don't want that. As long as you can eloquently discuss healthcare while answering other questions, it shouldn't matter. If anything, having read something NOT healthcare-related would show that you have a broader range of interests.

 

[deuist]

To echo what other posters are getting at: just because you want to go into medicine doesn't mean that you have to read every medical book out there to make yourself seem like a better fit for the profession. If you're interested in classic texts, I suggest starting with The House of God. It's probably the most read doctor novel out there.

 

[Quix]

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. They test you on page 2431.

 

[jochi1543]

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. They test you on page 2431.

Green suits you well.👍

 

[Quix]

Grazie mille. 🙂

 

[M.Furfur]

is evolution vs creation a too touchy topic in a med school interview?

 

[jochi1543]

is evolution vs creation a too touchy topic in a med school interview?

I would avoid raising controversial topics in interviews. Be glad if the interviewer doesn't raise one him/herself. It has the potential to antagonize the interviewer if s/he doesn't agree with your POV, or even if s/he does, but thinks your arguments are weak. I would not seek confrontation, you want that person to be rooting for you at the review, not voicing his or her reservations.

 

[M.Furfur]

I would avoid raising controversial topics in interviews. Be glad if the interviewer doesn't raise one him/herself. It has the potential to antagonize the interviewer if s/he doesn't agree with your POV, or even if s/he does, but thinks your arguments are weak. I would not seek confrontation, you want that person to be rooting for you at the review, not voicing his or her reservations.

Its too bad the only two topics I like are politics and evolution. I am really hoping I will be getting myself in trouble.

 

[Quix]

is evolution vs creation a too touchy topic in a med school interview?

That depends - are you looking to bring it up, or was it brought up by your interviewer? It can potentially open a can of worms, so don't go out of your way to bring it up. If he/she brought it up, make sure that you can justify your claims, regardless of your position. My personal take on it is that this question is easy (science vs. nonscience; advocacy of evolution does not rule out being religious; established religions have voiced support for evolution (e.g., Catholicism); etc.), so there is no real controversy, but that's just me.

 

[Revenant]

No Gods No Masters: An Anthology of Anarchism by Guerin


Has all the classics, fantastic read 👍

 

[Revenant]

Another good one is:

Neurotic Pre-Med That Does Everything Everyone Told Him Would Benefit Him in the Admissions Process that Fails to Get Accepted and Leads an Pathetic Life Until He Ultimately Commits Suicide and Rots in Hell

By Dr. John Anus

 

[lois]

My favorite science related book - I wish I made you angry earlier by Max Perutz... so worth the read. It's basically a pile of excellent essays by or about scientists, how their work effects society and how their views were effected by what they were studying.

 

[Revenant]

 

[Quix]

 

[Revenant]

 

[jochi1543]

OMG, that was great.

 

[deuist]

I never cared for Kill as Few Patients as Possible. The book is an exercise is self-agrandizement for the author, who calls himself the World's Best Doctor.